Outlook Group Policy Settings

Baz · 10 Aug 2009 at 11:13

Probably straight forward, but I am struggling with this one..

I am installing Exchange 2007 this weekend from Exchange 2000 and can't get to all the PC's to alter the Email Settings.

I have seen in Outlook 2007 Group Policy templates that you can specify the Exchange server, but there is nothing in the Outlook 2000/2002/2003 templates.

What's the easiest or best way of deploying these settings, as I am sure in large environments they don't go to every PC :confused:

Thanks

Pdog · 10 Aug 2009 at 11:16

You can use a customised Outlook 2007 installation and specify an Outlook profile, which can be populated with the Exchange server details. This can then be rolled out to clients.

Office Customization Tool

Baz · 10 Aug 2009 at 11:19

I already use that for when I rolled out Office 2007 across the business..

but I have 2000/2002/2003 Outlook clients as well

iaind · 10 Aug 2009 at 11:21

Which will only work with Outlook 2007.

When I went from 2003 to 2007, it automatically changed the Outlook configuration when the user opened outlook. I just left the old 03 server running for a while and did the rest manually. Dont know if it will work with 2000 though

Baz · 10 Aug 2009 at 11:22

This is what I am trying not to do, as we have remote clients, who are not computer savvy and struggle to open a program unless it is on their desktop!

Pdog · 10 Aug 2009 at 12:41

Apologises I have just re-read your original post. I would have thought Outlook 2003 would have picked up the new server where the mailbox is located. I'm unsure about Outlook 2000. Looking at your posts I would suggest doing what Iaind said and do them manually but that depends on the numbers etc.

walnuts · 10 Aug 2009 at 13:19

Have a look at this tool:

http://www.block.net.au/help/RichProfile/

I haven't used it but it's suppose to configure Outlook profiles via user's login script. It also comes with 30 day trial.

iaind · 10 Aug 2009 at 13:19

If you leave the old server online long enough (to account for people being on holiday and things) everyone should get switched over - I was only left with 1 or 2

Baz · 10 Aug 2009 at 13:52

Thanks, both servers will be online together, and I was going to migrate all at once..

Outlook 2007 is the easy one, we have around 60 people on that, the other 60 are on a mix of older versions...

iaind · 10 Aug 2009 at 15:14

Outlook 2003 definitely changes the setting for you when you move the mailbox - testing outlook 2000/xp should be easy enough

mr.bond · 10 Aug 2009 at 20:11

Leave the existing exchange server switched on for a suitable amount along with your new one to accommodate for you users being on holiday or sick leave. Your Outlook profiles will update for you as the users connect.

Jordanis3r · 12 Aug 2009 at 21:17

Exchange 2007 mailbox migration wizard leaves a pointer where the old mailbox was to the new location that changes your Outlook client profile - as long as you leave the original mailbox servers in a redirect gets done! *magic*

You also have Autodiscover as part of the CAS servers - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb232838.aspx

brainchylde · 13 Aug 2009 at 00:27

Was going to say, AutoDiscover should do this. Also the mailbox location is stored in an Active Directory attribute so that should also point the client in the right direction.