I build a new SBS 2011 environment last week, and I had just put on the new digital certificate, and as no one was using it, I simply rebooted the SBS Server and went for a coffee. From that point forward all the new Outlook 2013 clients give me this error,
Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot open the Outlook window. The set of folders cannot be opened. You must connect to Microsoft Exchange with the current profile before you can synchronize your folders with your Outlook data file (.ost).
Solution
1. At first I thought this was a user profile problem, so i logged on as another user (no difference). So I thought it was a problem with Outlook/Office on that PC. Until I built another one and it did the same. If you are seeing this error I suggest you remove the Outlook profile on the affected machine first.
2. Some Google searching told me this can happen if certain services have not started, as I had this problem on the same server, I checked the services and sure enough the Microsoft Exchange RPC Client Access’ service was not running. I could manually start it, and the error ceased. That’s great but I needed to deliver the server to a client and I wouldn’t be about to manually start services every time they rebooted it!
3. It turns out that this is a known problem if Exchange is installed on a Global Catalog server (being an SBS Server I don’t have much choice). it is supposed to be addressed by Microsoft KB940845, I say ‘supposed to‘ because this did not work.
4. Despite my best efforts, this service refused to start with the server, so I clipped on my spurs and wrote a startup script that waits three minutes after the server starts then it manually starts the service for me. You can put it in the servers Startup folder, or (as I did) assign the startup script via group policy.
Note: This script waits 180 seconds, you can change the interval if you wish.
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While testing mail flow on a new SBS 2011 Server, outbound mail worked fine, but no mail would flow in. When I attempted to Telnet in from a remote host this was what I saw;
421 4.3.2 Service not available
Connection to host lost.
Solution
Normally I’d expect to see an error like this if the Exchange ‘Receive Connector’ was misconfigured, (if you’re not using SBS 2011 create a new default receive connector and make sure there are no firewalls in the way).
If you are using SBS 2011 you need to run the ‘Connect to the Internet’ Wizard (seriously!)
After this check inbound mail flow again.
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Out of the box Evolution can only connect to Exchange 2000 and Exchange 2003, this is because it uses OWA to connect, when Exchange 2007 was released, the way OWA was presented changed a great deal. So if you try and connect to a newer version of Exchange it will error. (Before you email in, I know in 2010, its now called Web App not OWA).
But there’s nothing to stop you connecting to Exchange 2007 and Exchange 2010 via MAPI, you just have to add a few packages first.
I originally wrote this a while back for version 10, but I’ve updated it for version 11.10. I’ve left the earlier version 10 notes below.
Solution
Ubuntu Version 11.10
1. If Evolution is not already installed, Launch the Ubuntu Software Manager and search for Evolution > Install.
2. You will need to enter your password.
3. After a few minutes it should get a green tick to say its been installed.
4. In addition you need to locate and install the “Evolution support for the groupware suite”.
7. You can restore form a backup, but I’ve not got one > Continue.
8. Type in your name and email address > Continue.
9. Now change the server to “Exchange MAPI” > Give it the name/IP of your Exchange server and your domain details > Authenticate > Enter your domain password > And it should say successful > Continue.
10. Set your email account requirements > Continue.
11. Give the account a name, by default it will be your email address, but you can change it > Continue.
12. Apply.
13. Before Evolution launches it will ask for your domain password (Mine never changes so I’m ticking the remember password option, you might NOT want to do this) > And I’m setting Evolution as the default email client.
14. An there is my inbox.
15. And it will pull down the GAL from Exchange, as well as your personal contacts.
16. After a short while it will also sync and display your Exchange calendar.
In this example I’m using Ubuntu version 10
1. First you need to add in the “evolution-mapi” package > System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager. (You may need to provide a password to proceed).
2. Locate the “evolution-mapi” package.
3. Mark it for installation.
4. You may have to agree to install some dependant packages > do so.
5. Ensure that evolution-mapi is now ticked and click “Apply”.
6. The packages will download and install.
7. Now you can launch Evolution > It should run the “Setup Assistant” > Forward. (Note: If you’re adding an additional account simply open Evolution > Edit > Preferences > Mail accounts > Add).
8. We are not restoring > Forward.
9. Type in your name and email address, this is going to be or default account so leave the default option ticked > Forward.
10. Change the server type to “Exchange MAPI” > Enter the server name/IP address, your domain user name, and the name of the domain > Authenticate.
11. Enter the correct password for your domain account, tick the option to remember the password (Note: if you domain password changes often you might not want to do that) > OK.
12. All being well, you should see a successful result > OK > Forward.
13. Set the options as you require, these would be my personal preference > Forward.
14. Give the mail account a sensible name > Forward.
15. After a couple of minutes there’s your mailbox.
16. And Your Exchange 2010 Calendar sync’d.
17. And your contacts and address lists. (Note: The Exchange Global Address List, can take a couple of restarts before it starts to sync properly).
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