Re: Remote sync with Outlook via WiFi or other alternatives

From: MagGyver (mhoutzREMOVE_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 06/17/04 

Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2004 09:32:58 -0700

Chris,
Thanks for your input. Reading the other replies here has gotten me thinking
more about using VPN & PPTP. If we were to replace our existing NAT router
with one which supports VPN, wouldn't that give us a way to configure
multiple users, or are we still running into the same problem with NAT?
(Note: I realize this is slightly off-topic..please bear with me)

The whole point at the moment is that we do not have a server capable of
handling this kind of thing (we have one aging NT 4.0 file server) and we do
not, at the moment, have a budget to upgrade to an XP Server (which would
then permit us to consider Exchange). I'm hoping to find some sort of
solution which allows several users to access their individual workstations.
So if I'm understanding this correctly, ActiveSync will not allow custom
port configuration?

I guess I'll post a related post in a VPN discussion group about how to work
with that technology, but in the meantime, if I could get some clarification
about custom port config in ActiveSync I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

Alternatively, is there a directory - or does anyone have a suggestion - for
3rd party services which offer Exchange service? If it doesn't need to be
locally hosted, this may be a viable route for us.

Maggie

"Chris De Herrera" <chris@cewindows.net> wrote in message
news:uQtggz6UEHA.3788@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
> Here's my thoughts:
>
> 1. No it's not difficutl to configure Wi-Fi or Cellular on a Pocket PC.
> For the most part if you buy a Pocket PC which is a cellular phone it's
> already configured. As for Wi-Fi the biggest issue is configuring the WEP
> key which you should know if you setup the access point.
> 2. No there is no option to sync with multiple users without a server and
a
> DMZ. This is because NAT makes all requests appear as if they are coming
> from one address on the internet. So the router can't differentiate
between
> a request for your PC and a request for another persons PC.
> 3. The Always-Up-To Date option is part of Exchange 2003. It's not
> available for use with Outlook.
>
> So your best bet may be considering a 3rd party that offers Exchange 2003
> where you pay monthly for the service. Just make sure they offer Outlook
> Web Access (the web access for any PC) and Outlook Mobile Access (the
> ability to sync with the Pocket PC) so you can keep everyone up to date.
>
>
> --
> Chris De Herrera
> http://www.cewindows.net
> http://www.tabletpctalk.com
>
> "MagGyver" <mhoutzREMOVE@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:%23pG7qp1UEHA.760@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> > Hello,
> > We're designing a centralized database for our growing company and are
> > exploring how to use PPCs in the mix. I know next to nothing about their
> > extended sync capabilities. Here's what we'd like to do - perhaps
someone
> > can help shed some light on this:
> >
> > Small P2P network behind a NAT router with DSL. No Exhange Server but
> > everyone uses Outlook (2000 or 2002). We're exploring Web-based contact
&
> > calendar management options which will be able to sync on an automated
> > basis
> > with each user's Outlook and would like to have the option to sync PPCs
> > remotely to the Outlook workstations via WiFi (or using some sort of
> > cellular network when WiFi not available).
> >
> > The questions which come to mind in this scenario are:
> >
> > - Is it difficult to configure PPCs to sync via the different networks
> > (WiFi
> > vs. cellular)?
> > - Is it possible to alter the port(s) used for sync so we can use port
> > forwarding for multiple users on the router?
> > - I've read a bit about Always-Up-To-Date configuration. How does this
> > differ in method to using WiFi/cellular to sync? Is it a complementary
> > method or an alternative one?
> >
> > Many thanks for any feedback anyone has to offer.
> >
> > MagGyver, scratching her head on this one
> >
> >
>
>

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