Topic: Howto: Roaming Outlook with Roaming Profiles

[David Harper]

Outlook email, contacts and calendars do not follow the user between workstations when you are using Roaming Profiles, which is a real pain. This is caused by the fact that Outlook stores its PST files, which contain all of these details, in the Local Settings profile folder, which is not transferred to the server. With Exchange, this isn't a problem, because everything is stored on the server, but in other circumstances this can be a problem.

Aside from groupware, the solution is quite simple: you can move the PST files to a new location on the server. This new location might be the user’s home folder (perhaps unwise given a user could accidentally delete all of his Outlook settings in a split second), or a folder in a separate ibay that is invisible to the user.

To move the PST folders:

1. Set up Outlook as normal
2. Close Outlook
3. Open the default PST storage folder, which is %userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
4. Move any PST files to their new location on the server
5. Restart Outlook. Outlook will prompt you for the new location of the PST file(s)

If you have not previously moved the AutoArchive PST file (archive.pst), you will need to specify where Outlook should create it once automatic archiving is enabled.

1. Open the Options dialog and go to the Other tab
2. Click AutoArchive to open the configuration dialog
3. Turn archiving on
4. In the Move old items to field, specify the desired location of the archive PST folder
5. Restart Outlook.

When the user logs in to Outlook on another computer, her Outlook data will be available without further configuration. Once the PST file is stored on the server, it will also be backed up on a regular basis (assuming you do backups!), making it easier to retrieve messages that have been removed from the Deleted Items folder.

Note: If the server is unavailable or the share location changes (for example if drive mappings change), Outlook will break and prompt the user for the new location of her PST files.

This was tested in Outlook 2007 but should work in Outlook 2003 as well. Before that YMMV.

[lucho115]

Hi, i read this and i askme : roadming users in smeserver? how can i do that? i was searching in the forums but i didnt found anything that help and there no a how to in the wiki, so can you helpme to doit?

[cactus]

Outlook email, contacts and calendars do not follow the user between workstations when you are using Roaming Profiles, which is a real pain. This is caused by the fact that Outlook stores its PST files, which contain all of these details, in the Local Settings profile folder, which is not transferred to the server. With Exchange, this isn't a problem, because everything is stored on the server, but in other circumstances this can be a problem.

Wouldn't it be easier to change to the IMAP protocol, this way all information is stored on the server and users get their mail automatically presented to them AFAIK.

[cactus]

Hi, i read this and i askme : roadming users in smeserver? how can i do that? i was searching in the forums but i didnt found anything that help and there no a how to in the wiki, so can you helpme to doit?

Do not hijack other peoples threads with your question as long as the subjects are not the same. Romaing profiles is something different to storing outlook data on the server.

If you would have read the administrator manual you would probably have found this: http://wiki.contribs.org/SME_Server:Documentation:Administration_Manual:Chapter13#Workgroup

[lucho115]

Do not hijack other peoples threads with your question as long as the subjects are not the same. Romaing profiles is something different to storing outlook data on the server.

If you would have read the administrator manual you would probably have found this: http://wiki.contribs.org/SME_Server:Documentation:Administration_Manual:Chapter13#Workgroup

I read the admin manual, but it say nothing about, i enable roadmin user in server-manager from the first day but it never work, i want that "my documents" are present when i log in any manchine, and preferens, look, and outlook data too. How can i do it?

[mdo]

Wouldn't it be easier to change to the IMAP protocol, this way all information is stored on the server and users get their mail automatically presented to them AFAIK.

There are other things in these PST files - all the user's personal contacts (address book), his/her calendar, etc.
If we have to use Outlook, we do it exactly the same way as the HowTo describes (and use imap!) and this works and is a good solution I think. It definitely helps towards roaming.

[David Harper]

Even if you use IMAP and don't have the calendar, contacts etc, you would still have to have a PST file on each machine you log into.

[lucho115]

davidiwharper Can you help me with enable roadming users full featured? or show me where find a howto?
thanks

[David Harper]

Go to the main admin console and click "Workgroup". Then enable roaming profiles and be happy!

[lucho115]

Go to the main admin console and click "Workgroup". Then enable roaming profiles and be happy!

OK, but this doesnt work for me, i need to do any more ? and if it works, but i need only 1 user roadming  how can i do that?
thaks

[David Harper]

Time for a new thread. If you have any questions regarding this, they belong in the main SME 7.x forum.

[lucho115]

ok, you are rigth. This is the new topic: http://forums.contribs.org/index.php?topic=39820.0
thanks