in message
I set up a .ie account/website with email but outlook doesn't
recognise the
server and sometimes when I think it is about to accept it tells me
that MS
is offline. How do I get it online??
Ask your Exchange admin for the correct UNC path to specify that mail
host. Then, in a DOS shell, do an "nslookup <ipname>" (where ipname
is just the hostname) on the IP name you were given to ensure that you
get back an IP address for the IP name that you specify (humans use IP
names, computers use IP addresses, hence why the DNS lookup from IP
name to IP address). You could also do a "tracert <ipname>" to make
sure you can reach that host (so you are not blocked somewhere in your
company's network).
Of course, why are you even asking about connecting to an Exchange
mail host if you are using a web browser (which is what you might have
meant by ".ie account/website"). IE is a web browser, not a local
e-mail client. If you are using a web browser to connect to an
Exchange server, that won't work. Exchange doesn't do HTTP for web
browsing to it. Your company will need to setup "RPC over HTTP" or
use Outlook Web Access to gain access to their Exchange mail host. It
may also be possible if connecting to a work mail host that you must
use a VPN to secure your communications with their mail server and to
more authenticate that you have permissions to use their resources.
Talk to your Exchange admin. They know how they have setup your
access to their Exchange server.
