Understanding Deployment Options

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To centralize Exchange management, there are standard tools and enhancements in technologies that are part of the Windows Server family operating systems, enabling Exchange administrators to leverage their flexibility when deploying the Exchange 2003 Outlook client. Organizations can now use a variety of deployment methods and preconfiguration options to configure and deploy, as well as support, Exchange Outlook clients and remote and mobile systems.

As organizations begin the planning process, administrators and planners can adopt different deployment methods and execute client installations based on the type of client and the specific need for each type of client desktop. This section explores the different options available to deploy the Exchange 2003 Outlook client software to desktops in the enterprise and options and steps to configure the Outlook client options and methods for generating Exchange client profiles.

Available Methods of Deployment

With multiple options available, client deployments can be performed on many levels not previously available when installing the Outlook desktop client software. With integration between Windows 2003 and Exchange as well as new tools available to administrators, Outlook 2003 can be pushed to the desktop using any of the following methods:

  • Manual Installation Standard Installation enables administrators to incorporate configuration files with the installation process, define baseline settings and manually test the installation when complete.

  • Windows 2003 Group Policy Leveraging Group Policy Software Installation technologies and Microsoft Office 2003 Security Templates, Outlook clients can be pushed to desktop systems on the network. Using Group Policy, administrators can centrally configure Outlook Security and user options and enforce a baseline configuration of Outlook to all client systems.

  • Imaging Technologies When upgrading to Outlook or deploying new installations, organizations can image the Outlook client to the desktop or refresh the desktop image.

  • Systems Management Server Using Microsoft Systems Management Server, you can centrally deploy and push the Outlook client to large numbers of desktop systems through multiple locations in the enterprise. This option also enables tracking and information to manage a full Exchange Outlook client deployment.

Outlook Profile Generation

Most likely one of the biggest challenges to Exchange administrators is configuring Outlook profiles to communicate with Exchange 2003 Server. To automate this task, profiles can be scripted using tools available with the Office 2003 Resource Kit (ORK) from Microsoft.

Along with pushing clients using the methods described earlier, Outlook client profiles and Outlook Exchange server settings can be configured using the Custom Installation Wizard (CIW) and configuration files created with Outlook option settings.

Use the Office 2003 Custom Installation Wizard to create a PRF file setting that can be specified to configure the Outlook client profile and Outlook mail services options that set up the user profile.

Tool and Utilities

The Custom Installation Wizard and Microsoft Outlook profile generation tools and additional utilities can be found on the Office 2003 Resource Kit (ORK).

Download the Office Resource kit at www.Microsoft.com/office/ork/2003/default.htm.

With pre-Outlook XP/2002 releases, use the NewProf.exe utility that is installed in the Outlook installation directory to dynanically configure Outlook profiles.


With older versions Outlook, the NewProf.exe executable file is used to automatically generate Outlook user profiles after the installation of the client software is completed. Used in conjunction with a PRF file, this tool can also be used to specify user Outlook profile information and settings on a new Outlook client installation.

Configuring Outlook Client Options

Another enhanced functionality available to administrators when installing the Exchange 2003 Outlook client is the ability to predefine and set configuration options dynamically after the installation of the Outlook client software has finished.

Custom Installation Wizard

To deploy the Outlook client to desktops on the network with configuration options predefined, powerful tools such as the CIW, along with Office configuration files OSP and PRF, can be leveraged to define Outlook client options for large deployments with the need to specify client user options.

Windows Server Group Policy

An effective configuration option is the centralized management available through the Security Template for Outlook 2003. With the Group Policy feature of Windows Server 2003, standard and advanced options can be configured and established after the client is deployed. This option is effective because the options are configured after all clients with the setting are applied.

Transforms

The final option for defining Outlook client setting and configuration options is the Office Transforms. Transforms are configuration files used with the Windows Installer that contain information and modifications that will be applied to the Outlook client during installation.

This option is also created using the CIW and using the MST file extension.

Deploying Non “Windows-Based Options

With a variety of client systems to support, one other area to understand is how to deploy the Microsoft Outlook client for non “Windows-based systems, such as Macintosh desktops. To understand the installation process and configuration options for the types of clients, see Chapter 27, "Outlook for Non-Windows Systems."

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Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Unleashed
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Unleashed (2nd Edition)
ISBN: 0672328070
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 393
Authors: Rand Morimoto

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