Novell GroupWise 6.5 Users Handbook - page 122

Chapter 10. Remote Access

With today's mobile workforce, access to email and scheduling information is more critical than ever. If you can access your messaging system regardless of where you are, you can communicate with your customers and co-workers as if you were sitting in your office.

One way to access your GroupWise system when you are away from the office is to use the GroupWise client running in Remote Mode. This chapter addresses how to configure the GroupWise client for remote access. We explain the steps necessary to access information when you're out of the office ”how to request your messages and how to connect to the system and download your messages. We also explain the different techniques to use when you are connected to a network and when you are working offline using a remote mailbox.

NOTE

In addition to the traditional Remote Mode, GroupWise 6.5 has a hybrid mode known as Caching Mode that functions similar to the standard Online Mode but has some Remote Mode characteristics. When you use Caching Mode, you won't notice much difference between the standard Online Mode and the Caching Mode, except perhaps a slight delay in sending and receiving messages. This mode is discussed in this chapter also.

Using GroupWise Remote Mode is just one way to access your GroupWise information when you aren't directly connected to the network. You can use GroupWise WebAccess to access your GroupWise account from any Internet connection. GroupWise WebAccess is explained in Chapter 12, "Mobile GroupWise Access."

Connecting to Your Mailbox Using Remote Mode

You have three options to connect to your GroupWise Mailbox using Remote Mode:

• Modem ” Using a dial-up connection to the GroupWise Async Gateway, which forwards your incoming and outgoing messages.

• Network ” Using a drive letter and path to your post office on a network, possibly achieved through a dial-in, network-connection software package such as NetWare Connect.

• TCP/IP ” Using the TCP/IP address of the GroupWise Mail server that synchronizes your master Mailbox with your remote Mailbox.

Traditionally, the most common method of connecting remotely to a GroupWise mailbox has been to use a dial-up connection through a modem. However, with broadband network access becoming more commonplace, TCP/IP connections are increasingly popular. All three types of connections will be explained in this chapter.

NOTE

Before configuring GroupWise in Remote Mode, you must make sure you are running GroupWise from your local hard drive. In some installations, the GroupWise client might run from a network location. If you are unsure about the location of the GroupWise program, contact your system administrator.

Configuring the GroupWise Client

Two ways exist for beginning the configuration of Remote Mode. We suggest that you configure Remote Mode when you are connected to the network, if possible, because the procedure is automated. You will likely be able to use this method if you have a laptop computer that you use in a docking station when you are in the office and outside of the docking station while away from the office.

Configuring GroupWise Remote When Attached to the Network

To begin installing GroupWise in Remote Mode ( assuming you are logged in to the network), follow these steps:

1. Click Tools, Hit the Road.

2. If you don't have a password on your master Mailbox, you will get a warning dialog box explaining that a password must be set. Click OK and GroupWise lets you set a password by presenting the Security Options dialog box. After you set your password, click Next. The Hit the Road Wizard starts.

3. Select This Machine and click Next.

4. Enter a local path for GroupWise to use for Remote Mode (for example, c:\gwremote ). If the directory you specify does not exist, GroupWise will create it for you. Click Next.

5. Click Yes if you're prompted to create the folder.

6. In the GroupWise Async Gateway box, select the gateway your computer will use for Remote Mode. (If no numbers display, click Next and you will be able to enter the number later.)

7. In the Update Your Remote Mailbox screen, shown in Figure 10.1, select the items you want available to you when you are working remotely.

   Figure 10.1. Use the Update Your Remote Mailbox screen to select which types of GroupWise items you want to have available while you're working offline in Remote Mode.

   

8. Click Finish.

9. If you get a prompt asking you if you want to use your master Mailbox password to access your remote Mailbox, choose Yes or No, depending on your preference. If you answer yes, you will be prompted to enter your password when you launch GroupWise in Remote Mode. We recommend you answer yes in case an unauthorized user gets access to your computer.

10. After you answer the password prompt, the GroupWise client will access your post office and download your Mailbox information to the Remote directory on your computer. You will see the dialog box shown in Figure 10.2.

    Figure 10.2. The Updating Mailbox dialog box shows you the progress of the remote Mailbox update process.

    

You are now ready to use GroupWise in Remote Mode.

Configuring GroupWise Remote When Disconnected from the Network

These instructions make two assumptions:

• That you have already installed the GroupWise client locally on your computer

• That you or your system administrator have set a password on your master Mailbox and you know that password

If either of these assumptions is not valid, contact your system administrator before configuring GroupWise in Remote Mode.

NOTE

To accomplish these steps, you will need to know the name of your GroupWise domain and post office. You can get this information from your system administrator.