Special Edition Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5

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- 20 -
Using the Microsoft Mail Connector for AppleTalk Networks



This chapter delineates how to establish a messaging link between Microsoft Exchange and a Macintosh Server running Microsoft Mail for AppleTalk networks. Unlike a Microsoft Mail for PC network, Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) does not use the Post Office paradigm. Therefore, the process of connecting to a Microsoft Exchange Server is more complex. The Macintosh Server believes it is communicating with a standard Microsoft Mail (PC) Post Office. Microsoft Mail for AppleTalk uses a special gateway component to communicate with the Microsoft Exchange Microsoft Mail Connector. Respectively, the Microsoft Exchange Microsoft Mail Connector has specific configuration settings and a message queue for Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) connections as well. Any configuration pertaining to Microsoft Exchange communicating with Microsoft Mail Post Offices is not applicable.

Introduction to the Microsoft Mail Connector

This section describes how you use connectors to establish a link between Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) Servers.

The two core Exchange Microsoft Mail Connector components are the following:

Microsoft Exchange also includes one additional component for communication with Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) Servers:

The following explains the procedure for connecting Microsoft Exchange to a Microsoft Mail for AppleTalk network:

1. Set up all necessary network connections between the systems.

2. Install and set up the Exchange Microsoft Mail Connector.

3. Place the Connector Post Office on a Macintosh-accessible NTFS volume.

4. Configure the Exchange Microsoft Mail Connector to communicate with Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) Servers. This includes starting the Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) MTA service.

5. Install and configure the Microsoft Exchange Connection software on the Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) gateway server.

6. Enter address space entries for the Microsoft (AppleTalk) Server. Test the configurations for correct message routing between systems.

7. If you want additional Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) Servers to communicate indirectly with the Exchange Server, install and configure the gateway access component on each Macintosh Server.

8. Test the transfer of messages to indirectly connected Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) Servers, if applicable.

9. After messages route properly to all servers, set up directory synchronization to maintain up-to-date address lists among systems.

The preceding steps conclude the introduction to connecting Microsoft Exchange to a Microsoft Mail for AppleTalk network. In the next section, you take a closer look at Exchange by starting with installing Services for Macintosh.

Installing Services for Macintosh

The following procedures define the configuration of the Microsoft Exchange Server to support Microsoft Mail for AppleTalk networks. Windows NT Services for Macintosh enables your server to communicate over Apple's native AppleTalk protocol. The requirements for installing Services for Macintosh include 2M of hard disk space and an NTFS Macintosh-Accessible Volume to enable Macintosh Clients to access resources on the Windows NT Server.

The following steps offer a quick guideline for installing Windows NT Services for Macintosh:

1. Open the Control Panel and double-click the Networking icon (see Figure 20.1).

FIG. 20.1 The Windows NT Network is part of your Windows NT Server.

2. If Services for Macintosh is not listed in the Installed Network Software scroll box, it is not installed. Click Add Software. The Network dialog box appears (see Figure 20.2).

FIG. 20.2 Select Services for Macintosh in the list of available components.

3. Select Services for Macintosh from the list of available network software. Click Continue.

4. Type the directory path to your Windows NT Server source files, such as CD-ROM, floppy disk, or server volume. Click Continue.

5. After the services are installed, the program returns to the Network Services dialog box. Services for Macintosh should now appear in the Installed Network Software list on the Services tab of the Network applet.

6. Click OK to complete service installation.

7. The system prompts you to restart your server to update the Network settings.

8. Click Restart now. Alternatively, you can click Don't Restart Now to return to the Windows NT screen.

Consult your Windows NT Server documentation for more advanced configuration and support information.


NOTE: If you choose not to restart immediately, the Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) configuration cannot complete until you restart the system.

Creating a Macintosh-Accessible Volume

You must create a Macintosh-Accessible Volume on the Windows NT Server, so that your Microsoft Mail AppleTalk Server is capable of seeing your Microsoft Exchange Server on the network. The volume itself is a shared directory within an NTFS partition, which is configured for connection from a Macintosh Server. You must configure the Macintosh Server to automatically log on to this volume upon initialization.

The following steps demonstrate how to create and configure a Macintosh-Accessible Volume:


NOTE: For more information on Macintosh-Accessible Volumes, refer to your Windows NT Server documentation.
1. Open the Windows NT Explorer.

2. From Windows NT Explorer, find the following folder.

<Drive Letter where Microsoft Exchange is installed>: \EXCHSRVR\CONNECT\MSCON\MAILDATA


NOTE: This assumes that you named the main Exchange directory EXCHSRVR during installation.
3. From the MacFile menu, choose Create Volume. Recall that a Macintosh-Accessible Volume is nothing more than a shared directory. The Create Macintosh-Accessible Volume dialog box appears (see Figure 20.3).

FIG. 20.3 Create a New Macintosh-Accessible Volume from the MacFile menu.

4. The Volume Name should be MAILDATA.

5. Enter a password. Users connecting from Macintosh workstations must enter a password to access the volume. The password applies only to Macintosh users. Non-Macintosh users are not required to provide a password when accessing the same directory structure through a share name. Enter confirm password.

6. For enhanced security, clear the Guests Can Use This Volume checkbox.

7. Confirm that This Volume is a Read-only remains deselected.

8. Be sure that the Unlimited User Limit option button is selected.

9. At this time, you may click the Permissions button to assign permission to those users that you want to access this volume or click OK to return to the MacFile dialog box.

Configuring Macintosh-Accessible Volume Permissions

After creating a Macintosh-Accessible Volume, you must define what users and groups will have permission to access the volume. If you do not complete this step when creating the Macintosh-Accessible Volume, you can complete the configuration in the Macintosh-Accessible Volume Permissions dialog box. This dialog box is almost identical to the Macintosh File Sharing dialog box. In this box, select the users or groups that have access rights to the volume. The following steps guide you through assigning access rights to the Macintosh-Accessible Volume:

1. You can use two methods to open the permissions for a Macintosh-Accessible Volume. You can click Permissions from the Create Macintosh-Accessible Volume dialog box. Alternatively, you can choose the volume from the Explorer. Then choose Permissions from the MacFile menu. The Macintosh View of Directory Permissions dialog box appears (see Figure 20.4).

2. Use the (ellipses) buttons to configure an Owner and Primary Group for this volume. The configurations determine who is able to connect to the volume through the Macintosh Chooser.

FIG. 20.4 You can set access permission for this volume.

3. Confirm that See Files, See Folders, and Make Changes permissions remain checked for the Owner and Primary Group.

4. Clear the check boxes pertaining to Everyone. This prevents anyone, except those users contained in Owner and Primary Group, from using this volume. By default, the Everyone permissions are checked.

5. Select the Replace Permissions on Subdirectories check box. This permission gives all directories within the current one permission settings identical to the ones on this page. By default, this box is not checked.

6. Click OK to set the permissions and return to the explorer.

After setting permissions on the Macintosh-Accessible Volume, the next logical step is to test the connection.

Testing Connection to the Macintosh-Accessible Volume

Upon completion of the Macintosh-Accessible Volume, the directory is now available for connection through the Macintosh Chooser. To confirm accessibility, you can test a manual connection by using the following steps:

1. Open the Chooser application from your Macintosh's Apple menu.

2. Click the AppleShare icon in the Chooser. Then select the AppleTalk Zone, if applicable, in which your Microsoft Exchange Server is located.

The Microsoft Exchange Server should now be listed in the Select a File Server display window.

3. Click the Microsoft Exchange Server's name. Then click OK.

4. On the Connect dialog box, make sure the Registered User option button is selected. Enter the user Name and Password for this server. Then click OK.

5. After authentication, a list of available Macintosh-Accessible Volumes displays in the Select the Items You Want to Use: window.

Your newly created MAILDATA (or whatever customized name you chose) volume should appear on the list.

If the Microsoft Exchange volume does not appear, repeat the preceding steps for creating and configuring a Macintosh-Accessible Volume. Otherwise, proceed to the following section.

Configuring the Microsoft Mail Connector for Use

After configuring the network link between the Macintosh Server and Microsoft Exchange, the next step is to configure the Microsoft Exchange Microsoft Mail Connector to send and receive messages with the Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) Server.

The following explains the property pages for the Microsoft Exchange Microsoft Mail Connector, as well as how you should configure the connector to work with AppleTalk networks:

Configuring Exchange Microsoft Mail Connector Properties

This section covers the installation of Microsoft Mail Connector properties primarily corresponding to communication with Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) Servers. For a complete guide to the Microsoft Mail Connector, see Chapter 19, "Using the Microsoft Mail Connector for PC Networks."

The Interchange Page

Use the Interchange page to configure the Microsoft Mail Connector (AppleTalk) MTA. The following steps guide you through the Interchange configuration:

1. Open the Microsoft Exchange Administrator program. Select the site from the Organization list and the Microsoft Exchange Server name from the site. Select Connections from the list and click the Microsoft Mail Connector. The Microsoft Mail Connector property pages appear.

2. Select the Interchange tab. The Microsoft Mail Connector (GARLAND01) Properties page appears (see Figure 20.5).

FIG. 20.5 In the Microsoft Mail Connector Interchange property page, you can designate mailboxes.

3. From the Interchange tab, identify the administrator account for the Administrator's mailbox. This account receives system information and alert messages from the Connector in the case of nondelivery of mail and failed messages.


TIP: For larger organizations, create a POSTMASTER account to receive the potentially large volume of status messages. This way, one administrator mailbox is not burdened with an extra message load. In addition, other administrators can view the delivery messages without logging on to a general administrator mailbox or any recipient's personal mail.
4. Next, select the Primary Language for the recipients from the pull-down menu. Use the primary language for interoperability with Microsoft Mail Clients using an alternate language.

5. Check the Maximize Microsoft Mail 3.x Compatibility box to provide for OLE compatibility in messages transferred between older version applications used in Microsoft Mail Clients and the new version applications of Exchange Clients.

6. Ensure the Enable Message Tracking check box is cleared. You should select this option only for message tracking for troubleshooting purposes. For more information on message tracking for troubleshooting purposes, see Chapter 28, "Troubleshooting Exchange with Diagnostic Tools."

After configuring the Interchange property page, the AppleTalk MTA settings should be configured. The following section discusses these settings.

The Mail Connector AppleTalk MTA Dialog Box

To open a messaging link between Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk), you must configure the Microsoft Mail Connector AppleTalk Message Transfer Agent (MTA). Complete the following required steps:

1. Click the Configure button under the Microsoft Mail Connector (AppleTalk) MTA. The Microsoft Mail Connector (Apple Talk) MTA Options dialog box appears (see Figure 20.6).

2. Select the Enable Microsoft Mail Connector AppleTalk MTA option button under the Set Status window.


NOTE: Enabling the AppleTalk MTA adds the property to the list of services in the Services applet of the Control Panel.
3. Select the Start Automatically at System Startup option button to configure this option. Subsequently, by default, this option will be selected. Click OK to return to the Interchange property page.


NOTE: Typically, the automatic startup should remain selected. If you have a situation that requires troubleshooting in which you require manual control of the Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) MTA, select the Manual Start option button.

FIG. 20.6 You can view and set Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) MTA service status.

4. Click Apply to set the properties and continue with the remaining configuration of the Microsoft Mail AppleTalk Connector.

The preceding steps conclude the configuration of the Microsoft Mail Connector AppleTalk Message Transfer Agent (MTA).

The Local Postoffice Page

The Local Postoffice information identifies the Microsoft Mail Connector Post Office to the Macintosh Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) Servers and any Microsoft Mail Post Offices on the network. The following steps outline the configuration of the Local Postoffice page:

1. Select the Local Postoffice tab from the Microsoft Mail Connector property pages. The Microsoft Mail Connector (GARLAND01) Properties page appears (see Figure 20.7).

2. Enter the Microsoft Mail Network name for this post office. By default, the name is the Microsoft Exchange organization name.

3. Enter a post office used to identify this connector to other Microsoft Mail Servers. By default, the name is the Microsoft Exchange Server's name.

4. Enter a Sign-on Password used to authenticate other mail systems. By default, this is set to PASSWORD. You should change it for security reasons.

5. If you make any changes to post office settings, click Regenerate to rebuild addressing data.


NOTE: To make Local Postoffice information changes take effect immediately, you must restart the Connector Interchange service as well as the Microsoft Mail MTAs.
6. Click Apply to set the properties and continue with other properties.

7. When you finish with all settings, click OK to set them and return to the Administrator program.

FIG. 20.7 You can configure the local Microsoft Mail Connector Postoffice information.

The Connections Page

The Connections property page enables you to view the Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) MTA message queue. Options such as Modify, Delete, and Create, are available only for Microsoft Mail (PC) connections. The MTA queue lists all outgoing messages awaiting transmission by the Microsoft Mail AppleTalk message transfer agent.

To view the Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) MTA message queue, complete the following steps:

1. Select the Connections tab from the Microsoft Mail Connector Properties page. The Microsoft Mail Connector (GARLAND01) Properties page appears (see Figure 20.8).

FIG. 20.8 The Connections tab enables you to view the Microsoft Mail Connector AppleTalk message queue.

2. The Connections dialog box displays all current Microsoft Mail connections.

3. Click the AppleTalk Mail entry in the window. Note that the Modify and Delete buttons are dimmed.

4. Click the Queue button to view the Queued Messages dialog box for AppleTalk Mail. (see Figure 20.9).

5. The Queued Messages window shows the current messages awaiting delivery by this MTA.

From The message sender
Subject The information on the message's Subject line
Message ID The Microsoft Exchange message identification code
Date/Time The date and time the message entered the queue

6. Click Refresh to update the message list.


TIP: The queued message window is a listing of messages awaiting delivery at that moment. To get a more dynamic view of messages passing through the connector, you must repeatedly click the Refresh button. Clicking this button also gives you the latest updates.

FIG. 20.9 The Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) message queue displays the pertinent information on current messages.

7. Select a message. The Delete tab enables you to remove a message for the message queue. If Send Non-Delivery Reports When Messages Deleted is checked, the message sender is notified of the deletion.

8. Select a message. The Return tab removes the message from the queue and returns it to the sender.

9. After viewing the Microsoft Mail Connector AppleTalk message queue, click Close to return to the Connections property page.

Configuring Macintosh Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk)

This section describes the configuration required on the Macintosh side of the Microsoft Exchange/Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) connection.

The following are the Macintosh Server configuration elements:

Complete the following steps to log in to the connector Post Office:

1. Open the Chooser application from your Macintosh Apple menu and click the AppleShare icon.

2. Then select the AppleTalk Zone in which your Microsoft Exchange Server is located.

The Microsoft Exchange Server should now be listed in the Select a File Server display window.

3. Click the Microsoft Exchange Server's name. Then click OK.

4. On the Connect dialog box, make sure the Registered User option button is selected. Enter the user Name and Password required to access this volume. Click OK.

5. After you are authenticated, a list of available Macintosh-Accessible Volumes displays in the Select the Items You Want to Use: window.

The MAILDATA, or the customized name volume should appear on the list.

6. Select Maildata volume.

7. Select the check box to the right of the Maildata volume to have this volume automatically mounted every time the Macintosh Server starts up.

Select the Save My Name Only option button to request your password when the volume attempts to mount at startup.

Select Save My Name and Password to store your logon data, and then automatically authenticate your connection when the Macintosh starts up.

8. Click OK to mount the volume.

After following these steps, the Maildata volume mounts.

Installing the Microsoft Exchange Connection Gateway

The Microsoft Exchange Connection Gateway is provided with your Microsoft Mail Connector software. Install the Microsoft Exchange Connection Gateway on your Macintosh Microsoft Mail Server to enable connectivity to the Microsoft Exchange Connector Post Office.

The following section assumes that you have installed Microsoft Mail for AppleTalk Networks, and it is properly running on your Macintosh Server.

The following steps guide you through installing the Connection Gateway on your Macintosh Server:

1. Log on to your Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) Server as Network Manager.

2. Load the disk containing the Exchange Connection Installer. Open the installer application. The Connection Installer dialog box appears.

If no previous gateways have been installed, the Gateways Installed on This Server: window appears blank.

3. Choose Install Gateway from the Gateway menu.

4. Select the GW icon from the dialog box and click Install. The dialog box appears.

5. Enter a unique Gateway ID. The Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) Server uses this identifier to distinguish each gateway. By default, the ID for this gateway is NC.

6. Enter a Gateway name as you want it to display in the gateway list. Click OK. The dialog box appears.

7. Select which gateway templates to install for this gateway. Choose only those that you can access through this gateway or those typically used in your Microsoft Exchange organization. Click OK.


NOTE: A gateway template becomes available in your Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) Client, so you can create custom recipients for other messaging systems.
8. The Gateway is installed. Now, switch to your Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) Client still logged in as Network Manager.

Configuring the Exchange Connection

With the Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) Client, you may proceed to configure various gateway and post office connection options.


NOTE: You must be logged in as Network Manager to administer a Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) Server.

Specify the post office location and general gateway configuration by following these steps:

1. Select Gateway. Then choose Configuration from the Mail menu.

2. A dialog box prompts you to locate the Connection Store (MacGate) directory. Click OK.

3. Scroll through the MAILDATA volume and locate the MACGATE folder. Click Open.

4. Enter a Blocking Factor value. This value limits the number of messages that can transfer with each gateway cycle.

5. Enter an Aging Factor value. This is the amount of time, in minutes, that a message can remain in the Microsoft Mail Connector Post Office before a notification message is sent to the Network Manager.


NOTE: Setting the Aging Factor to zero turns off notification.
6. Set the Max Size value. Messages exceeding this size (including attachments) cannot pass through this gateway. By default, this size is 100 kilobytes.

7. Select a logging level for this gateway. Select one of the three option buttons: Critical, Errors, or Details.

The gateway is now configured. Follow the next section to schedule gateway connections.

Scheduling Gateway Connections

The schedule screen is functionally similar to Microsoft Exchange's schedule property pages. Use this dialog box to configure at what times during the day the gateway connects to the Microsoft Mail Connector Post Office. You should base your decision for the time of the day the gateway connects to the Microsoft Mail Connector Post Office on factors particular to your environment. For most, bandwidth, server loads, and connection costs (for example, over leased lines or ISDN) are the limiting factors in the decision. If bandwidth or line costs are not an issue in your case, set the connection times as frequently as you want.

To set connection times, follow these steps:

1. Select Gateway. Then choose Connect Times from the Mail menu. A schedule grid appears for you to set connection times.

2. Select the option button that determines how frequently you want this gateway to initiate connection.

The Never button effectively deactivates the gateway.

The Always button connects at the interval (in minutes) set at the bottom of this dialog box.

The At the Times Selected in the Chart Below button defines connection times by those that are highlighted in the time grid.

3. Select the Connect Immediately When There is Outgoing Mail check box to initiate a gateway connection as soon as a message is sent to the gateway.

4. If you chose the Selected Times option, use the time grid to mark the specific time you want the gateway to connect and transfer messages.

The connection schedule has now been set.

Installing an Access Gateway

After you have installed and configured the Connection Gateway, you can install additional access gateways on your Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) system. This enables other Macintosh Microsoft Mail Servers to communicate with Microsoft Exchange and all its gateways and connectors.

You install an Access Connection Gateway by completing the following two steps:

1. Extract the Access gateway from the Microsoft Exchange Connection Gateway.

2. Install the Access gateway on another Microsoft Mail (AppleTalk) Server.

For step-by-step procedures for additional gateway installations, consult your gateway documentation. l


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