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Systems and Technologies

Frequently Asked Questions: Using Outlook with RIT's Exchange Environment

What is Microsoft Outlook?

Microsoft Outlook is Microsoft's premiere personal information management and e-mail client program for Windows computers. Outlook allows you to manage a personal calendar, to-do list, and contact list. More importantly, Outlook is an e-mail client program, which allows you to access and manage your electronic mail. For more information on Outlook go to: http://www.microsoft.com/office/outlook/default.htm.

How do I get Outlook?

Microsoft includes Outlook as part of the Microsoft Office suite of programs for Windows computers - you can only get Outlook as part of Microsoft Office. You can obtain Office by purchasing it from the RIT Bookstore, through ITS, or other authorized Microsoft resellers. Fortunately for RIT faculty and staff, Microsoft Office is provided on the standard disk image that comes pre-installed with RIT standard Windows computers.

What version of Outlook should I use?

ITS recommends and supports Outlook versions 98, 2000 and 2002. You should also install the latest Microsoft Office Service Releases and Service Packs. ITS does not recommend or support Outlook 97.

Can I use newsgroups with Outlook?

For a number of years, ITS provided a news server on the RIT campus, technically called NNTP UseNet. With the proliferation of the World Wide Web this service is now rarely utilized, but continues to consume very large amounts of bandwidth on the RIT network.

For these reasons, and since text news groups can be found at a number of free web sites, including http://groups.google.com/. ITS no longer be provides this service.

Can I use my Outlook client outside of RIT's Network?

MAPI connections are only available from off-campus when you are connected through VPN (link to VPN). You may also use Outlook Web Access (OWA) to access your e-mail from the internet or set up your client with an IMAP connection to access your email.

If specific instructions for your client are not listed you may use the Quick Reference Guide for Exchange Mail: http://www.rit.edu/its/services/email/setup/setup_exchange_quick_reference.html