Q. How can I force my Microsoft Outlook 2007 client to a
particular autodiscovery server?
A. By default, Outlook 2007 clients try to discover their
configuration automatically by searching for various DNS records based on the
user’s email address. However, you can use an XML file to force Outlook to a
particular address for a domain without using DNS records, or perhaps you want
to override what might be configured in DNS.
First, create an XML file of the format below:
<?xml version="1.0"
encoding="utf-8"?>
<Autodiscover
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/exchange/autodiscover/responseschema/2006"><Response
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/exchange/autodiscover/outlook/responseschema/2006a">
<Account>
<Action>redirectUrl</Action>
<RedirectUrl>https://exchange.savilltech.com/autodiscover/autodiscover.xml</RedirectUrl>
</Account>
</Response></Autodiscover>
Now, you need to link to the XML file in the registry. To do
so, open your favorite registry editor (e.g., regedit.exe), and go to the
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Outlook\AutoDiscover subkey.
From the Edit menu, select New, String Value. Enter the name of the domain
(e.g., savilltech.com), set the value to the location of the XML file (e.g.,
D:\auto\autodiscover.xml), and click OK. Close the registry editor.
Finally, open the computer’s Hosts file in the
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc folder and add an autodiscover.(domain) record
for the 127.0.0.1 address (loopback). For example,
127.0.0.1 autodiscover.savilltech.com
When you restart Outlook, the system will use the new
autodiscover location.
Tip by John Savill
Anne Grubb, Web Site Strategic Editor
Windows IT Pro