Network Share

If you want your clients to run Outlook from a server, you can set up a network share. A network share is a directory on a file server to which users can connect to install and run Outlook. A single network share can be used by multiple clients that use the same network operating system. Users can choose either Typical, Custom, or Run From Network Server installation. The Run from Network Server option leaves most of the Outlook files on the server so that multiple users can share them.

Running Outlook from a server reduces the amount of hard disk space used on client computers but requires continuous access to the network share while Outlook is running.

Setting Up a Network Share

You can create a client installation point for Outlook.

1. Insert the Outlook client compact disc into the appropriate drive.
2. From the Start menu, choose Run and then type Setup /a.
3. Type the name of your organization.
During client installation, Setup uses this name as the organization name for each user.
4. Type the product ID printed on the compact disc package or provided by your licensing agreement.
5. Type the name and path for the directory where you want to store Outlook program files.
6. Type the name and path for the directory where you want to store the shared program files.
7. Under Network Location, type the server name and path for the shared programs folder.
This is the path that users type when they install Outlook.
8. Under Connect To Server Using, select Server Name if you want users to access the directory using a univeral naming convention (UNC) path.
-or-

Select Drive Letter and type a drive letter if you want users to connect to the server using a drive letter.

Setup attempts to connect to the server and displays an error if it cannot connect.

If the error is caused by this	Do this
Misspelled server or share name	Choose Edit and correct the name.
Share not yet created	Choose Continue and create the share before users begin installing Outlook.
Cannot connect to a local share on the server	Choose Continue; you can verify the share later from another computer on the network.
Invalid UNC path	Choose Continue; you can verify the share later from another computer on the network.