VPN? No need with Outlook Anywhere @outlookanywhere This feature requires you to use a Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 or Exchange Server 2007 account. Most home and personal accounts do not use Microsoft Exchange. For more information about Microsoft Exchange accounts and how to determine which version of Exchange your account connects to, see the links in the See Also section.

In a local area network (LAN) (LAN: A computer network technology designed to connect computers separated by a short distance. A local area network (LAN) can be connected to the Internet and can also be configured as an intranet.) environment, communicates with Exchange by using remote procedure call (RPC) (remote procedure call (RPC): In programming, a request by one program to a second program on a remote system. The second program generally performs a task and returns the results of that task to the first program.) with Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). This method provides quick and efficient access in a corporate network. However, access to Exchange when you are outside of your organization's firewall, such as when you are at home or traveling, usually requires a virtual private network (VPN) (virtual private network (VPN): Extension of a private network encompassing encapsulated, encrypted, and authenticated links across shared or public networks. VPN connections provide remote access and connections to private networks over the Internet.) connection to the organization's network. A VPN provides you with a connection within an organization's network and within its firewall. A VPN also enables access to more network services than those required for just e-mail access.

System requirements

There are several minimum requirements for using Outlook Anywhere. If your computer and Exchange do not meet all requirements for this feature, these options will not be available. The requirements include:

• Your computer must have Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 or a later service pack.
• Your account be hosted on Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 or Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 running on Microsoft Windows Server 2003.
• Your Exchange administrator must configure the server to permit connections via HTTP. For more information about configuring this feature, see the Microsoft Office Resource Kit and the Microsoft Exchange documentation.