Exchange ActiveSync relationships and server migrations

April 17, 2009

Ever wondered what happens with ActiveSync relationships on mobile devices when you replace the Exchange server published to the internet?

1. If you move a mailbox from Exchange 2003 to Exchange 2003 or to Exchange 2007 RTM, you have to recreate the partnership manually.

2. If you move mailbox to Exchange 2007 SP1, there is no need to re-create the partnership manually.

3. Please note the certificate should be the same. Otherwise, you will encounter issues with certificate in Exchange ActiveSync.

For more information on how to re-create the partnership manually, see this article on the Exchange Team`s blog.

In previous versions of Microsoft Exchange Server, if you moved your mailbox to an upgraded server (such as Exchange Server 2003 to Exchange Server 2007 RTM) re-creating the partnership was required. However, if you move your mailbox to an Exchange Server 2007 with Service Pack 1, the new Sync State Upgrade feature is built into Move Mailbox and will allow you to continue synchronizing your device without resetting your partnership.

For more information on the Move-Mailbox cmdlet, see this article on TechNet.

In Exchange 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1), if you move a mailbox to which a mobile device is synchronized using Exchange ActiveSync, the sync state of the mailbox is updated automatically during the move. You do not need to perform any additional steps, and the user does not need to again sync the device after a mailbox move.

Although you don’t move mailboxes, if you add a CAS server and users use the CAS server to maintain their Exchange ActiveSync access, you need to note the following:

In order for your users to continue to synchronize their mobile devices via Exchange ActiveSync with their mailboxes hosted on Exchange 2003 mailbox servers, you will need to ensure that Integrated Windows Authentication is enabled on all of the Exchange ActiveSync virtual directories (Microsoft-Server-ActiveSync) on Exchange 2003 mailbox servers.

For more information on how Exchange 2003 mailboxes are maintained after the Exchange 2007 CAS role are introduced in the environment, please see this article on the Exchange Team`s blog.

Leave a Comment » | Exchange 2003, Exchange ActiveSync, Exchange Server 2007, Migration | Permalink
Posted by Jan Egil Ring

Shared Address Space in Exchange 2007

April 14, 2009

In some scenarios there might be a need to configure a so called “Shared Address Space” in Exchange. E.g. a POP3-connector software might be configured to download messages from a POP3-server and deliver them to specific Exchange mailboxes.
If the Exchange users also want to have the external domain as “Reply to”-addresses and/or added as SMTP-addresses on their mailboxes, the domain must be added as an Accepted Domain in the Exchange Organization. When configuring this, it`s important to configure the domain as the correct type of domain:

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If configured as the default type “Authoritative Domain”, Exchange think it is the only messaging system being responsible for that domain. This would result in Non Delivery Reports if users tries to send messages to users in the affecting domain, who does not reside in the local domain. In the “Shared Address Space”-scenario, the correct type of domain is “External Relay Domain”. When choosing this, Exchange will first check the local domain to try to locate recipient address. If not found, the message will be routed through the Send-connector closest to the remote domain (usually the internet-connector with the address space *).

This article on TechNet explains the scenario in further detail.

Leave a Comment » | Exchange Server 2007 | Permalink
Posted by Jan Egil Ring

Exchange Circular Logging in SBS 2008

April 13, 2009

While studying for exam 70-653 (SBS 2008, Configuring) I got aware of the fact that Circular Logging in Exchange 2007 are enabled by default in Small Business Server 2008. When the “Configure server backup”-wizard are run,  Circular Logging are automatically disabled afterwards.

For those using a 3rd party backup software this means that Circular Logging must be manually disabled. This is a real gotcha which should be stated clearer for SBS admins in my opinion.

Like I`ve configured in one scenario, backup are set up on a separate server using 3rd party backup software. Still the “Windows SBS Console” shows a warning stating that “Backup is not configured”. I contacted Microsoft support asking if it is possible to disable this warning, which it turned out to not be. I think there should be an option for choosing that the integrated Windows Server backup (which can`t backup to tape drives like NTBackup did) will not be used in the “Configure server backup”-wizard, in addition to giving the option whether to disable Circular Logging.

Hopefully this will be implemented in a future SBS Service Pack :)

Leave a Comment » | Exchange Server 2007, SBS 2008 | Permalink
Posted by Jan Egil Ring

Outlook Web Access not working after applying an Exchange 2007 Update Roll-up

March 23, 2009

I`ve just installed Update Roll-up 7 for Exchange 2007 SP1, and afterwards the Outlook Web Access showed a blank page and there was a yellow exclamation mark in the bottom left corner, which stated “syntax error on line 6 of login.aspx”.

I first tried the solution Microsoft provided in this support forum thread, although it didn`t work for me.
I had to re-create the OWA Virtual directory.

I accomplished this using these two PowerShell commands from the Exchange Management Shell:

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Actually the Microsoft Exchange Team stated the following reminder in the blog post regarding Update Roll-up 7:

“And finally, from the installation perspective, a friendly reminder that the roll-up installer will overwrite any OWA script files if required to ensure proper operation of OWA. So if you have customized the logon.aspx page or other similar OWA pages, you will need to redo any customization after installation of the roll-up.”

My recommendation would be to backup the C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\ClientAccess\OWA folder before installing an Exchange 2007 Update Roll-up.

Leave a Comment » | Exchange Server 2007, Exchange Server management | Permalink
Posted by Jan Egil Ring