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How
to configure Exchange ActiveSync on Windows Mobile
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Shijaz Abdulla, MVP |
This article explains how to configure
Exchange 2003 to enable Exchange ActiveSync services and to configure devices
running Windows Mobile 2003 and Windows Mobile 5.0 to connect to the service.
This article also explains how to
publish Exchange ActiveSync on ISA Server 2004.
Background
Exchange ActiveSync is a feature that
allows you to synchronize your Outlook contacts, calendar, tasks and email with
those on your Windows-powered smartphone/PDA via a GPRS or Wireless connection.
Unlike the normal ActiveSync where
information is synchronized between a PC and a device, Exchange ActiveSync is a
form of server synchronization, wherein the device establishes a connection
with the Exchange Server itself.
This article explains how to enable
Exchange ActiveSync over HTTP. If you wish to use SSL (HTTPS), you will need to
install certificates. You need to follow the steps described in the article: How to configure OWA over SSL
Prerequisites
(Really IMPORTANT!)
- Install
latest Service Packs on Windows Server as well as Exchange Server. There
are lots of mobile enhancements with Exchange Server SP2.
- Install
the latest ROM updates on your PDA. This is really important. I once had a
tough time configuring an i-mate K-JAM running Windows Mobile 5.0. It
simply wouldn’t synchronize. It gave an error 0x85010001. No help
on the internet (as usual). I finally went to the Club i-mate website and
downloaded the (free) ROM update and it worked like a treat! Before you
continue, make sure your device ROM is up-to-date.
- Your
device should be running Windows Mobile for Exchange ActiveSync to work.
However, if you are using a Symbian device (Symbian UIX or Symbian 80
series) you can use a third-party tool called RoadSync
that supports Exchange ActiveSync. This comes at an additional cost.
How
your IIS should look like:
The settings on IIS installed on your
Exchange server should look like this:
- Windows Integrated Authentication should be enabled
on the Exchange virtual directory on the Exchange server.
- Kerberos should be enabled via the IIS
metabase (see KB Article 215383. HOW TO: Configure IIS
to Support Both Kerberos and NTLM Authentication )
- SSL certificate to be installed (recommended). See article.
Instructions
Step 1.
Configuring
Exchange Server 2003
1. On the
Exchange Server, open System Manager.
2. Under Global Settings, right click on Mobile
Services, and click Properties.
3. On the General tab, make the selections as
shown above.
Step 2.
Check if
Exchange ActiveSync is working
1. Open the
browser on any machine connected to your LAN.
2. Type in the
URL: http://mailserver/Microsoft-Server-Activesync
where mailserver is the hostname of your exchange server.
3. You should
receive an Error 501/505 – Not
implemented or supported. This condition states that everything is normal!
If you don’t get this error, or if you get a 404, then you have a problem. Make
sure IIS & Exchange services are running. If problem still persists, you
may need to regenerate the Exchange virtual directories on IIS. For more
information see the article.
Step 3.
Publishing on
ISA 2004
You can skip
this section if:
·
you
do not have ISA 2004 firewall in your organization,
·
if
you do not want to publish ActiveSync,
·
if
you have already published OWA
1. Open ISA Server Management Console.
2. Right-click on
firewall policy, choose New > Web
Server Publishing Rule.
3. Type a
descriptive name for the rule such as “ActiveSync publishing”
4. Choose Allow. Click Next.
5. On the Define Website to Publish page, specify
the computer name or IP address of your exchange server. Leave everything else
as default. Click Next.
6. On the Public Name Details page, choose Any domain name (if you don’t have any
other web servers) and click Next.
7. On the Select Web Listener page, select a web
listener for Port 80 that will listen for requests to be redirected to your
Exchange server. If you do not already have a web listener, you will have to
create one. Use the following settings:
i. Name: Web
Listener for Exchange ActiveSync
ii. IP Addresses:
Listen on External network
iii. Port
Specification: HTTP, Port 80 (default settings). If you are publishing over
SSL, you need to select SSL, Port 443 and
provide the certificate details. If using SSL, be sure that you have enabled
SSL on IIS in the Exchange server. For more information, refer the article How to configure OWA over SSL.
8. On the User Sets page, verify All Users is present (default).
9. Click Finish and Apply.
Step 4.
Configuring
Windows Mobile 2003 devices
1. On the device,
select ActiveSync from the Programs menu.
2. On the Tools menu, tap the Settings option.
i. If you are
configuring to synchronize over a local wireless LAN, enter the DNS name of
your Exchange server. You must make sure that you are properly connected via
WLAN.
ii. If you are
configuring the device to synchronize over GPRS, enter the internet name of
your mail server. Usually this is the same as your OWA or OMA URL without the /exchange or /oma part.
3. Select This Server uses an SSL connection
check-box only if you have configured SSL on IIS of your Exchange server. For
more information on configuring SSL, follow the steps described in the article How to configure OWA over SSL. Please note that if you
are using SSL, you will need a certificate that is trusted by your device
(usually third party certificates like VeriSign, Entrust, etc). If you wish to
use a certificate from your own local Windows CA, you will need to add your
certificate manually to the “trusted certificates” store of your device. For
more information on this, visit your device manufacturer’s website.
If you are
connecting over HTTP (i.e. following only the steps in this article), just
leave it unchecked.
Also select
what items you want to synchronize. Clicks Settings
for each item for more options on how the data is to be synchronized.
You can click
on Mobile Schedule to set at what
intervals you want to replicate automatically. Or you can prefer to choose Manual method of synchronization if you
don’t want the device to automatically connect.
4. Tap the Options… button. Enter your domain
username, password and NETBIOS name of your domain. Save password if required.
5. Tap OK.
6. Click the Sync button on ActiveSync.
IMPORTANT: The first
time you synchronize a device with your Exchange Server, please do it through
the cradle or USB connection. Exchange ActiveSync usually does not sync for the
first time with Exchange server via a wireless/GPRS connection.
7. To check your
mail, click on Messaging in the Today screen. Select Outlook Mail in the folders list.
8. By default,
subfolders in your Inbox and Sent Items are not synchronized. To
synchronize these, select the folders by tapping Tools > Manage Folders.
Step 5.
Configuring
Windows
1. On the device,
select ActiveSync from the Programs menu.
2. Tap on Menu, tap the Add Server Source… option.
i. If you are configuring
to synchronize over a local wireless LAN, enter the DNS name of your Exchange
server. You must make sure that you are properly connected via WLAN.
ii. If you are
configuring the device to synchronize over GPRS, enter the internet name of
your mail server. Usually this is the same as your OWA or OMA URL without the /exchange or /oma part.
3. Select This Server uses an SSL connection
check-box only if you have configured SSL on IIS of your Exchange server. For
more information on configuring SSL, follow the steps described in the article How to configure OWA over SSL.
If you are
connecting over HTTP (i.e. following only the steps in this article), just
leave it unchecked.
Tap Next.
4. Enter your
domain username, password and NETBIOS name of your domain. Save password if
required. Tap Next.
5. Select what
items you want to synchronize. Clicks Settings
for each item for more options on how the data is to be synchronized.
6. Tap Finish.
7. In the
ActiveSync main screen, choose Sync.
IMPORTANT: The first
time you synchronize a device with your Exchange Server, please do it through
the cradle or USB connection. Exchange ActiveSync usually does not sync for the
first time with Exchange server via a wireless/GPRS connection.
You can click
on Menu > Schedule… to set at what intervals you want to replicate
automatically. Or you can prefer to choose Manual
method of synchronization if you don’t want the device to automatically
connect.
8. To check your
mail, click on Messaging in the Today screen. Select Outlook Mail in the folders list.
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Disclaimer
No Warranty. The steps mentioned in
this are results of testing in a lab environment. The procedure might require
additional testing before being deployed on a live environment. I assume no
responsibility for damage(s) occurring due to following this procedure or any
other procedure listed on this site. Use it at your own risk!