How to configure Outlook Web Access with 2 exchange servers in one domain
I have two exchange servers. Server1 is the main exchange server which has an external IP, the MX record points to this server, and OWA workson it. Server2 is at another facility and does not have external IP, it operates through Server1. I believe Server1 is setup as a bridgehead server (although I am new here and not absolutely sure how these two servers communicate). Users with a mailbox on server1 can access via OWA. Users with a mailbox on server2 cannot. When they go to the URL for exchange, after they sign in it goes to a "cannot display this page" generic browser error page. I think they autenticate, but then it tries to pass them to server2 which is not accessible from the outside world.
My question is, how can I access mailboxes on either server via Outlook Web Access? I don't want to setup new external IP and MX record for the Server2 as I would like a central point for all to check email.
Thanks in advance for your help.
September 9th, 2008 5:11pm
Hello Matt,
Make sure that InternalURL & ExternalURL settings are correctly set for both of the CA servers as per below reference and virtual directories authentication set to Integrated Windows.
Reference: Understanding Proxying and Redirection
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September 9th, 2008 5:56pm
Where do you find the InternalURL & ExternalURL settings? We have Exchange 2003.
September 9th, 2008 8:40pm
Hi,
This can only work with a server configured as an exchangefront-end server or another URL specific to the second server.
Leif
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September 9th, 2008 11:25pm
Hi,
Considering your situation, the Front-end server is the best practise.
If you have two Exchange 2003 servers and need to be accessed by the single namespace from the external users, the Front-end server is necessary.
For more information about Front-end server, please view the article as below:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=E64666FC-42B7-48A1-AB85-3C8327D77B70&displaylang=en
Currently, to workaround this, please deploy a FE (Front-end) server. FE server works as a proxy, so the user only need access FE server no matter where home server is.
Thanks
Allen
September 11th, 2008 9:24am
Thanks for the info. I too have researched and found that a front-end server is our best option. I ran across the same guide that Allen provided the link to, and this is very informative on how to set this up. For others new to this topology I would like to point out that a front-end server cannot have mailboxes. We are currently working on our fix which will include picking a server and installing exchange on it, making it the front-end server, and all others becoming back-end servers.
Thanks again to all who posted.
Matt
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September 12th, 2008 11:12pm