Simplify the Outlook Web App URL

Simplify the Outlook Web App URL describes Exchange 2010 SP2 OWA redirection.

I have the following comments regarding Simplify the Outlook Web App URL:

·         Section “Use IIS Manager to simplify the Outlook Web App URL when SSL is required”: I think MS means: Use IIS Manager to simplify the Outlook Web App URL when SSL is required at the Default Web Site? If so, step 12 says: In SSL Settings, clear Require SSL but SSL should not be cleared if you require SSL at the Default Web Site.

·         When configuring Require SSL (clear Require SSL) & Redirection settings at Default Web Site, the settings are propagated to lower-level directories. The steps to enable SSL on all sub dir’s (except OAB & PowerShell virtual dir) and disable redirection on all sub dir’s are not explicitly mentioned.

·         The following table contains default OWA SSL & Redirect settings (after installing new Exchange 2010 SP2 CAS Server):

Default IIS Settings E2K10 SP2 CAS Server	SSL Settings	HTTP Redirect
Default Web Site	[x] Require SSL	[ ] Redirect requests to this destination: <> Redirect Behavior: (options greyed out) [ ] Redirect all requests to exact destination [x] Only redirect requests to content in this directory Status code: Found (302)
aspnet_client	[x] Require SSL	[ ] Redirect requests to this destination: < > Redirect Behavior: (options greyed out) [ ] Redirect all requests to exact destination [x] Only redirect requests to content in this directory Status code: Found (302)
Autodiscover	[x] Require SSL	[ ] Redirect requests to this destination: < > Redirect Behavior: (options greyed out) [ ] Redirect all requests to exact destination [x] Only redirect requests to content in this directory Status code: Found (302)
ecp	[x] Require SSL	[ ] Redirect requests to this destination: < > Redirect Behavior: (options greyed out) [ ] Redirect all requests to exact destination [x] Only redirect requests to content in this directory Status code: Found (302)
EWS	[x] Require SSL	[ ] Redirect requests to this destination: < > Redirect Behavior: (options greyed out) [ ] Redirect all requests to exact destination [x] Only redirect requests to content in this directory Status code: Found (302)

Exchange	[x] Require SSL	[x] Redirect requests to this destination: /owa Redirect Behavior: [ ] Redirect all requests to exact destination [ ] Only redirect requests to content in this directory Status code: Found (302)
Exchweb	[x] Require SSL	[x] Redirect requests to this destination: /owa Redirect Behavior: [ ] Redirect all requests to exact destination [ ] Only redirect requests to content in this directory Status code: Found (302)
Microsoft-Server-ActiveSync	[x] Require SSL	[ ] Redirect requests to this destination: < > Redirect Behavior: (options greyed out) [ ] Redirect all requests to exact destination [x] Only redirect requests to content in this directory Status code: Found (302)
OAB	[ ] Require SSL	[ ] Redirect requests to this destination: < > Redirect Behavior: (options greyed out) [ ] Redirect all requests to exact destination [x] Only redirect requests to content in this directory Status code: Found (302)
owa	[x] Require SSL	[ ] Redirect requests to this destination: < > Redirect Behavior: (options greyed out) [ ] Redirect all requests to exact destination [x] Only redirect requests to content in this directory Status code: Found (302)
PowerShell	[ ] Require SSL	[ ] Redirect requests to this destination: < > Redirect Behavior: (options greyed out) [ ] Redirect all requests to exact destination [x] Only redirect requests to content in this directory Status code: Found (302)
Public	[x] Require SSL	[x] Redirect requests to this destination: /owa Redirect Behavior: [ ] Redirect all requests to exact destination [ ] Only redirect requests to content in this directory Status code: Found (302)

Rpc	[x] Require SSL	[ ] Redirect requests to this destination: < > Redirect Behavior: (options greyed out) [ ] Redirect all requests to exact destination [x] Only redirect requests to content in this directory Status code: Found (302)
RpcWithCert	[x] Require SSL	[ ] Redirect requests to this destination: < > Redirect Behavior: (options greyed out) [ ] Redirect all requests to exact destination [x] Only redirect requests to content in this directory Status code: Found (302)

By default only Exchange, Exchweb & Public virtual dir are redirected to /owa. However, after enabling redirection at the Default Web Site and disabling at owa virtual dir you get in a loop and it’s not possible to restore the default configuration (only Exchange, Exchweb & Public virtual dir redirect to /owa):

·         When I enable redirection for default web site, the owa site inherits the redirection.

·         When I remove the redirection from owa it removes it from exchange, exchweb and public sites as well.

·         If I add redirection back to exchange, exchweb or public sites it gets copied to owa site as well.

·         See also comments at http://briandesmond.com/blog/redirecting-owa-urls-in-exchange-2010/

After some research I found a much easier way to get owa redirection working by using Custom Error Pages:

IIS Manager (Windows 2008 R2):

·         Default Web Site, Error Pages, Add...

·         Add Custom Error Page

o   Status code: 403.4

o   (*) Respond with a 302 redirect

o   Absolute URL: https://webmail.domain.com/owa

By using Custom Error Pages there is no need to configure IIS SSL & Redirect settings and things don’t get messed up.

 

When using https://webmail.domain.com users will see the default IIS7 Welcome page. To redirect https://webmail.domain.com to https://webmail.domain.com/owa:

·         Create a default.aspx in the root directory (C:\inetpub\wwwroot\default.aspx) with one line:

o   <% Response.Redirect("https://webmail.domain.com/owa") %>

·         IIS Manager:

o   Default Web Site, Default Document

o   Move Up default.aspx to the top of the list

If you have any comments or questions, please let me know.