Another one with Exchange aches...

Question

Hi folks,
Ok, I've tried for the umpteenth time, my head is buzzing and if I don't get this running this weekend I will throw the whole stuff out of my window. Seriously. I have tried every suggestion I could see here and still fail to connect.
Installations
Server: SBS2003 with all updates installed, brandnew, more or less with an out-of-the-box standard set-up, works as a file- and printserver in his spare time
Computers: Apple iMac 2,8 Ghz Aluminium with newest OSX 10.5.4 and Entourage, MacBook 1,83 Ghz with same set-up, Dell Vostro 1710 with XP Pro SP2 and Outlook 2003, 3 PC Desktops with same set-up
Mobile devices: 5 HTC TyTn II aka Kaiser on WM 6.1, one iPhone 3G 16 GB
OWA: https://mail.mycompany.com/exchange
Server: mail.mycompany.com
e-mail: [email protected]
User: Rene
Password: gofigure
Domain: mycompany.local
No SSL or other certificates employed.
This is a real small business environment with only 6 users and very low security policies, aside from a firewall there are none. (The information shared is really not sensitive.)
Now the thing is, that all those other devices (aside from the iPhone) work and sync just fine. Really great.
I have set-up the iPhone for this so often that I lost count. Everytime I get the same response: it says Exchange set up for sync and signals an all clear. When I go to my mail and open the Exchange Account there is nothing there (no folders, no mails). When I sent a testmail from the Exchange to my mobileMe and normal business account, I get nothing, although the iPhone makes the "swoosh" sound which should signal that a mail was sent successfully.
During the set-up, it nags because of the lacking SSL (we don't use that on any of our devices), but it can be configured without any other error messages.
If I try to access OWA with the iPhones Browser it works flawlessly (even without an error message), so why can't I get it to work with the Mail app? First priority is to get mail, I could live with it if I could add the Exchange contacts and calendar later.
We do have a professional company who cares for our server, but they have a steep price tag and I wan't to avoid heated discussions with my boss, just because I wanted to get my "toy" as he named it to work.
I am not an MCSE, but have a good idea of what Exchange is about and most of the time can find my way. I also have full administrative rights, so I can make any changes you want me to.
I would greatly appreciate step-by-step help...
Thank you very much in advance for your tips. Any help is welcome.
Rene

Answer 1

I too got tired of trying different solutions from the forums and everywhere else I could find information. It seems as if everyone has their own special solution that works for them. Their solutions didn't work for me. I ended up going through these guys for a remote setup.
http://computerrepairservice.net/blog/
Within 15 minutes he had my boss's iPhone syncing. I bit the bullet and paid the $175 fee. It was worth it. I got the boss off my back and was the hero for the day. If you don't feel like paying the fee, this is how he set up my server:
Note: I used a self-signed certificate for my Default Web Site.
ASP.NET version for all: 1.1.4322
Default Website:
Website Identification
-TCP port: 80 >> IP_Address
-SSL port: 443 >> Default
Authentication and access control
-Enable anonymous access: Yes
-Integrated Windows authentication: Yes
-Basic authentication: Yes
-Default domain: \
Secure communications
-Self-signed server certificate: Yes
-Require secure channel: No
-Ignore client certificates
Exchange virtual directory:
Authentication and access control
-Enable anonymous access: No
-Integrated Windows authentication: Yes
-Basic authentication: Yes
-Default domain: MYDOMAIN
Secure communications
-Require secure channel: No
-Ignore client certificates
Microsoft-Server-ActiveSync virtual directory:
Authentication and access control
-Enable anonymous access: No
-Integrated Windows authentication: No
-Basic authentication: Yes
-Default domain: MYDOMAIN
Secure communications
-Require secure channel: No
-Ignore client certificates
OMA virtual directory:
Authentication and access control
-Enable anonymous access: No
-Integrated Windows authentication: No
-Basic authentication: Yes
-Default domain: \
Secure communications
-Require secure channel: No
-Ignore client certificates
ExchWeb virtual directory:
Authentication and access control
-Enable anonymous access: Yes
-Integrated Windows authentication: No
-Basic authentication: No
-Default domain: N/A
Secure communications
-Require secure channel: No
-Ignore client certificates
Manually create a copy of the Exchange virtual directory. Right-click Exchange, go to All Tasks > Save Configuration to a File. Give it a name and save config to desktop. Right-click Default Web Site, go to New > Virtual Directory (from file). Browse to saved config of Exchange and click Read File. Config will appear in box below. Select it and then click OK. Name this new virtual directory “ExchApple”. Next, add new string value called “ExchangeVDir” (case is important) to this registry entry: HKLM > System > CurrentControlSet > Services > MasSync > Parameters. Modify the data value to “/ExchApple”. In the end you should have only two entries; one labeled “(Default)” and one labeled “ExchangeVDir”. Configure the ExchApple virtual directory as follows:
ExchApple virtual directory:
Authentication and access control
-Enable anonymous access: No
-Integrated Windows authentication: Yes
-Basic authentication: Yes
-Default domain: MYDOMAIN
Secure communications
-Require secure channel: No
-Ignore client certificates
Perform an IIS Reset.
Check to make sure you can log into your Exchange and OMA virtual directories via a web browser.
On the iPhone itself it was set up as follows:
Email: [email protected]
Server: OutsideIPAddress or URL
Username: me (without domain name)
Ignore all certificate errors when setting up the Exchange account on the phone. Just keep hitting next. I'm not using SSL so if you're not then turn that off after the account gets created. Make sure you have ports 80 and 443 open on your firewall and pointed to your Exchange server. Open up your inbox and sync your email.
This solution worked for me. If it doesn't then give the aforementioned people a call.
Message was edited by: Vaughn Miller
Message was edited by: Vaughn Miller