amset.info
from Sembee Ltd.
UK MS Exchange Consultants

Exchange - Net Admin - Outlook
Windows Mobile - Windows

Contact - Director's Blog

AddThis Social Bookmark Button


Exchange Server Home

Exchange Consultancy

Exchange Resources


Microsoft Exchange
Amazon Store


Basic Email Gateway Server

Company wide Contact List

Disabled User Account

Distribution Lists

DNS Configuration

Exchange and a
Dynamic IP Address

Event ID 1221

Filter Unknown Users

Global Mailbox Folder
Permissions from Server

Intelligent Message Filter

Internal Email Address
for External People

Mailbox and Management
Account

Message Tracking

Migrating to a new server

Multiple Domains

Offline Address Book Errors

Options when a Staff Member
Leaves

Outlook Web Access

PDAs, OMA and EAS

Permissions Best Practises

Post Install Configuration

Public Folders

Prerequisites for Exchange
System Tools

RPC over HTTPS

Secure your SMTP Relay

Shutdown Script

SMTP Services and Exchange

SMTP Diagnostics

Spam Cleanup

Switching From POP3
to SMTP Delivery

Telnet Test

Username Change

Microsoft Exchange Server
Page Last Reviewed: 03/03/2009

Exchange Server
Compatibility Information
Exchange
Server Version
Compatibility
5.5* No
2000 Yes
2003 Yes
2007 Yes
* May Adapt (More Information)
Making the OWA Login Page the Default Page on a Web Site

Author: Simon Butler, Exchange MVP, MCSE

OWA Section Home Page

If you have a specific machine for Outlook Web Access, you may want users to go to http://mail.example.com instead of http://mail.example.com/exchange/ . This is a simple change to the default web site on the machine that is hosting OWA. 

It is more effective when used with Exchange 2003/2007 and Forms Based Authentication, as the users get a web page immediately - and without any authentication prompts - providing a level of confirmation that they have hit the correct address.

Windows 2000 / 2003
For Windows 2008 see further below

  1. Start IIS Manager
  2. Right click on the "Default Web Site" and choose "Properties".
  3. Click on the "Home Directory" tab.
  4. Change the first option to "A redirection to a URL".
  5. Enter "/exchange" in to the box (minus quotes) if Exchange 2000, Exchange 2003, or Exchange 2007 co-existing with Exchange 2003 systems. If you are using a native Exchange 2007 environment (so do not have the /exchange URL available) use /owa instead.
  6. Change the entry below to "A directory below URL entered".
  7. Click Apply/OK.
    If you are prompted about changing child objects, click cancel so that nothing else is changed.
  8. Close the IIS Manager.
  9. Test.

Complete Configuration Screenshot - Windows 2000/2003

The screenshot below shows a complete configuration.

Screenshot - Default Web Site configured for OWA to be the default home page - Windows 2000/2003

Fig 1: Screenshot - Default Web Site configured for OWA to be the default home page - Windows 2000/2003

Co-Existing with Outlook Mobile Access - Exchange 2003

If you want to do a similar trick with Outlook Mobile Access, then you will have to customise the forms based login page or modify the default.asp file in the root of the web site to detect and redirect depending on which device is accessing the site. 

Windows 2008

For Windows 2008, you must use the default web page method. The HTTP redirect option within IIS Manager does not work, and will cause a loop and stop OWA from functioning. Save the code below as index.htm and place it in the root of the web site (wwwroot on a default installation). However the code below is for a native Exchange 2007 machine. If you are co-existing with Exchange 2003 then change the /owa/ to /exchange/ . 

 

Windows Server Update Services 2.0

If you have a dedicated web site for WSUS then this trick also works for that web site Simply change the /exchange for /wsusadmin. Users do not need to access the web site and it does not affect the operation of the service.

Related Links

Outlook Web Access Redirect Pages: http://www.amset.info/exchange/owa-redirectpages.asp

Last Page Update:
03/03/2009

More Content from Sembee Ltd.
 
Resources on amset.info Other Sites Sembee Ltd.
Microsoft Exchange Command Prompt Getting Started Guide Microsoft Exchange Consultancy
Microsoft Outlook Login Scripts Director's Blog
Network Administration MS Exchange Resources  
Internet Explorer Knowledge Base search  
Microsoft Windows Recovery of MS Office content from Temp Files  
Microsoft Windows Mobile Troubleshoot the Automatic Updates Client  
Amazon Store    

© Sembee Ltd. 1998 - 2010.

Reproduction of any content on this web site is prohibited without express written consent. Use of this web site is subject to our terms and conditions. All trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners. This site is not endorsed or recommended by any company or organisation mentioned on this site. This site is to provide guidance only and as such we cannot be held responsible for any consequences of following the advice given.