Troubleshooting ActiveSync Exchange 2003

You may receive “Service Unavailable” error message when trying to access OMA virtual directory on Exchange Server 2003.

Test Exchange 2003 ActiveSync connectivity

http://localhost/OMA Service Unavailable

Step 1 – Check IIS Settings

IIS Settings

1. Open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.
2. Expand ServerName\Web Sites\Default Web Site.
3. Right-click on Exchange virtual directory and verify the below settings on properties.
   Virtual Directory Tab
   – Script source access
   – Read
   – Write
   – Directory browsing
   – Log visits
   – Index this resource
   – No Application name
   – Default Application is listed
   – The Execute permissions setting – None
   – The Application pool setting is unavailable
   – ExchangeApplicationPool is listed

   Directory Security Tab
   – The Enable anonymous access check box is not selected
   – The Integrated Windows authentication check box is selected
   – The Basic authentication check box is selected
   – The Require secure channel (SSL) check box is not selected

4. Right-click on OMA virtual directory and verify the below settings on properties.
   Virtual Directory Tab
   – Read
   – Log visits
   – Index this resource
   – The Application name setting is /LM/W3SVC/1/root/OMA
   – The Execute permissions setting is Scripts only
   – The Application pool setting is ExchangeMobileBrowseApplicationPool

   Directory Security Tab
   – The Enable anonymous access check box is not selected
   – The Integrated Windows authentication check box is not selected
   – The Basic authentication check box is selected
   – The Require secure channel (SSL) check box is not selected

5. Right-click Microsoft-Server-ActiveSync, virtual directory and verify the below settings on properties.
   Virtual Directory Tab
   – Log visits
   – Index this resource
   – The Application name setting is /LM/W3SVC/1/root/Microsoft-Server-ActiveSync
   – Execute permissions setting is Scripts and Executables
   – The Application pool setting is ExchangeApplicationPool

   Directory Security Tab
   – The Enable anonymous access check box is not selected
   – The Integrated Windows authentication check box is not selected
   – The Basic authentication check box is selected
   – The Require secure channel (SSL) check box is not selected

6. If you have modified any of those settings run iisreset /noforce command in command prompt.
7. And try to access OMA virtual directory again (http://localhost/OMA) If you still receive above same error continue Step 2.

Step 2 – Recreate Virtual Directories

Before proceed make sure to get a backup of the IIS settings. (Refer below path)

Now delete virtual directories following OMA, Microsoft-Server-ActiveSync and ExchangeMobileBrowseApplicationPool application pool.

IIS Manager after deleting virtual directories and application pool.

Open Exchange System Manager and check the Mobile Services properties.

Expand below path and delete OMA and Microsoft-Server-ActiveSync directories.

Now right click on Exchange Virtual Server and Click New to create a virtual directory.

Name: Microsoft-Server-ActiveSync

Select Exchange ActiveSync Path.

Right click on Exchange Virtual Server and Click New to create a virtual directory.

Name: OMA

Select Outlook Mobile Access exchange Path.

Now open Services snapin and restart Microsoft Exchange System Attendant service. Microsoft Exchange MTA Stacks and Microsoft Exchange Information Store will also restart.

Now open IIS Manager and create application pool as shown in below screen.

Application Pool ID: ExchangeMobileBrowseApplicationPool
Application Pool Name: ExchangeApplicationPool

Go to properties of the created application pool and see the Identity settings.

Now your IIS Manager should have all directories and application pool.

Do a IISRESET and access the OMA directory, provide credentials.

http://localhost/OMA

Now setup a Exchange ActiveSync account and check.