Managing New Mailbox Features

With Exchange Server 2003 are new mailbox features that were not available with previous versions of Exchange. With Exchange Server 2003, user wireless support is now included in Exchange operating systems and greatly enhances the capability to provide end- user support and compatibility with wireless devices such as cellphones and pocket PCs.

Using Wireless support features, Microsoft Windows Pocket PC clients can now use Microsoft Active Sync and Pocket Outlook to access Exchange server data and synchronize Outlook information.

Using the Properties tab of a mail-enabled object or the Exchange Tasks Wizard, administrators can select features to enable and disable on an individual or multiple Exchange mailboxes.

Using Wireless Services

Exchange Server 2003 now supports advanced wireless cellular and 802.1X connectivity. This was not previously available in early versions of the Exchange server family. The advanced wireless features enable end-user remote access support and wireless synchronization to Exchange mail using built-in Exchange technology such as Outlook Web Access.

Located on the Exchange Features tab of a mail-enabled user's properties page, the Wireless Services option allows mail-enabled objects access to individual Exchange mailbox data using supported wireless 802.1X devices, Pocket PCs, and Internet-ready cellular phones.

Wireless Functionality

When Active Directory objects are mail-enabled, these features are in an enabled state by default. Each feature is managed and changed through the end-user properties pages by easily disabling and enabling the desired method of wireless access.

Review the wireless features (see Figure 18.3) and their descriptions to better understand Exchange Server 2003 wireless functionality and the options provided with each feature.

• Outlook Wireless Access With Outlook Wireless Access enabled, the user can browse mailbox information from wireless devices and cellular Internet-enabled phones.

• User Initiated Synchronization When enabled, this option allows individual users to synchronize mail information with wireless devices. This option is not associated with active sync desktop synchronization and is enabled by default.

• Always Up-to-Date Notification Enabled and used with user-initiated synchronization, this option notifies wireless users when changes have occurred requiring synchronization.

Figure 18.3. Users properties and Exchange features page.

TIP

As a best practice, administrators should disable any features not required to enhance remote security to Exchange Server 2003 and control user access from remote locations.

Additional information on enabling and configuring mobile synchronization can be found in Chapter 23, "Implementing Mobile Synchronization in Exchange Server 2003."

Managing User Protocols

Protocols allow individual mail-enabled users to access Exchange mail using different methods and functionality. Access control to Exchange Mail can be controlled from an individual mail account based on the type of access granted.

By default, Exchange Server 2003 features enable all users to access Exchange using the POP3, Outlook Web Access, and IMAP4 protocols. In most situations, all three of these features are not required for every mail-enabled user in the Exchange organization.

Each feature is fully configurable on an individual account basis and can also be modified by disabling the protocol from the Exchange System Manager. Protocols such as POP3 access cannot be enabled fully unless the Exchange Server 2003 server has been configured to support this protocol.

Changing the Status of Exchange Features

Any time an Active Directory object is mail-enabled, each of the Exchange features is enabled by default. To control or modify the status of any Exchange feature, use the individual user's Properties tab to change the status of the feature from Enabled to Disabled.

NOTE

Using the Exchange Features tab enables and disables only the functionality for the individual mail-enabled user. Each of these features requires additional configuration, such as the implementation of an Outlook Web Access front-end server or the configuration of a server and client to enable POP access to Exchange mail data.

Some additional firewall configuration might also be required for access to Outlook Web Access from Internet remote locations.

To change the status of one or more Exchange features for multiple mail-enabled objects in Exchange, use the Exchange Task Wizard.

For example, an organization can disable wireless features for multiple users in Active Directory by following these steps:

1. Open the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in and select the accounts to be modified.

2. From the Exchange System Manager menu, select Action, select the Exchange tasks, and select Next at the welcome screen.

3. Select the Configure Exchange Features option and click Next to continue.

4. From the Configure Exchange Features selection, choose the feature to be modified. Select the Disable or Enable tab to change the feature for all users. Modify all options before continuing, and select Next to apply the changes.

5. Review the configured changes and the results of these changes on the Task Summary screen. Select the Back button to adjust any required changes. Select Next to complete the modification and fully apply the settings.