Hello, I have 2 Exchange 2003 servers both on Windows 2003. The first server is Win2k3sp1 running Exchange 6.5.7638.1. The second server is running Win2k3sp2 running Exchange 6.5.7638.1.The problem is as follows.... If I log into the first servers OWA from the outside or inside URL there is no problem, everything is fine. When I try to log into the second servers OWA address, the OWA page comes up but when I log in, I get redirected to the first servers OWA address and then the browser says the connection timed out and is taking too long to respond, regardless if its an inside or outside address. Ive looked in event viewer on both servers application and system logs but I dont see anything to go on. Also Im not sure if this is an issue, but a co-worker says it might be. On both servers were using the smart host feature on Ex2003 to forward all our mail to an Ironport gateway. However when I remove the smart host and restart the services, we have the same issue. So Im not sure how this is related if at all. Our Active Directory servers are located on another 2 boxes. When I add a user in the first server, the new user is added to the second server, so AD appears to be working and syncing properly. I believe the point is that if the first server went down, we could still log into the second servers OWA and still get our mail. But with the current config issues, this isnt possible. Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks! Mark

Are these box back-end servers? Do you have a Front-End Exchange server? Most people that use OWA in Exchange 2003 have a front-end/back-end configuration. Here is an article about this: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa996980.aspx

Hi, The 2 servers are definitely NOT setup in a front end / back end configuration. They are both on the same network behind the same firewall. They have 2 different web addresses for their OWA. (I did not set this up. Im working with what was here when I started.) However I was under the impression that regardless I should be able to log into the second address and see my email on the first server. But what happens is described above. Thanks! Mark

Check your IIS logs to see if there are any errors: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324279 Also check your DNS to confirm what records are pointing to each Exchange server.

There are log entries in IIS. Below are the logs from the second servers IIS I'm trying to get OWA to work from...#Software: Microsoft Internet Information Services 6.0#Version: 1.0#Date: 2007-12-18 23:00:15#Fields: date time s-sitename s-ip cs-method cs-uri-stem cs-uri-query s-port cs-username c-ip cs(User-Agent) sc-status sc-substatus sc-win32-status 2007-12-18 23:00:15 W3SVC1 172.25.125.177 GET /exchweb/bin/auth/owalogon.asp url=http://webmail2.emailarc.com/exchange/&reason=0 80 - 72.16.193.50 Mozilla/5.0+(Windows;+U;+Windows+NT+5.1;+en-US;+rv:1.8.1.11)+Gecko/20071127+Firefox/2.0.0.11 200 0 02007-12-18 23:00:20 W3SVC1 172.25.125.177 POST /exchweb/bin/auth/owaauth.dll - 80 - 72.16.193.50 Mozilla/5.0+(Windows;+U;+Windows+NT+5.1;+en-US;+rv:1.8.1.11)+Gecko/20071127+Firefox/2.0.0.11 302 0 02007-12-18 23:00:20 W3SVC1 172.25.125.177 GET /exchange/ - 80 markz 72.16.193.50 Mozilla/5.0+(Windows;+U;+Windows+NT+5.1;+en-US;+rv:1.8.1.11)+Gecko/20071127+Firefox/2.0.0.11 302 0 0The IP in the log is the IP I'm coming from on a totally different network. I didnt see anything in the first servers IIS log file. Please note again that when I try to log into the second servers OWA, it automatically redirects me to the first server URL and then times out. ISS seems to be logging okay but with no errors unless Im missing something. DNS is pointing to the correct servers. Thanks! Mark

Have you tried accessing OWA with the IP (i,e. https://10.1.1.1/exchange) ?

Yes accessing by IP gives me the same error message which redirects me to the first exchange server and then times out. Also IMAP is working through the firewall for both servers. I'm running out of ideas! Help please!Mark

Okay so heres an update When I try to log in with the local IP of the second server I get redirected to the first servers IP and I can log in to the first server. So its looking like a firewall issue of some sort. Does anyone have any ideas on what ports I should check for to make sure theyre open on the 1st and second servers? The first server works fine from the outside so Im going to copy those settings from the firewall. Also, does anyone know why Im being redirected to the first servers URL when I try to log into the second server? Shouldnt I just be able to log into the second server and be able to see my mailbox that was originally setup on the first server? Thanks! Mark Z

"Also, does anyone know why Im being redirected to the first servers URL when I try to log into the second server? Shouldnt I just be able to log into the second server and be able to see my mailbox that was originally setup on the first server?" No. You will be redirected to what ever machine the mailbox exists on (unless it's a front end server). This is the case when doing migrations.