XWEB: Changing the Outlook Web Access Virtual Directory

After you install the Microsoft Exchange Active Server Components, the default Internet Information Service (IIS) 4.0 virtual directory for accessing the Outlook Web Access (OWA) logon page is set to "/Exchange".

Under certain circumstances, you may need to change this.

Use the following steps to change the current virtual directory.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

NOTE: Make copies of all files before making any changes!

1. In the Exch_dir\Webdata\Global.asa and Exch_dir\Webdata\Lang\Constant.inc files, change bstrVirtRoot = "/exchange" to bstrVirtRoot = "/new_virtual_root", substituting your new name for "new_virtual_root".
   
   NOTE: Always use lower case for anything that might find its way into a URL.
   
   IMPORTANT: If you ever change something in the Global.asa file, you must also make a matching change the Constant.inc file. The two files contain some duplicate data that must be kept synchronized.
2. In the following registry key, change the registry setting that the Exchange Filter (Exchfilt.dll) uses:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeWeb\Applications\key
   Where key currently = Exchange. Change the value key to = new_virtual_root.
3. In the Exch_dir\Webdata\Lang\Default.htm file, change

   <META HTTP-EQUIV="REFRESH" CONTENT="0; URL=/exchange/logon.asp">
   						

   to

   <META HTTP-EQUIV="REFRESH" CONTENT="0; URL=/<new_virtual_root>/logon.asp">
   						

   Search the Exch_dir\Webdata\Lang folder and subfolders for any other *.htm files containing the string "/exchange". Replace the text as above.
4. In the Exch_dir\Webdata\Lang\Forms\Ipm\Schedule\Meeting\Request\Mrread.asp file, replace all occurrences of "/exchange" with "<%=bstrVirtRoot%>".
   
   Search the Exch_dir\Webdata\Lang folder and subfolders for any other *.asp files containing the string "/exchange". Replace the text as above. The Tshoot.asp file may safely be ignored.
5. Using the Internet Service Manager on the IIS 4.0 computer that is configured with OWA, locate the "Default Web Site". Within the Default Web Site, rename the "Exchange" application to the name of your new_virtual_root.

After you make this change, you will need to enter http://server/new_virtual_root to access the Outlook Web Access logon page.

Also, you can add more keys to the Applications key, and the Exchange Filter will do language switching for those virtual roots as well.

NOTE: Whenever you apply an Exchange Server service pack update to the server where you have made these changes, you must re-apply all of the changes as described in this document after the update.