XWEB: Outlook Web Access Installations and the Internet Information Server Default Web Site

ID: Q235312

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When you install Microsoft Outlook Web Access (OWA) on a Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) 4.0 computer, by default, it is installed on the "Default Web Site" created by IIS. Situations may arise in which the Default Web Site no longer exists; either it has been deleted or renamed to something other than Default Web Site. As a result, OWA will be installed on the first Web site listed in the IIS Management Console. This may present a problem because the first Web site listed in the Management Console might not be the intended location for OWA.

When you install OWA on to any Web site under IIS 4.0 other than the "Default Web Site," you may receive the following error message when trying to access OWA:

Directory Listing Denied
This Virtual Directory does not allow contents to be listed.


CAUSE

The versions of Outlook Web Access listed in this article have been designed to create the Exchange Server virtual directory under the Default Web Site. It may not function correctly under any other Web sites.


RESOLUTION

Use the Default Web Site created by the IIS 4.0 installation for your OWA virtual directory. Do not attempt to copy the Exchange Server virtual directory from another Web site. Only a proper installation of OWA from the Exchange Server CD ensures proper operation. Be sure to reapply any Exchange Server service packs after the initial OWA installation.


WORKAROUND

If it is necessary to change the Default Web Site, DO NOT delete it. Install OWA, and verify its operation before doing anything else. At this point, you may rename the Default Web Site. OWA (and any other virtual directories) should continue to function normally.


MORE INFORMATION

IIS 4.0 provides the means for hosting multiple Web sites under a single server. This is most commonly used for either multiple corporate identities or Intranet/Internet solutions. It is important to understand that no two Web sites on a single IIS server may occupy the same port and IP address. The individual sites will fail when you try to start them. However, by associating one multiple site with either a different port number or IP addresses, you may host more than one Web site on a single IIS server.

Additional query words: 


Keywords          : 
Version           : WINDOWS:5.5; winnt:4.0
Platform          : WINDOWS winnt 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: July 20, 1999