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Exchange & Outlook Web Access (OWA) SSL Instructions

Exchange 2000 & 2003

Installing your SSL Certificate / Web Server Certificate / Secure Server Certificate from RapidSSL.com

Your certificate will be sent to you by email. The email message includes the web server certificate that you purchased in the body of the email message.

Copy your web server certificate into a text editor such as notepad and save as yourdomain.cer.

Installing your web server certificate:

1. Start IIS and right click Default Web Site and select Properties from the menu.



2. When the Properties appear, click on the Directory Security tab.
3. Click on Server Certificate and follow the on screen wizard:

   • Ensure that you select Process the pending request and install the certificate. Click Next.
   • Locate the yourdomain.cer file when prompted to locate your webserver certificate. Click Next.
   • Review the summary screen and ensure that you are processing the correct certificate. Click Next.
   • Click Next on the confirmation screen.

4. Make sure that you have assigned Port 443 as the SSL port for https for your site. To do this, right click Properties for your website and make sure that 443 has been entered into the SSL port box:

Test your certificate by connecting to your server. Use the https protocol directive (e.g. https://your server/) to indicate you wish to use secure HTTP. The padlock icon on your Web browser will be displayed in the locked position if you have set up your site properly.

Now activate SSL for your Exchange Virtual Directory:

1. Using the Internet Services Manager, open the properties for the Exchange virtual directory.

2. Select the Directory Security tab and the click on the Edit button in the Secure Communication section.

3. In the Secure Communications dialogue box, check the box Require Secure Channel (SSL), you could also check the box Require 128-bit encryption, if you do check the 128-bit checkbox, any browsers that do not support 128-bit encryption will be unable to connect to OWA.

Now when users enter http://www.yourdomain.com/exchange, they will receive an "HTTP 403.4 - Forbidden: SSL required Internet Information Services" error message, because we have configured OWA to require SSL. SSL uses the HTTPS protocol, so users would need to enter the url as https://www.yourdomain.com/exchange.

More information to force SSL only connections:
Microsoft has written an article about forcing the use of SSL with OWA: http://support.microsoft.com/search/preview.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q279681

One final step that you may need to take is to ensure that your Firewall / router is configured to allow HTTPS (port 443 by default) to pass through.

Backing up your key pair file

Creating your Snap-in Management Console

Certificate Snap-in consoles (MMC) are not preconfigured. You will need to configure the Snap-in before you can perform any Export/Import functionality. To configure your Snap-in, follow the steps below. The system administrator will have to create the console.

  1. Go to Start. Select Run, Type mmc and click OK. This will bring up an empty console with no management functionality.


    2.
  2. Click on Console select Add/Remove Snap-in.


    3.
  3. The Snap-ins added to box will list only the Console Root. Click Add.


    4.
  4. Select Certificates and then click Add.


    5.
  5. Select Computer Account.


    6.
  6. Click on Finish.


  7. Click Close.


    8.
  8. Click on OK.


Managing your certificates

  1. Go to the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) and add the Snap-in for Certificates.


    2.
  2. Select the folders Console Root\Certificates(Local Computer)\Personal\Certificates.


    3.
  3. Right click on the certificate to export.
  4. Select All Tasks and Export.


    5.
  5. The Welcome to the Certificate Manager Import Wizard window opens.
    Click Next.


    6.
  6. Select Yes, export the private key. Click Next.
  7. Make sure the Personal Information Exchange- PKCS # 12 (.pfx) box is selected.

    Warning: Make sure that the "Delete the private key if the export is successful" is NOT checked.


    8.
  8. Check the box Enable strong protection requires IE5.0, NT4.0 SP4 or above. Select Next.
  9. Check the box to Include all certificates in the chain.

    10.
  10. Type and confirm your export password.
    11. (Note: this password field can be left blank, but we recommend using a good password for security)

Warning: If you lose the password, you must purchase another certificate.

Save the file to a disk or other form of media. You should choose a form of media that you would be able to recover if your system has to be rebuilt. Save this file in a secure location.

*** Microsoft has an alert addressing a problem with exporting and importing certificates.***

Service Pack 2 is intended to correct this problem. There is also a hotfix that may be obtained from Microsoft that must be run prior to exporting and importing your certificate. Please go to the following URL for more information or email us at support@rapidssl.com.

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q261/6/55.ASP