Android phone and Microsoft Exchange Activesync

Please work your way through my article and check your config, run the test, fix any errors and shout if you get stuck anywhere:

https://www.experts-exchange.com/Software/Server_Software/Email_Servers/Exchange/A_1798-Exchange-2003-Activesync-Connection-Problems-FAQ.html

The 403 error usually mean you have to follow KB817379 which is linked to in my article under the HTTP 403 error section and means you have Forms Based Authentication enabled or SSL enabled on the Exchange Virtual Directory and shouldn't.

do we get 403 on only if we have "Forms Based Authentication enabled or SSL enabled on the Exchange Virtual Directory "  not for anything else is it ??

Ran the connectivity test and it fails at the SSL certificate validation check.  I went through all of the steps in your article and unchecked all secure communications requiring SSL except the exchange virtual directory.  This is a Small Business Server 2003.

Please post the output from the test site (obscure your domain name / IP Address if you like (or I can do it for you), it will make troubleshooting the problem much easier.

Thanks

Alan

     ExRCA is testing Exchange ActiveSync.
       The Exchange ActiveSync test failed.
       
      Test Steps
       
      Attempting to resolve the host name mail.bnslawyers.com in DNS.
       The host name resolved successfully.
       
      Additional Details
       IP addresses returned: 207.178.225.118, 207.178.228.126
      Testing TCP port 443 on host mail.bnslawyers.com to ensure it's listening and open.
       The port was opened successfully.
      Testing the SSL certificate to make sure it's valid.
       The SSL certificate failed one or more certificate validation checks.
       
      Test Steps
       
      Validating the certificate name.
       Certificate name validation failed.
        Tell me more about this issue and how to resolve it
       
      Additional Details
       Host name mail.bnslawyers.com doesn't match any name found on the server certificate CN=www.bnslawyers.com, CN=companyweb, CN=server, CN=localhost, CN=server.bnslawyers.local.

Okay - so you access your OWA via mail.domain.com and yet your certificate is for www.domain.com, but www.domain.com is not hosted on your own server

So the first step is to create a new certificate for mail.domain.com and then you will get further in the test as the FQDN you use for Activesync (e.g., mail.domain.com), has to match the name on the certificate, or the name on the certificate has to match the FQDN you use to connect via Activesync with.

As you have SBS 2003 - please follow the SL section of my article for details of how to create a new certificate (very easily):

https://www.experts-exchange.com/Software/Server_Software/Email_Servers/Exchange/A_1798-Exchange-2003-Activesync-Connection-Problems-FAQ.html

Where would you recommend I get a certificate? We currently are not using one.

You are using a certificate.  It is the SBS self issued certificate.

Re-run the connect to the Internet Wizard from Start> Server Management> To Do List, change nothing until you get to the certificate part and then chose to create a new certificate using mail.domain.com and then complete the wizard.

That will create and install a new certificate for you with the correct name.

That helped me get past the SSL part of the connectivity test.  Now it stops here:

 ExRCA is testing Exchange ActiveSync.  
  The Exchange ActiveSync test failed.
   Test Steps
   Attempting to resolve the host name mail.bnslawyers.com in DNS.
  The host name resolved successfully.
   Additional Details
  IP addresses returned: 207.178.225.118, 207.178.228.126
 
 Testing TCP port 443 on host mail.bnslawyers.com to ensure it's listening and open.
  The port was opened successfully.
 Testing the SSL certificate to make sure it's valid.
  The certificate passed all validation requirements.
   Test Steps
   Validating the certificate name.
  The certificate name was validated successfully.
   Additional Details
  Host name mail.bnslawyers.com was found in the Certificate Subject Common name.
 
 Testing the certificate date to confirm the certificate is valid.
  Date validation passed. The certificate hasn't expired.
   Additional Details
  The certificate is valid. NotBefore = 3/12/2011 7:25:00 PM, NotAfter = 3/12/2016 7:25:00 PM
 
 
 
 Checking the IIS configuration for client certificate authentication.
  Client certificate authentication wasn't detected.
   Additional Details
  Accept/Require Client Certificates isn't configured.
 
 Testing HTTP Authentication Methods for URL https://mail.bnslawyers.com/Microsoft-Server-Activesync/.
  The HTTP authentication methods are correct.
   Additional Details
  ExRCA found all expected authentication methods and no disallowed methods. Methods found: Basic
 
 An ActiveSync session is being attempted with the server.
  Errors were encountered while testing the Exchange ActiveSync session.
   Test Steps
   Attempting to send the OPTIONS command to the server.
  Testing of the OPTIONS command failed. For more information, see Additional Details.
   Additional Details
  A Web exception occurred because an HTTP 401 - Unauthorized response was received from Unknown.
 
 
 
 
 

Awesome job and a great article!!

Thanks - glad it was helpful : )

Alan