Macintosh users cannot connect to Outlook Web Access (OWA) when OWA is hosted on Windows Small Business Server 2003 (830044)

SYMPTOMS

When you use Microsoft Internet Explorer for Mac to connect to an installation of Microsoft Outlook Web Access (OWA) that is hosted on Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, you may receive the following error message:

The identity certificate is invalid.

CAUSE

This issue occurs because the Windows Small Business Server Configure E-Mail and Internet Connection Wizard (sometimes known as CEICW) configures OWA to require Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connections, and SSL connections require a security certificate. The Configure E-Mail and Internet Connection Wizard creates a generic certificate that Internet Explorer for Mac does not recognize.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, apply a trusted certificate to the Web site. To do this, obtain and configure a certificate from a trusted Internet security provider by using the Configure E-Mail and Internet Connection Wizard. To do so, follow these steps:

On the computer that is running Windows Small Business Server, click Start, point to All programs, and then click Server Management.
Expand Standard Management, click To Do List, and then click Connect to the Internet.
Follow the steps in the wizard. Use the appropriate setting for Network Firewall and Exchange, and then in the Web Server Certificate dialog box, click Use a Web server certificate from a trusted authority.
Click Browse to locate the certificate.
Click More Information in this window for additional help with using certificates.

WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, use an alternative Web browser to connect to OWA. For example, if you are running Mac OS X, use Apple Safari 1.2 or Netscape 7.1. If you are running Mac OS 9, use Netscape 7.02. These browsers will recognize the certificate that the Configure E-Mail and Internet Connection Wizard creates.

For more information about Apple Safari 1.2, visit the following Apple Computer Web site:

http://www.apple.com/safari

For more information about Netscape 7.1, visit the following Netscape Communications Web site:

http://channels.netscape.com/ns/browsers/default.jsp

For more information about Netscape 7.02, visit the following Netscape Communications Web site:

http://www.netscape.ca/browsers/7/download/index.jsp

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

MORE INFORMATION

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