Web Access to Alternate PF

by Daniel Petri - January 8, 2009

How can I provide access to Alternate Public Folder Trees via OWA?

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Although Exchange 2000/2003 allows multiple Public Folder roots, current Outlook clients don't, so you can't display these other structures in Outlook. However, you can view them via the Web with the following format:

http://exchange server/public folder root

or via EXIFS just like you'd look at any shared folder on the network.

To publish a Public Folder and to make it available through a web browser, perform the following steps:

  1. Start the Microsoft Management Console Exchange System Manager snap-in.

  2. Expand Server, Protocols, HTTP, Exchange Virtual Server.

  3. Right-click Exchange Virtual Server and select New, Virtual Directory.

  1. Provide a name for the new virtual directory (e.g., NewPF).

  2. In the Exchange Path section, select Public Folder, and click Modify.

  1. From the browse window, select the required Public Folder root/subfolder and click OK.

  1. Click Apply, then OK.

  2. Point your browser to

    http://exchange server/newpf

(it may take some time till this works, but it will eventually)

Exchange 2003 note: Exchange Server 2003 does not expose drive M: by default so for you, the only method of providing access to the Alternate PF Trees is by using OWA as described on this page. However, it is possible to re-create the M: EXIFS drive if you really need it.

In order to re-create drive M: on Exchange Server 2003 follow instructions on the Restore the M Drive Mapping in Exchange 2003 page. This will re-create drive M: for you.

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