Outlook Web Access

Configure a Front-End Server

When you configure a server to be a front-end server, you are dedicating the server to receive requests from clients and relay client requests to the appropriate back-end server. After identifying a server as a front-end server, you should remove any unnecessary components that still exist. This will allow the front-end server to relay client requests more efficiently. Components that are unnecessary include the storage groups and routing groups. You should also stop any unnecessary services.

Important   If you plan to allow access to Outlook Web Access over the Internet, name your front-end server with its fully qualified domain name (FQDN) and not an internal server name. This ensures Outlook Web Access URLs will work properly for external users.

To configure an Exchange 2000 server as a front-end server:

  1. Start System Manager
    On the Start menu, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Exchange, and then click System Manager.
  2. Navigate to Servers.

    System Manager

    1. Administrative Groups
    2. Administrative group
    3. Servers
  3. Right-click the front-end server, and then click Properties.
  4. Click This is a front end server.
  5. Restart the front-end server.
  6. To handle front-end requests, create a virtual HTTP server on each back-end server.

Note   You must create this HTTP virtual server on each back-end server because the front-end server is dedicated to receiving and relaying client requests.

For more information about front-end and back-end configurations, see the "Exchange 2000 Front-End and Back-End Topology" white paper at http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/.