Applies to: Exchange Server 2007 SP3, Exchange Server 2007 SP2, Exchange Server 2007 SP1, Exchange Server 2007
Topic Last Modified: 2007-09-11

This topic explains how to use the Exchange Management Shell to create an offline address book (OAB) virtual directory. 

The OAB virtual directory is the distribution point used by the Web-based distribution method of the OAB. By default, when Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 is installed, a new virtual directory named OAB is created in the default internal Web site in Internet Information Services (IIS). If you have client-side users that connect to Microsoft Outlook from outside your organization's firewall, you can add an external Web site. Alternatively, when you run the New-OABVirtualDirectory cmdlet in the Exchange Management Shell, a new virtual directory named OAB is created in the default IIS Web site on the local Exchange 2007 server.

Although Web-based distribution is enabled by default and does not require further configuration, we recommend that you enable Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) for the OAB distribution point. For more information, see How to Require SSL for Offline Address Book Distribution.

Important:
After you create a new OAB virtual directory, you must edit the settings on each OAB that uses Web-based distribution to reconnect to the OAB virtual directory. For more information, see How to View and Modify Offline Address Book Settings.

Before You Begin

To perform the following procedure, the account you use must be delegated the following:

  • Exchange Organization Administrator role

For more information about permissions, delegating roles, and the rights that are required to administer Exchange Server 2007, see Permission Considerations.

Before you perform this procedure, be aware of the following:

  • Creating an OAB virtual directory is not a common task. Exchange allows for one OAB virtual directory named OAB, and you should create an OAB virtual directory only if there is a problem with the existing OAB virtual directory and the previous OAB virtual directory was removed. For more information, see How to Remove, Re-Create, and Reconnect an Offline Address Book Virtual Directory.

  • After you create a new OAB virtual directory, you must edit the settings on each OAB that uses Web-based distribution to reconnect to the OAB virtual directory. For more information, see How to View and Modify Offline Address Book Settings.

  • If you create a new OAB virtual directory, make sure that your users are aware of the changes you are making. You may interrupt the OAB downloading process for your users.

Also, before you perform this procedure, make sure that the following conditions have been met:

  • The local Exchange server has the Client Access server role installed.

  • There is a default IIS Web site, for example, /w3svc/1/root.

  • A virtual directory named OAB does not already exist.

Procedure

To create an OAB virtual directory with all of the default settings, you can run the New-OABVirtualDirectory cmdlet without any parameters. Use the following procedure to create an OAB virtual directory with custom settings.

Note:
When creating an OAB virtual directory, we recommend that you have SSL enabled.

To use the Exchange Management Shell to create an offline address book virtual directory

  • Run the following command:

    Copy Code 
    New-OABVirtualDirectory -DomainController <Fqdn> -ExternalUrl <Url> -InternalUrl <Url> -Path <String> -PollInterval <Int32> -RequireSSL <$true | $false> -Server <ServerIdParameter> -WebSiteName <String>

    For example, to create an OAB virtual directory on the Client Access server named CAS_SERVER01 that has SSL enabled and an external URL, run the following command:

    Copy Code 
    New-OABVirtualDirectory -RequireSSL $true -ExternalURL "https://www.contoso.com/OAB"

For detailed syntax and parameter information, see the following reference topics:

New-OABVirtualDirectory

New-OABVirtualDirectory (RTM)

For More Information

To learn more about OABs, see Understanding Offline Address Books.

For more information about managing OABs, see the following topics: