Default Settings for Exchange Virtual Directories

Updated: 14-04-2023, 07.41 PM

Default Settings for Exchange Virtual Directories

Introduction

Exchange virtual directories are an essential part of Microsoft Exchange Server, providing access to different features and services. They act as the front-end interface to Exchange, enabling users to access mailboxes, public folders, and other services. Default settings for Exchange virtual directories are preconfigured settings that govern how Exchange virtual directories behave. In this article, we will explore the default settings for Exchange virtual directories and how to optimize them for your organization’s needs.

Also Read

Understanding Virtual Directories

Before diving into the default settings for Exchange virtual directories, it’s essential to understand what virtual directories are and how they work. Virtual directories are essentially web applications that run on top of IIS (Internet Information Services). They provide access to different Exchange services, such as Outlook Web Access (OWA), Exchange ActiveSync, Autodiscover, ECP, EWS, OAB, Powershell, Outlook Anywhere. These services are accessed through virtual directories via HTTP or HTTPS.

Default Settings for Exchange Virtual Directories

Exchange Server comes with a set of preconfigured virtual directories that have default settings. These settings may be sufficient for small organizations with a few users, but larger organizations with more complex needs may need to customize them. Here are the default settings for some of the most commonly used virtual directories in Exchange:

Client Access server

Virtual Directory	Authentication	SSL settings
DWS	Anonymous	Required
aspnet_client	Anonymous	Required
Autodiscover	Anonymous, Basic and Windows	Required
ECP	Anonymous, Basic	Required
EWS	Anonymous, Windows	Required
Active sync	Basic	Required
OAB	Windows	Not Required
OWA	Basic	Required
Powershell	Anonymous	Not Required
RPC	Basic, Windows	Required
RPCwithCert	Disabled	Required