
Protocol and Application Issues
This section describes protocol and application issues and solutions.
RPC-Over-HTTP Traffic Not Inspected
Problem: RPC over HTTP traffic encrypts the RPC data in HTTP. RPC over HTTP data is not inspected by ISA Server 2004.
Cause: In regular Web publishing scenarios, ISA Server can inspect the HTTP headers and body. However, the RPC filter designed to inspect RPC traffic cannot inspect RPC over HTTP requests, and does not protect against RPC exploits reaching the Exchange server. In outbound scenarios, RPC over HTTP requests over SSL are tunneled, and no inspection takes place of the HTTP headers or body following the initial connection.
Solution: Deploy RPC over HTTP with this limitation in mind. For configuration information for this scenario, see the Knowledge Base article 884506, "How to configure ISA Server 2004 to allow for RPC over HTTP client connections from Office Outlook 2003 to Exchange Server 2003, and see Using ISA Server 2004 Enterprise Edition with Exchange Server 2003 at the Microsoft TechNet Web site.
Live Communications Server Should Not Be Located on the ISA Server Computer
Problem: Running Live Communications Server on the ISA Server computer is not supported.
Cause: This is an untested scenario.
Solution: No workaround.
Live Communications Server Has Limited Functionality through ISA Server
Problem: Not all Live Communications Server functionality works through ISA Server 2004.
Cause: The following limitations apply:
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Communication between two clients on the same side of the ISA Server computer should work in a simple internal network configuration.
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Presence and instant message is essentially a client/server application, where the server mediates the communication between the two clients. This avoids NAT issues that arise when an external client needs the IP address of the internal client. Instant text messaging from an internal client to an external client can go out through Web proxy.
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Audio, video, and whiteboard features use SIP/SIMPLE. ISA Server does not have a SIP application filter at this time to handle such traffic. The only exception is if the session is initiated by an external Internet client that is not behind a NAT device.
Solution: There is no workaround for these limitations at this time.
Secure FTP Support
Problem: The following limitations apply:
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ISA Server cannot publish secure File Transfer Protocol (FTP).
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ISA Server does not support outbound FTP over SSL/TLS (FTPS) connections.
Cause: The following causes apply:
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FTPS uses an encrypted control channel. For standard FTP traffic, ISA Server uses the FTP application filter to monitor FTP communications between the client and the server. Outbound SSL connections, such as FTPS, cannot be seen by ISA Server, and therefore ISA Server cannot adjust traffic policy in reaction to PASV and PORT FTP commands.
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Server publishing tunnels SSL traffic, and therefore such traffic is not inspected by ISA Server.
Solution: There is a specific workaround available that allows you to publish secure FTP. For more information, see Publishing Secure FTP Servers behind ISA Firewalls at the ISAserver.org Web site.
FTP Limitations for Web Proxy Clients
Problem: The following limitations apply:
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You cannot use FTP upload from a Web Proxy client. Remote directory and file management actions also fail.
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You cannot use third-party, non-browser FTP applications or command-line FTP tools. Web Proxy clients tunnel FTP requests over port 80. You require SecureNAT clients or Firewall clients to use these tools.
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To access FTP sites that are not anonymous, you will need to enable folder view in Internet Explorer. This causes Internet Explorer to prompt for credentials. Credentials should be specified in the following format: ftp//username:password@FTP_Server_Name.
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By default, ISA Server uses PASV mode for FTP requests. If this mode is not supported by the FTP server you want to reach, you will need to disable folder view in Internet Explorer. This allows Internet Explorer to send PORT commands.
Cause: FTP uploads are not supported for client computers configured as Web Proxy clients only.
Solution: There is no workaround for these limitations at this time. For more information about troubleshooting outgoing FTP access, see Troubleshooting Outbound FTP at the ISA Server TechCenter.
ISA Server Does Not Support Routing Protocols
Problem: ISA Server is not a router and does not directly support routing protocols such as Routing Information Protocol (RIP) or Open Shortest Path First (OSPF).
Cause: ISA Server has no built-in support for these dynamic routing protocols.
Solution: You can install Routing and Remote Access on the ISA Server computer as a LAN router, to allow it to listen for OSPF announcements and handle routing protocols communications. You will need to create access rules to allow such traffic. Create a custom protocol object for the routing protocol, and then allow traffic for the protocols to and from neighboring routers, and the ISA Server computer. OSPF supports fragmented packets, and you should not filter IP fragments on ISA Server.
Colocating Remote Installation Services with ISA Server
Problem: When ISA Server 2004 is installed, Remote Installation Services (RIS) takes an extreme length of time to deploy an image.
Cause: If this only occurs for clients on a remote subnet, you may need to change a registry entry. RIS uses Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP). ISA Server has a predefined protocol for TFTP. The predefined protocol has a secondary connection defined as all User Datagram Protocol (UDP) ports, but this will only work when Firewall Client is installed on the client computer.
Solution: Use the following workaround:
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Open the complete range of UDP ports from the client to the TFTP server.
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Open the complete range of UDP ports from the TFTP server to the client.
ISA Server Support in a Virtual Environment
Microsoft ISA Server and Forefront TMG are supported on hardware virtualization in accordance with the following programs:
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Microsoft Support Lifecycle
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Microsoft ISA Server system requirements
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Forefront TMG system requirements
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Microsoft Server Virtualization Validation Program (SVVP)
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Support Policy for Microsoft software running on non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software
For example, if a hardware virtualization platform is listed as ”validated” with the SVVP (not “under evaluation”), Microsoft ISA Server and Forefront TMG will be supported for production use on that platform within the limits prescribed in the Microsoft Product Support Lifecycle, Non-Microsoft hardware virtualization policies and the system requirements for that product version and edition.
For hardware virtualization platforms not listed with the SVVP, Microsoft ISA Server and Forefront TMG are supported in accordance with remaining Microsoft support policies, limited as follows:
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Desktop virtualization, such as Microsoft Virtual PC or similar 3rd-party product: supported for demonstration and educational use only
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Server Virtualization, such as Microsoft Virtual Server or similar 3rd-party product: supported, but not recommended for production use
Important: As stated in KB 897615, Microsoft support engineers may request that a customer reproduce a reported problem on real hardware or within an SVVP-listed hardware virtualization platform before continuing with the case. If the problem cannot be reproduced in hardware or on SVVP-listed server virtualization product of similar class, the case may be deferred to the 3rd-party vendor product support.
Message Screener Does Not Work with Exchange Server 2003
Problem: The ISA Server SMTP Message Screener component may interfere with Exchange Server 2003 functionality.
Cause: The ISA Server SMTP Message Screener component is designed for filtering e-mail messages based on keywords or attachments, or blocking e-mail messages from specific senders or domains. It works together with the SMTP filter to intercept all SMTP traffic arriving on TCP port 25 of the ISA Server computer. We do not recommend that you use the Message Screener component with Exchange Server 2003. Message Screener may interfere with the functioning of the Exchange Server 2003 Connection and Recipient Filtering function.
Solution: The SMTP filter can be used with Exchange Server 2003. For more information, see Installation and configuration of the SMTP filter and Message Screener are described in the document Using the ISA Server 2004 Enterprise Edition SMTP Filter and Message Screener.
ISA Server Does Not Handle IPv6 Traffic
Problem: IPv6 traffic passes through ISA Server firewall regardless of firewall policy.
Cause: Filtering of IPv6 traffic is not supported.
Solution: We recommend that you not enable IPv6 traffic on the ISA Server computer or array members. If you have enabled IPv6 traffic, we recommend that you disable it. To disable the IPv6 stack on the ISA Server computer or array member, type the following at a command prompt:
netsh interface ipv6 uninstall
Alternatively, you can disable the IPv6 stack in the Windows user interface:
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On the ISA Server computer or array member, from the Start menu, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.
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In the Control Panel, double-click Network Connections.
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Double-click a network connection that is associated with a network adapter, and click Properties.
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On the General tab, from the list box, select Microsoft TCP/IP version 6, and then click Uninstall. In the Warning dialog box, click Yes to process.
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Click OK to close the Network Connection Properties.
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Restart the ISA Server computer or array member.
WCCP and ICP Support in ISA Server
Problem: The Web Cache Communication Protocol (WCCP) and the Internet Cache Protocol (ICP) are not supported in ISA Server.
Cause: Unsupported.
Solution: No workaround.