Deploying Mobile Messaging: Introduction

  • Article

6/2/2010

This guide provides best practices and procedures for implementing a mobile messaging system with Microsoft® Windows Mobile® 5 devices and Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 SP2.

Assumptions

This document assumes that you have an understanding of Microsoft Office Outlook® Web Access, Exchange ActiveSync, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), basic Exchange Server 2003 concepts, and basic Microsoft Windows Internet Information Services (IIS) concepts.

Software Requirements

The following table presents the operating systems and applications that are required for the recommended deployment.

Location Software requirements

Exchange front-end server
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 SP2
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (SP1), or Microsoft Windows 2000 Server with Service Pack 4 (SP4)

Additional Exchange server(s)
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 or later
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (SP1), or Microsoft Windows 2000 Server with Service Pack 4 (SP4)

LDAP Server
  • Windows Server 2003 or Windows 2000 Server

Exchange server where Exchange ActiveSync Mobile Administration Web tool is installed
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 SP2
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (SP1)
  • Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0

Mobile devices
  • Windows Mobile 5.0–based devices that have the Messaging and Security Feature Pack

Note

Windows Mobile 5.0–based devices that have a version number of 148xx.2.x.x or later include the Messaging and Security Feature Pack. To find the operating system version on the device, select Start, choose Settings, and then select About.

Optional Items

You can implement the following components for security and device management tools. See Network Architecture Alternatives in this document.

  • Microsoft Desktop ActiveSync 4.1 or later, which can be downloaded from this Microsoft download Web site: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=109212.
  • Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2006 (or ISA Server 2004 or third party firewall)
  • Windows Certification Authority (CA)
  • RSA Authentication Manager 6.0 from RSA Security
  • RSA Authentication Agent for Microsoft Windows from RSA Security
  • RSA SecurID Authenticator from RSA Security

Deployment Process Summary

Because corporate network configurations and security policies vary, the deployment process will vary for each mobile messaging system installation. This deployment process includes the required steps and the recommended steps for deploying a mobile messaging solution that uses Exchange Server 2003 SP2 and Windows Mobile 5.0–based devices.

Note

The following steps outline the process for setting up a mobile messaging solution with ISA Server 2006 in a workgroup in a perimeter network, with LDAP authentication. For more information on alternative network configurations, see Network Architecture Alternatives in this document.

The process can be accomplished in the following eight steps:

  • Step 1: Upgrade Front-End Server to Exchange Server 2003 SP2
  • Step 2: Update All Servers with Security Patches
  • Step 3: Protect Communications with Mobile Devices
  • Step 4: Protect Communications Between the Exchange Server and Other Servers
  • Step 5: Install and Configure ISA Server 2006 or Other Firewall
  • Step 6: Configure Mobile Device Access on the Exchange Server
  • Step 7: Install the Exchange ActiveSync Mobile Administration Web Tool
  • Step 8: Manage and Configure Mobile Devices

Planning Resources

The following Microsoft Web sites and technical articles provide background information that is important for the planning and deployment of your mobile messaging solution.

Exchange Server 2003

Windows Mobile

ISA Server

Security