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Exchange 2007 OWA "Session failed" - how to diagnose?


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Posted by Hlorri
I'm trying to get my brand new debranded C905a to connect to our Exchange 2007/OWA setup at work. I have double/triple-checked all the settings (server URL, domain, username, password), and they work fine with Nokia's Mail for Exchange, RoadSync, etc. but not on the C905a.

Once I hit "Start", it says "Synchronizing Profilename", shortly followed by "Profilename Session Failed".

My question is how I can diagnose the issue. Is there a connection log generated? (There is no trace of the connection from the OWA "Mobile Devices" page - it seems to fail upon initial connect).

Thanks for any insight!
[ This Message was edited by: Hlorri on 2009-07-30 23:46 ]



Posted by xoxBlackston
Hi,

I have exactly the same problem with Exchange 2007 and SE Active Sync. I've concluded so far that it is not related to invalid certificates but it might be something with the authentication mechanism: forms vs. basic authentication.

Hope to solve it or that others know what to do...

Thanks!

Posted by xoxBlackston
Hi again,

Problem solved... It has to do with MS ISA frontend server not falling back to basic authentication when user-agent is *sonyericsson*. SE phones cannot handle forms based authentication presented by default.

Follow the solution here: http://exchangeorg.net/archive/2007/10/22/ericsson-authentication-problem-through-isa-2006.aspx

I've just tested it and was able to sync my C905 against MS Exchange 2007. Nokia phones and WinMo's are still working


Posted by Hlorri
xoxBlackston,
Thanks!

Yes, I also found in the mean time (using "wget") that this happened precisely because of the "SonyEricsson" user-agent string. I even customized the model name on my phone (So the User-Agent: string would read something like "SonyEricssonC905a/Mozilla-compatible/R1FA"), believing that "Mozilla" was the magic word - but alas, no go.

The article you found is the most direct-to-the-point solution I have seen so far - so thanks again.
Now my next question is: Is there any solution that does not involve dealing with the Exchange server side (for those of us who work in companies with less-than-helpful IT departments...)?



Posted by marc-alain
I once had this problem with a W910. The reason was that SE did not implement the full ActiveSync specifications.
Of what I read here is that this is still not the case.
An Exchange admin defines a security policy for the server, for example requiring a password on the mobile phone or a certain type of authentication.
When a phone connects that does not meet these requirements, the connection is closed.
I'll try a W995 in the shop to see if it's still the same with my Exhcange 2010 account.
Marc



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