HOW TO: Turn On Digest Authentication for Correct Instant Message Polling Functionality in Exchange 2000 Server (328208)

SUMMARY

Instant Message Polling and Fixed Port callback delivery are new connection features available in Exchange 2000 with Service Pack 1 (SP1). You can make connections between the server running Exchange Instant Messaging Service and the Exchange Instant Messaging Service client, even if the server running Instant Messaging or the Instant Messaging client is protected by a firewall. This article describes how to turn on the digest authentication for correct Instant Messaging polling functionality.

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Turn On the Digest Authentication for Correct Instant Message Polling Functionality

The Instant Messaging client polls the server running Instant Messaging at regular intervals during Instant Message Polling to look for pending notifications. When a connection is established with the server running Instant Messaging, the notifications are delivered.

A single port or range of ports is designated for outbound connections from the server running Instant Messaging to the Instant Messaging client during Fixed Port callback delivery.

The administrator must turn on Digest authentication for Instant Message Polling and Fixed Port callback delivery to function properly. Digest authentication is an Internet standard that you can use to permit clients to authenticate by using a sequence of challenges and responses carried over HTTP. For more information about Digest authentication, see Exchange 2000 SP1 Help.

To turn on Digest authentication:

1. In the Microsoft Active Directory directory service Users and Computers snap-in, right-click the name of the domain that you want, and then click Properties.
2. On the Group Policy tab, click Edit.
3. In Group Policy, expand Window Settings in the console tree, expand Security Settings, expand Account Policies, and then click Password Policy.
4. In the details pane, right-click Store password using reversible encryption for all users in the domain, and then click Security.
5. In Security Policy Setting, click to select the Define this policy setting check box, click Enabled, and then click OK.Important: Password reset configuration is mandatory for proxy or Digest encryption.

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