Understanding Exchange ActiveSync Autodiscover

Applies to: Exchange Server 2010 SP3, Exchange Server 2010 SP2

Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 includes the Autodiscover service, which simplifies the provisioning of your mobile phone by returning the required system settings after a user enters their e-mail address and password. The Autodiscover service is enabled by default in Exchange 2010. Looking for more information about managing the Autodiscover service? See Managing the Autodiscover Service.

Overview of Autodiscover with Exchange ActiveSync

If your mobile phone supports Autodiscover, you can configure your mobile phone to synchronize with Exchange 2010. The following figure shows this synchronization process.

Using Autodiscover with Exchange ActiveSync

1. The user enters their e-mail address and password on the mobile phone.

2. The mobile phone connects to a root DNS server to retrieve the URL for the Autodiscover service and the IP address for the user's domain.

3. The mobile phone uses a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection to connect through the firewall to the Autodiscover service virtual directory. The Autodiscover service assembles the XML response based on the server synchronization settings.

4. The Autodiscover service sends the XML response through the firewall over SSL. This XML response is interpreted by the mobile phone, and synchronization settings are configured automatically on the mobile phone.

   Note

   The ability to use Autodiscover depends on the operating system of the mobile phone you're using. Not all mobile phone operating systems that support synchronization with Exchange 2010 support Autodiscover. For more information about operating systems that support Autodiscover, contact the manufacturer of your mobile phone.

   Note

   Windows Mobile 5.0 doesn't support Autodiscover.

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