PRB: Accessing Public Folders Via a Web Browser Causes Error

Accessing public folders without logging into mail via a Web browser can cause the following error to appear: With Microsoft Exchange Server, version 5.5, you may receive the following error:

The error appears because no folder shortcuts have been published for anonymous users. The error should not occur if the user is logged into a mailbox.

The following steps are necessary to set up access to public folders for anonymous users:

1. Start the Exchange Administrator program.
2. Select the site name.
3. Select Configuration from the options under the site name.
4. From the Configuration options, select Protocols.
5. Choose HTTP (Web) Site Settings from the list of protocols available.
6. A tabbed dialog appears. Select the Folder Shortcuts tab.
7. Click New. A list of public folders appears, allowing you to select the folders.
8. Select the folders that are going to be published.
9. On the General tab, be sure to select the option "Allow anonymous users to access the anonymous public folders."
10. Once the public folders have been selected, it is time to set up the Client permissions. Select the folder and click Properties.
11. Set the Role for Anonymous to Reviewer and click OK.

Now the permissions for folders should be set so that anonymous users can access them.

This behavior is by design.

For related information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: