Install an SMTP Connector

You can deploy an SMTP connector for use between Exchange and other SMTP-compatible messaging systems such as UNIX sendmail or other SMTP hosts on the Internet. SMTP connectors link one or more bridgehead servers directly to a smart host or to a remote server on which recipient addresses are stored. Typically, when connecting to a non-Exchange system, a Domain Name System (DNS) mail exchanger record is set up to point to one or more servers in the non-Exchange system. The SMTP connector then uses that mail exchanger record to send messages to one or more servers in the order defined in the mail exchanger record.

To install an SMTP connector:

1. Start System Manager
   On the Start menu, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Exchange, and then click System Manager.
2. Navigate to Connectors.
   If you do not have routing groups defined:

   System Manager

   1. Administrative Groups
   2. <Administrative Group>
   3. Connectors

   If you do have routing groups defined:

   System Manager

   1. Administrative Groups
   2. <Administrative Group>
   3. Routing Groups
   4. <Routing Group>
   5. Connectors
3. Right-click Connectors, select New, and then select SMTP Connector.
4. On the General tab, type the name of the connector. The name is usually the name of the routing group to which you are connecting.
5. On the General tab, select Use DNS to route to each address space on this connector, which specifies the address to use in mail exchanger records, or select Forward all mail through this connector to following smart host, and then type the name or IP address of the server through which you would like to route messages for this remote domain. This value overrides the smart host setting on the Delivery tab of the SMTP virtual server properties.

   Note   You can identify the smart host by a fully qualified domain name or an IP address (but if you change the IP address you will also have to change it on every virtual server). If you use an IP address, enclose it in brackets, [ ], to increase system performance. Microsoft SMTP Service first checks for a server name and then checks for an IP address. The brackets identify the value as an IP address, so the DNS lookup is bypassed.

   Tip   You can configure multiple smart hosts on a connector, provided they are separated by commas or semi-colons. Microsoft recommends using multiple smart hosts for load balancing purposes. In the event a smart host fails, the connector can use a different smart host.

6. On the General tab, under Local Bridgeheads, click Add, and then select a local bridgehead server from the list.
7. On the Address Space tab, click Add. Select an address type, and then type all necessary information in Properties, including cost.

8. - OR -

   On the Connected Routing Groups tab, click New. On the General tab, in Organization, type the name of the organization that contains the routing group to which you want to connect, and then, in Routing Group, type the name of the routing group to which you want to connect. The organization must exist on an Exchange server so that the naming conventions are known. On the Routing Address tab, type the e-mail domain name of the organization to which you want to connect and, then type a cost between 1 and 100.

   This section contains the following topics:

   • Configure SMTP Delivery Options
   • Configure SMTP Outbound Security
   • Configure SMTP Advanced Options
   • Modify the Default SMTP Recipient Address

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