Configuring SMTP

  • Article

 

In Exchange, you use SMTP virtual servers and SMTP connectors to control the configuration of SMTP.

  • SMTP virtual servers

    Essentially, an SMTP virtual server is an SMTP stack (a process or server that both receives e-mail messages and acts as a client for sending e-mail). Each SMTP virtual server represents an instance of the SMTP service on a server. Therefore, a single physical server can host many virtual servers.

    An SMTP virtual server is defined by a unique combination of an IP address and port number. The IP address is the address on which the SMTP virtual server listens for incoming SMTP connections. The default IP address is All Unassigned, which means that the SMTP virtual server listens on any of the available IP addresses. The port number is the port through which the SMTP virtual server receives communications. The default port number for inbound connections to an SMTP virtual server is port 25.

    You use Exchange System Manager to control most of the SMTP settings. The property settings of the SMTP virtual server control inbound mail and, to a lesser degree, outbound mail settings.

  • SMTP connectors

    An SMTP connector designates an isolated route for mail. You can use SMTP connectors to establish a gateway for Internet mail or to connect to a specific domain or mail system. Connectors help you to define specific options for the designated mail route.

Although you can send and receive Internet mail using an SMTP virtual server, most companies configure an SMTP connector to route Internet mail. Using an SMTP connector is recommended because it provides an isolated route for mail destined to the Internet. Additionally, more configuration options are available on an SMTP connector than on the SMTP virtual server. Because of the benefits of an SMTP connector, the following sections that describe both the Internet Mail Wizard and the manual procedure for configuring Exchange to send Internet mail include information about creating and configuring an SMTP connector to route Internet mail.