
Linked Connector Scenario
This section describes a typical linked connector scenario on an Edge Transport server. The following table describes the Send connectors and Receive connectors in that scenario.
Send connectors and Receive connectors in a typical linked connector scenario on an Edge Transport server
|
Connector name
|
Linked status
|
Connector description
|
|---|
|
ReceiveConnectorA
|
Linked to SendConnectorC
|
This connector receives all messages from the Internet.
|
|
ReceiveConnectorB
|
Not linked
|
This connector receives messages only from the third-party anti-spam and antivirus service.
|
|
SendConnectorC
|
Contains linked ReceiveConnectorA
|
This connector sends all messages to the third-party anti-spam and antivirus service smart host.
|
|
SendConnectorD
|
Not linked
|
This connector sends all messages into the Exchange organization.
|
In this scenario, all messages that are destined for the Exchange 2007 organization arrive at the Edge Transport server through ReceiveConnectorA. Because ReceiveConnectorA is linked to SendConnectorC, the messages are immediately redirected to the third-party anti-spam and antivirus service through SendConnectorC. After the third-party anti-spam and antivirus service has finished processing the messages, the messages are delivered back to the Edge Transport server through ReceiveConnectorB.
ReceiveConnectorB is an unlinked Receive connector. This connector is very important in this scenario. Without ReceiveConnectorB, the messages would return to the Edge Transport server through ReceiveConnectorA and would then be forwarded back to the third-party anti-spam and antivirus service. This process would continue indefinitely. However, because ReceiveConnectorB is not linked to a Send connector, the Edge Transport server is free to select the route into the Exchange organization. This would occur through SendConnectorD. The messages are then delivered to the original recipients in the Exchange organization through SendConnectorD.