Configuring an SMTP Virtual Server as a Smart Host

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 with SP1

This section provides information about configuring an SMTP virtual server as a smart host. Only the properties for which there are special considerations for the smart host scenario are covered. For more complete information about configuring every virtual server property, see SMTP Administration.

Setting Delivery Properties

Delivery properties govern how the SMTP service handles outbound e-mail messages and are especially important when you configure a smart host.

To designate a smart host for delivering messages, in the SMTP virtual server properties dialog box, click the Delivery tab, and then click Advanced. In the Advanced Delivery dialog box, type the name of the virtual server that will act as the smart host. If the server you are currently configuring will be the smart host, then type its name.

You can also designate a masquerade domain in the Advanced Delivery dialog box. In a masquerade domain, e-mail that is sent from one domain looks as though it were sent from another. For example, if you have one SMTP virtual server named mail.contoso.com and you want all e-mail to look as though it were sent from contoso.com, then configure a masquerade domain.

If you configure a smart host that sits outside your firewall, click Outbound Connections to set the authentication type and provide the necessary credentials for the SMTP server to which your smart host will connect. For more information about authentication methods, see Securing SMTP Virtual Servers.