Configure the server to send and receive Exchange Server e-mail over the Internet
Updated: August 21, 2008
Applies To: Windows SBS 2008
During installation, Windows SBS 2008 automatically configures Exchange Server 2007 to route e-mail messages to and from users on the network. However, you can also configure your server to route your mail through a hosted mail server (smart host) that is managed by an Internet service provider (ISP). By using a smart host, you can improve the reliability of your e-mail delivery and your server performance.
When you configure Windows SBS 2008 to use a smart host server, users address e-mail messages in the traditional format of mailbox@domain-name.ext (for example, Sally@contoso.com) to send messages through the Internet to recipients who are not a part of your network. For more information about smart host servers, see What is a smart host?
To configure your server to send and receive e-mail messages through the Internet, you must complete the following steps:
Connect your server to the Internet
If your server is connected to the network and the router is configured properly, the Internet connection is set up when you install the Windows SBS 2008 operating system. However, you might need to run the Connect to the Internet Wizard to set up or repair your Internet connection for any of the following reasons:
The Internet connection on your server did not set up successfully during installation.
You install a new router.
The Internet connection on your server is lost for any reason.
For step-by-step instructions about how to connect your server to the Internet, see Connecting to the Internet.
Set up your Internet address
Before you can send or receive mail through the Internet, you must first create the inbound and outbound connectors that are necessary to route your mail. You must also configure the required settings for the DNS server, and configure a Sender Policy Framework (SPF) record that helps protect user e-mail addresses from forgery and misuse.
Windows SBS 2008 includes the Internet Address Management Wizard to simplify the process of configuring these technologies. By using the Internet Address Management Wizard, you can configure your server to use an Internet domain name that you already own, or you can register a new domain name and configure it for use with your server. When you use the Internet Address Management Wizard to configure your Internet domain name, the wizard automatically creates the necessary mail connectors and configures the settings for the DNS server and the SPF record.
For more information about setting up your Internet address, see Setting up your Internet address.
Run the Configure Internet Mail Wizard
The final step in configuring your Internet mail is to run the Configure Internet Mail Wizard. The Configure Internet Mail Wizard enables you to specify a smart host server. The smart host performs some mail processing tasks, which helps improve your server performance. If you do not specify a smart host server, these tasks are performed by Windows SBS 2008.
Specifically, the Configure Internet Mail Wizard enables the following:
Enhanced message security Sets up a mail relay that allows you to forward e-mail messages only to trusted servers. Advanced users can also implement authentication, which adds an additional level of security.
Improved e-mail reliability Configures your server to take advantage of the services that are offered by a smart host server. As a result, outgoing mail is processed more efficiently, and there is less chance of your messages being refused by another server.
Improved server performance When you configure Windows SBS 2008 to use a smart host, server resources that were used to process outgoing e-mail become available for allocation to other tasks.
For more information about the Configure Internet Mail Wizard, see When should I run the Configure Internet Mail Wizard?
Perform the following tasks before you run the Configure Internet Mail Wizard:
Contact your ISP and discuss the proper configuration of inbound routing. To accommodate your business needs, your ISP might need to modify their system settings.
Write down the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) or IP address of the smart host server, and have it available when you run the wizard.
Determine the user name and password that are necessary to authenticate the smart host (if applicable), and have it available when you run the wizard.
For step-by-step instructions on how to configure the Internet mail settings, see Configure or view outbound Internet e-mail options.