Peer-to-Peer Questions #4: Internet Mail Service, Domain Planning and IIS

Monday, May 24, 1999

Editors Note This article, culled from the TechNet Web site (https://www.microsoft.com/technet), answers the most interesting questions received on the peer -to-peer discussion groups over the past few weeks. To post your own questions, visit the TechNet discussion groups at https://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/newsgroups/default.mspx.

Greetings! Hope you enjoyed a couple of weeks of successful computing. The forums have been hopping! I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has participated. Your support continues to improve the value of these forums for everyone.

Some good questions have arisen in our Exchange discussion group. For example: Are you nervous about connecting your Exchange server to the Internet? Have you used Microsoft's Internet Information Server? Devon is here to help.

Q: I need info on connecting the Internet Mail Service to the Internet and pulling mail from our ISP. Where can I find it?

A: The TechNet CD offers several excellent resources that address this question. In particular, I recommend reading "Connecting MS Exchange Server to the Internet" by Spyros Sakellariadis. This white paper covers the required steps to configure your exchange server in such a way that it can connect to SMTP, POP3, HTTP, and/or NNTP. The format is minimal—no explanation or justification of any of the steps is included. However, the paper does include an exhaustive list of additional resources near the end.

Also be sure to read Dial-up Internet Mail Service Host Configuration, which is geared toward those who have a working knowledge of Windows NT networking, RAS, TCP/IP, NT Domains and MS Exchange Server 5.5. This paper details the process by which an Exchange Sever can host multiple e-mail domains, much as smart hosts do with the sendmail daemon. It offers a detailed account of the setup and configuration process.

Finally, check out the ISP Connectivity White Paper, which specifically addresses the Microsoft Small Business Server (SBS). This paper is a great supplement to the Internet Connection Wizard (ICW) that comes with the SBS. A section near the end of the article lists additional resources that are available on the Microsoft web for both the ISP and SBS customer.

Q: I have been assigned the task of planning the domain for our entire network. Where do I start and what should I keep in mind as I design it?

A: Whether you are setting up two home computers or the 2,500 systems at a corporate office, the planning of a domain can be a tricky business. The proper configuration for your domain will make the difference between a smooth-running system and a troubleshooting nightmare that devours your time and resources.

An excellent article by Terrence V. Lillard, Windows NT Architectural Planning & Design, addresses the ways proper domain planning can facilitate the growth of any IT infrastructure, dividing the architecture of an IT system into seven specific areas to consider when planning.

Don't miss the outstanding article, The Finer Points of Domain Planning, by John Jacobs. Jacobs provides a comprehensive domain overview that doesn't rely on a matrix to determine the best domain type for any given business. Instead, it explains how account and resource management and IT centralization determine the most desirable domain type for a given circumstance.

Q: I have begun learning IIS. Any advice on which books are best? And is there any good information on Microsoft.com?

A: Not surprisingly, my first suggestions are TechNet and the MSDN web site. I'd begin by reading MSDN's For Starters: #12. Rise of the Serving Class: Internet Information Server 4.0 at https://msdn.microsoft.com/workshop/essentials/forstarters/starts031698.asp. On TechNet, check out Internet Information Server Security Overview. Also take a look at TechNet's Online Bookstore at https://www.fatbrain.com/technet/home.html?from=mstechnet.

If you are considering advanced training on the subject of IIS, I would also suggest that you check out the Training & Certification section at https://www.microsoft.com/learning. A final informational option is on the Microsoft Online Seminars CDs.

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