How to Create a Routing Group

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By design, Exchange functions as though all servers are connected by high-speed reliable networks. When your servers do not share this type of network connectivity, you can group servers with reliable network connectivity into routing groups to enable Exchange to maximize message flow efficiency.

By default, all servers in a native-mode Exchange organization are placed in a single routing group, named First Routing Group, and these servers communicate directly with one another. In mixed mode (where some servers are running Exchange 5.5 or earlier), each Exchange 5.5 site becomes a routing group.

Note

To understand the difference between routing groups in mixed and native mode, see Using Routing Groups in Native and Mixed Modes.

After installation, you can create additional routing groups in your Exchange organization. When you install additional Exchange servers in an existing organization, you can then designate the appropriate routing groups where these servers belong. After installation, you can also move servers between routing groups.

When you create a routing group, two containers display under the routing group:

  • Connectors   Displays any connectors installed on the servers in the routing group. This list includes any connectors to third-party mail systems, such as the Lotus Notes or Novell GroupWise connector, and also any routing group connectors, X.400 connectors, and SMTP connectors that you configure.

  • Members   Displays the servers in this routing group. By default, the routing group master is the first server added to a routing group.

Before You Begin

Before you can create routing groups, you must configure your Exchange organization to display routing groups. In Exchange System Manager, right-click your Exchange organization, click Properties, and then select the Display routing groups check box.

Procedure

To create a routing group

  1. In Exchange System Manager, right-click Routing Groups, point to New, and then select Routing Group.

  2. On the General tab (see the following figure), in the Name box, enter a name for the routing group, and then click OK.

    General tab for routing group

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