Microsoft Internet Mail Service setup problem

[whatmeworry]

Hi, I am desperately trying to setup the Internet Mail Service on Exchange 5.5, but unfortunately have very little Exchange experience. When trying to install it, I am using File<New Other<Internet Mail Service. This is running on Windows 2000 server.

This method of setup forces me to use the Internet Mail Wizard, which at the second step gives me the error, &quot;The Internet Mail Service requires the DNS name to be configured on BLAH. To configure the domain name, use the network icon in the control panel on BLAH, or select another server.

My intent is to be able to use the Exchange server to send and receive email. I assume I need the Internet Mail Service to do so.

I am using a T1 ISP, and I have another host company that is handling the DNS for foo.tv (the domain I want to use for mail addresses), and foo.tv's MX record is currently pointed at the Exchange server's IP.

Is there a way to hook up the Internet Mail Service to utilize entries in a hosts file, or the non-local DNS? I would really like to use the hosts file as opposed to a local DNS server setup b/c it is much easier; so if you are recommending local DNS, could you please suggest entries for exchange to foo.tv compatibility?

Right now the DNS in the TCP/IP settings is looking at foo.tv's DNS servers, where the MX record that points to Exchange is.

Thank you for your help, I really just feel like throwing the computer out the window at this point, maybe your advice can prevent such drastic measures from being taken. =P

 

[TheOtherKiwi]

Do you have Exchange5.5-Sp3 installed? It is required for Win2k compatability.

 

[whatmeworry]

Yes! It is. Do you think a reinstall of Exchange or the service pack would help? This server is brand new, and is not going to be integrated into existing infrastructure.

 

[whatmeworry]

I should also mention that the only thing I could find regarding this error on technet was this:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q247/0/63.ASP

, but it doesn't seem to apply to me because this computer is also a standalone Win2K PDC, in fact I could not change network properties according to MS's instructions without demoting the server.