multiple SMARTHOST questions

[mmenzie]

Hello,
I have setup an exchange server and I am having some sending problems. I can send mail internally to my own domain without any issue. However sending mail to the outside world is diffrent, sometimes it goes sometimes it doesn't. in my research it seems that a smarthost pointing to my ISP's SMTP server should solve my problem. I have some questions about setting it up though. so here goes...

1) where do i setup the smarthost?? i ask this cause there seems to be two diffrent places that i can set it up. i see it can be setup in server->protocols->SMTP->default smtp virtual server->properties->delivery options->advanced and i can also see that it can be setup in Connectors->Internet Mail SMTP Connector->proerties->general tab. so where would it be better to set it up and why?

2)Since i know that sending mail internally in my domain works fine and i know it is using DNS to do that and if i configure a smarthost it will not use DNS and may be somewhat slower depending on my ISP,is it possible to setup a smarthost just to handle mail not going to my internal domain? For example if i send mail to someone internal it uses DNS like it is now and if i send mail externally that it uses the smarthost and not DNS. if it is possible to split it up like that how do i set that up.

Sorry if i am asking too much but i would greatly appreciate some help and insight in this situation.

Thanks in advance
Mike

 

[58sniper]

Let's step back a little bit and determine why you're having a problem. I don't usually recommend using a smarthost unless it's the only alternative.

Have you checked your reverse DNS entry? You're not using a dynamic IP, are you?

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[mmenzie]

My exchange server itself has a static local Ip address of 192.168.1.x. my external IP address is dynamic and does change. i am using a dynamic DNS service to make my changing ip address static (sort of). i use dynu.com dynamic DNS service. so essentially to to me i use mydomain.dynu.com which then translates to my current external IP address. my domain internally is mydomain.com. so to sum it up if i send mail to any address at user@mydomain.com the mail goes through without issue. if i send mail to anyone outside my domain the mail may or may not go through. if it does not go through i usually do not know until some days later when i get an email from the postmaster of my domain saying the mail has been delayed and then i get a mail saying it did not go through. if i want to send mail to myself from the outside world i can't use me@mydomain.com i have to use me@mydomain.dynu.com.

I hope i didn't confuse the matter even more.

 

[hunterdw]

http://www.amset.info/exchange/dynamicip.asp

That's just the first link when googling "exchange dynamic IP"

You'll often find some good information with simple google searches rather than relying solely on tek-tips.

Just my $.02

I have no specific answer for you as I've never experienced this particular issue, but google is what it is...

--DW

 

[mmenzie]

@hunterdw, your post has nothing to do with what i asked. i wasking about sending mail from my exchange server, the link in your post has to do with recieving mail with exchange which i am not having a problem with.

@58sniper i thank you for your input and await your next suggestion

 

[hunterdw]

I apologize. I must have misunderstood.

The bottom of that post was:

"However if you are on a dynamic IP address you will have problems getting email delivered to some remote sites. Therefore you should setup an SMTP Connector to route outbound email via your ISPs SMTP Server. More information on using SMTP Connectors can be found here." and a link to another article.

I thought that was your issue... sending email and having it successfully delivered at some remote sites.

--DW

 

[mmenzie]

@hunterdw Let me start off by apologizing to you. i did not see that link at the bottom of the page and i did look at that and it appears to answer most of my questions. i still need to figure out how to only route mail destined for outside addresses through the smart host and not internal mail. internal mail still should go through my DNS. I will read the article more and maybe my answer is in there. again i am sorry for my previous post

 

[58sniper]

Okay - the dynamic IP address is certainly a good reason to use a smarthost. The issue is that delivery receipts will typically come from the smarthost, and not the ultimate destination, which can complicate things a little.

The ADVANCED section of the DELIVERY tab of the SMTP Virtual Server is where you can configure a smarthost. Not so sure a separate connector is needed unless you're doing something special for some destination domains or multiple Internet connections, etc.

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt