Yes this is possible just follow this document and configure the local server as bridgehead: http://support.microsoft.c
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We currently have 4 Backend exchange servers at our branch offices and a Front End server at our HQ which has a SMTP connector for Internet mail. This system is working fine however we are finding that e-mail traffic from the branches is swamping our WAN and I would like to configure exchange to deliver external e-mail using the branch internet connection rather than using the Front End server.
Is is possible to configure an SMTP connector at each branch to facilitate delivery of external mail and if so what are the considerations for configuration? So in effect I would have 5 SMTP connectors one at each location.
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Yes this is possible just follow this document and configure the local server as bridgehead: http://support.microsoft.c
You will need to put each server in to its own routing group. If you don't do that then email could still flow all over the place, because SMTP connectors are an Exchange org setting - they cannot be set to per server.
That will also mean you will need to setup routing group connectors between each one.
Without routing groups you have no control over which server i used for delivery of the email.
Furthermore, setting up a second SMTP connector as outlined in the first post is a waste of time. Exchange will not use it because it has a matching connector with a lower cost.
You will also need to ensure that each site is configured correctly with a valid PTR record and unique host name. Finally because you are using routing groups, the FQDN on the SMTP virtual server will need to resolve internally, probably using a split DNS system. If the name is not valid on the internet then it will cause delivery problems for each site.
Simon.
Just to confirm:
Our configuration is up and running (for three years) with a single Internet Mail Connector on the Frond End Server. Routing groups are in place for each of the branches along with connectors to the Front End.
Can I just add a new Internet Mail SMTP Connector on each branch server, give it a low cost and up the cost of my existing Internet Mail Connector?
Initially I am only interested in delivery of mail (outbound) only at the branches, incoming mail will still arrive at the Front End for now.
SMTP Connectors are not server specific. They are routing group specific.
Therefore if you have a single SMTP connector at the moment, change its scope from Entire Org to Routing Group. Then create another SMTP connector in each group.
Changing the cost of your existing connector is a pointless exercise. Just create them all with a cost of 1.
Simon.
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by: seb_ackerPosted on 2009-09-03 at 00:18:02ID: 25248424
If your servers arte located on each branch, yes, it is possible.
- Create one Connector per branch, addressing the namespace *, with a cost of 1, using either a local smtp relay or direct DNS resolution for email delivery, and using only the Local server as bridgehead
- Also create an unique connector, addressing the namespace *, with a cost of 100, using DNS resolution for email delivery, and using all servers as bridgehead. (that's for redundancy in case of);