Setup a SMTP Connector for Outbound Email to multiple Front End Servers?

Mardyc... One option might be to separate the US and overseas BE servers into separate routing groups (if they aren't already). You can then have two SMTP connectors with the * namespace that are scoped to the routing group.

So you would have two separate routing groups
- "US Routing Group" - would have server MAIL, and Servers A-D as members
- "Overseas Routing Group" - would have Server MAIL2, and Servers E-F as members

You would need to setup a Routing group Connector between the two Routing Groups

You would then also need two SMTP connectors to divide the traffic
Mail - US Frontend - Houses SMTP connector with * namespace and is scoped to the US Routing Group
Mail2 - Overseas Frontend - Houses an SMTP connector with the * namespace and is scoped to the Overseas Routing Group

You could then remove the smart host definitions on the BE SMTP Virtual servers.

Just a quick clarification on the first sentence. You would divide up "all" of the servers into two routing groups, not just the BE servers.

Sorry, I should have specified that they are in the same routing groups.  I would prefer to keep these servers in the same admin group due to our very tiny IT group for management purposes.
FYI - There are 2 domains within the Exchange org.

Thats fine. You can leave them in the same admin group and still spread them across two routing groups.

If they are all in the same routing group today then you could just create a new Routing Group called something like "Overseas"

- Move MAIL2, Server E and Server F to that new routing group (drag and Drop).
- Create a Routing group connector between the two RG's.
- Create a new SMTP connector with a Description of something like "Overseas", and add the SMTP Virtual Server of MAIL2 to the Bridgehead section.  On the addresspace tab add the * namespace and at the bottom of that tab set the scope to "Routing Group".
- Change the existing SMTP connector to scope to the Routing group as well.
- Remove your smarthost definitions on the BE servers.
- Restart your SMTP services and Routing Engines.

Routing Groups will not have any affect on the rest of the Exchange setup until I place the SMTP connectors in place?  I am trying to minimize down time with the adjustment to the system.
Any problems with this setup for OWA access or Blackberry Enterprise server?  I guess worst case I can place it back to the same config I have now.
Can you take a look at my steps and let me know if you see a flaw in my plan?
Steps to follow.
Setup a new routing group.
Migrate the Non US servers to it.
Wait for replication and reboot moved servers (It is Microsoft after all) to be safe.
Setup SMTP connectors between the routing groups.
Setup Outbound SMTP Connectors in each routing group.
Final Config.  2 Routing groups.  US Based (original First Routing Group) and Non US (new Routing Group) Both FE servers can still deliver external inbound email to all BE servers via the SMTP connector between groups. Same connector allows internal email to flow between BE servers.  The other SMTP connectors (1 in each routing group) route outbound email to the proper FE server for delivery.

Thanks for the advice.  I am going to discuss with the boss and possible roll out.

Full points to you of course and many thanks.

Thank you so much again