robbie_62
asked on
Configuring exchange \ Server for backup smtp server
Hi Guys
We have an sbs 2003 server here with exchange running our email for our domain,
We have 2 internet connections as the service is unreliable,both have seperate static ip's and are from different providers.
I have an mx record created for connection 1 (mail.company.com) and this is used to receive all our email,
This connection is connected to a firewall which is used then as the gateway on the server so we can receive our emails.
Our hosting company has created an MX record for Connection 2 as mail1.company.com
They have also setup a backup smtp service so that when mail.company.com is unavailable,the backup smtp server will collect all mail and forward it to mail1.company.com (Connection 2)
Is it possible to configure the server to collect mail from both gateways ??
This way,if Connection1 (mail.company.com) goes down,then mail will be forwarded through to Connection2 (mail1.company.com) and will be delivered to exchange automatically without having to change gateways or anything on the server every time it happens
We have an sbs 2003 server here with exchange running our email for our domain,
We have 2 internet connections as the service is unreliable,both have seperate static ip's and are from different providers.
I have an mx record created for connection 1 (mail.company.com) and this is used to receive all our email,
This connection is connected to a firewall which is used then as the gateway on the server so we can receive our emails.
Our hosting company has created an MX record for Connection 2 as mail1.company.com
They have also setup a backup smtp service so that when mail.company.com is unavailable,the backup smtp server will collect all mail and forward it to mail1.company.com (Connection 2)
Is it possible to configure the server to collect mail from both gateways ??
This way,if Connection1 (mail.company.com) goes down,then mail will be forwarded through to Connection2 (mail1.company.com) and will be delivered to exchange automatically without having to change gateways or anything on the server every time it happens
Robin Human
You could try setting up a second SMTP virtual server for the second incoming
..oops - sorry
second incoming line on the exchange system
second incoming line on the exchange system
if i am reading this correct you can just do this
create 2 mxrecords for you domain.com email domain
domain.com MX preference = 10, mail exchanger = mail.domain.com
domain.com MX preference = 10, mail exchanger = mail1.domain.com
you can change the weight if you like but an equal will randomly select.
point mail1.domain.com to 1 external ip address of the smtp gateway
point mail.domain.com to the other ip address of the smtp gateway
set the gateway as the internal ip address or dns name of the exchange server.
now mail from any one of those IP/dns names will be queued on the SMTP gateway.
create 2 mxrecords for you domain.com email domain
domain.com MX preference = 10, mail exchanger = mail.domain.com
domain.com MX preference = 10, mail exchanger = mail1.domain.com
you can change the weight if you like but an equal will randomly select.
point mail1.domain.com to 1 external ip address of the smtp gateway
point mail.domain.com to the other ip address of the smtp gateway
set the gateway as the internal ip address or dns name of the exchange server.
now mail from any one of those IP/dns names will be queued on the SMTP gateway.
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ASKER
Hi Bertling
Do u mean go into tcp\ip properties on the server and change the gateway to its own internal ip address ?
Just tried that now but I could no longer access the internet on the server,
Cheers
Rob
Do u mean go into tcp\ip properties on the server and change the gateway to its own internal ip address ?
Just tried that now but I could no longer access the internet on the server,
Cheers
Rob
no dont change any thing on the actaul exchange server.
in a nut shell do you just want this to happen:
if isp1 or isp2 fail, mail will still be delivered to the excahnge server using the the IP address of the ISP which is still live?
in a nut shell do you just want this to happen:
if isp1 or isp2 fail, mail will still be delivered to the excahnge server using the the IP address of the ISP which is still live?
ASKER
Hi sstone55423:
Just reading through your message and I think I can see where your going with this,
Then you mentioned the Sonicwall,I happen to have abrand new sonicwall TZ180 Sitting on my desk waiting to be configured !!!
Ill have a look over the weekend and see if this will do what I need it to,Im assuming this will allow me to configure 2 different static Ip address' ?
Thanks for the Info
Rob
Just reading through your message and I think I can see where your going with this,
Then you mentioned the Sonicwall,I happen to have abrand new sonicwall TZ180 Sitting on my desk waiting to be configured !!!
Ill have a look over the weekend and see if this will do what I need it to,Im assuming this will allow me to configure 2 different static Ip address' ?
Thanks for the Info
Rob
ASKER
Hi Bertling,
Yes thats exactly it,as our connections are unreliable,I need exchange to send \ receive mail either using the primary connection or else the secondary one,if the main one fails,
sstone55423 suggested the sonicwall which I am going to investigate
Thanks Guys
Rob
Yes thats exactly it,as our connections are unreliable,I need exchange to send \ receive mail either using the primary connection or else the secondary one,if the main one fails,
sstone55423 suggested the sonicwall which I am going to investigate
Thanks Guys
Rob
great look at my post where it says how to setup your mx records.
and sstone is correct in the sonicwall theory using the 2 connections. we use sonicwalls here and i have set this up with 2 connectins and it works very well!
get both conections load balanced first then let us know and we can try to get mail to work with both IP addresses.
and sstone is correct in the sonicwall theory using the 2 connections. we use sonicwalls here and i have set this up with 2 connectins and it works very well!
get both conections load balanced first then let us know and we can try to get mail to work with both IP addresses.
Robbie -- Wow! Well, make sure that you have the Enhaced OS, it is necessary for the fault tolerance. You can buy it for extra at the mysonicwall.com site when you register your TZ180. I can help you set that up to if you run into issues.
Following Bertlings track:
domain.com MX preference = 10, mail exchanger = mail.domain.com
domain.com MX preference = 20, mail exchanger = mail1.domain.com
domain.com MX pre = 30, mail exchanger = myispsmtp.myisp.com
So that it fails to the ISP, and can be collected later if BOTH connections are down, (or server is down for awhile). You will have to work that service out with your hoster/ISP first, and put in the proper server domain name.
domain.com MX preference = 10, mail exchanger = mail.domain.com
domain.com MX preference = 20, mail exchanger = mail1.domain.com
domain.com MX pre = 30, mail exchanger = myispsmtp.myisp.com
So that it fails to the ISP, and can be collected later if BOTH connections are down, (or server is down for awhile). You will have to work that service out with your hoster/ISP first, and put in the proper server domain name.