smtp relay servers

Mikey · 2 Apr 2007 at 01:05

I'm in the process of getting my Exchange server up and running and need to set-up a smart host to send e-mail out for my domain. Does anyone know any good smtp servers to use. Was looking at this on - http://www.authsmtp.com but want to know any other suggestions.

oddjob62 · 2 Apr 2007 at 01:08

Mikey said:
I'm in the process of getting my Exchange server up and running and need to set-up a smart host to send e-mail out for my domain. Does anyone know any good smtp servers to use. Was looking at this on - http://www.authsmtp.com but want to know any other suggestions.

Doesn't your ISP have one that you can use.

Mikey · 2 Apr 2007 at 01:16

oddjob62 said:
Doesn't your ISP have one that you can use.

I'm on a home ISP.. BT Yahoo and it works for a bit and then gets denied, that's when I add my BT account name into the authentication tab of the smart host settings.

I've got my MX record pointing to my Dynamic DNS name for the moment so mail gets delivered to the Exchange box, no probs. If I can get a spare ML370 server from work with redundant PSUs and disks etc I'll prob eventually move over to a static IP

Once my action pack subscription from MS is sorted Exchange 2007 will be going in

oddjob62 · 2 Apr 2007 at 02:00

I'm on a home ISP and have always set my outgoing through the ISP's (Zen) SMTP server. But i know BT can be a pita with outgoing mail... it's no better on a business account

Mikey · 2 Apr 2007 at 02:03

I'll be buying a house hopefully later in the year so will then be re-evaluating my ISP. Connection wise with BT haven't had a single hicup. E-mail is pretty reliable when using BT accounts too. However I'm not exactly a normal user.

Spoke to 1and1 my hosting company and they didn't have a clue

so I'll be moving that too...

They didn't understand the smarthost concept (they sell exchange accounts!) and just said send mail direct. Err that won't work due to reverse DNS issues. How do you solve reverse DNS issues. Smart Hosts / static Ip address with a switched on ISP

oddjob62 · 2 Apr 2007 at 02:20

Mikey said:
They didn't understand the smarthost concept (they sell exchange accounts!) and just said send mail direct. Err that won't work due to reverse DNS issues. How do you solve reverse DNS issues. Smart Hosts / static Ip address with a switched on ISP

Yes, ideally you have a Pointer Record for your IP that resolves to the FQDN of the server. This will also require a matching A Record for that FQDN in your domain.

Mikey · 2 Apr 2007 at 02:28

oddjob62 said:
Yes, ideally you have a Pointer Record for your IP that resolves to the FQDN of the server. This will also require a matching A Record for that FQDN in your domain.

Yeah sorry I know that, just worded my last post not very well.. Had it last year with a client that had reverse DNS issues. BT didn't help and also add the fact that the record for their mail server was mail.vitacress.co.uk, but it went out as vitamail.vitacress.co.uk BT were useless so I got them configured using a smart host and that sorted it. They were communicating with other businesses that used AOL accounts and AOL doesn't accept e-mail that has a correct reverse DNS. FFS get a proper domain set-up etc

I'm not 100% network savy, but want to get CCNA at somepoint. Need to start looking at my MCSE again. Done a few, but can't be doing with this study malarky...

It's late and I'm at work

When I'm on DHCP for my ISP the FQDN DNS isn't going to working, so dynamic DNS and smarthosting are the only way round it etc.

oddjob62 · 2 Apr 2007 at 02:38

Mikey said:
also add the fact that the record for their mail server was mail.vitacress.co.uk, but it went out as vitamail.vitacress.co.uk BT were useless so I got them configured using a smart host and that sorted it.

In exchange you can change what the server "advertises" itself as on outgoing mail. On the SMTP virtual server look for "Masquerading" in the advanced settings (sorry can't be bothered to look up the correct details, been learning Citrix all weekend

)

Mikey · 2 Apr 2007 at 02:57

oddjob62 said:
In exchange you can change what the server "advertises" itself as on outgoing mail. On the SMTP virtual server look for "Masquerading" in the advanced settings (sorry can't be bothered to look up the correct details, been learning Citrix all weekend )

Yeah I remember that area, but didn't dig too deep.. I didn't consider that option etc. but wasn't sure

Citrix, yup something I want/need to get into. I've got 50+ citrix servers here. DL580 G1s in the first farm and HP Blade kit handling the other farm etc. I've done the odd removing servers etc. from the publishing of applications, but that's it

Citirx servers here presenting the NHS Direct application that then talks another 30 odd .net servers running in NLB cluster that then talks to 2 iatanium SQL cluster servers

Sooo much to learn

Most people here on night shift watch DVD movies, but I try and play around with stuff. I'm getting exchange 2007 trial downloaded at the mo to load up into a VPC session (Must ask the boss for more ram).

The other night i was configuring my mates companies SBS 2003 server so I try and get a hand in as much as possible.

Got to pick up/learn/gain/ more experience/use current knowledge in the following for this job
Citrix
Checkpoint fw
Nokia fw
ISA 2004 - done it before for the volvo dealerships
Cisco routers/switches
SQL
2003/2000/NT4 server
Exchange 2003/2000/5,5
HP Openview/HP SIM
HP Proliant Servers/EVA
XP/Vista

Yet looking for a new job as I hate the shifts. 4 x 11 hour shifts

then 4 days off

Going to end up taking a paycut though

Mikey · 2 Apr 2007 at 22:09

Tempted to go with it and see what they're like, looking around looks like they're resonably priced.