Setting up MS Exchange Server 2003 with DNS Exit Outgoing Mail Relay

MS Exchange - Smart Host - SMTP Authentication setup to use Mail Relay
MS Exchange - Smart Host - SMTP Authentication Configuration for Outgoing Mail Relay Service
To assist our users in using our Mail Relay Outbound service, this document describe the procedures on how to configure MS Exchange Server to use SMTP Authentication Configuration to work with the Mail Relay service at DnsExit.com.

First, you may want to check if your ISP is blocking outgoing SMTP port by use DOS/Unix command:

c:\> telnet relay.dnsexit.com 25

If the port is open, you should see some messages like

Connected to relay.dnsexit.com (64.182.102.185).
Escape character is '^]'.
220 box7.dnsexit.com ESMTP Sendmail 8.13.8/8.13.8; Sun, 25 Mar 2007 22:31:30 -0400

If there is no response at port 25, you ISP must have blocked the port. To go around port 25 blocking that is common practice by a lot of ISPs, we have other ports open for your mail relay. You can try port 26, 940, 8001, 2525, 80 by using the same telnet command by telnet to the alternative port instead of 25. If the connection gets responses from the alternative SMTP port, you should use that port instead of 25 when setting up Smart Hosting.

Here are the settings using in Exchange 2000.  The admin will have to setup an MX record for all incoming mail and setup the server accordingly but here are the specifics for setting to send to your SMARTHOST.
Right click on your Default SMTP Virtual Server

Click properties

Under Delivery click Outbound Security
Put in your DNSEXIT username and password.

Click okay

Put in your fully qualified domain name.

Under Smart Host put in relay.dnsexit.com or the IP as shown.

Click okay

Scroll down to the Routing Groups

On Exchange 2003, what surprises newcomers is that they cannot find the Routing Groups folder in Exchange System Manager.  The reason could be that it's hidden.  So check by navigating to the top of the interface, then right click Exchange Organization, properties, tick Display Routing Groups.  Simply re-open the Exchange System Manager and now you should see the Routing Groups folder.

Expand and right click the Internet Mail Connector

Click on Properties.

Put relay.dnsexit.com or the IP as shown in the “Forward all mail through this connector to the following smart hosts”

 

Add your sever to the “Local bridgeheads”

Press okay and restart the server.

Test outbound connections.

After the above settings, you need to go into the SMTP connector on the Advanced tab, click on Outbound Security and click Basic Authentication, click on modify and put in the DNSExit username/password:


It is highly possible that you will still have problem to send email. You need proceed to change to issue "ETRN/TURN" when sending messages.

1. Open System Manager on the Exchange Server.
2. Under connectors right click on the “Mail Connector” and select Properties.
3. Select “Advanced” tab.

4. Click on “Outbound Security.”
5. Select “Basic authentication.”
6. Select “Modify.”
7. Under “Modify” enter the username you used to setup the Mail Relay on DNSExit.com, enter the password that you used in setting up your Mail Relay on DNSexit.com.

8. On the Advance tab, make sure Request ETRN/TURN when sending messages and Issue ETRN are both selected.

9. Click on Domains and enter your domain name.

After the above settings, the smart host through relay.dnsexit.com should work.





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