XFOR: Verifying the Configuration of an Internet Mail Service

• Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0, 5.5

SUMMARY

This article describes how to verify that an Internet Mail Connector (IMC) or Internet Mail Service is configured properly. If you are unable to send or receive Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) messages after installing an IMC or Internet Mail Service, these troubleshooting steps may resolve the problem.

MORE INFORMATION

If you are unable to send or receive messages using SMTP, use the following steps to troubleshoot the problem. After performing each step, check to see if the issue has been resolved.

1. If you currently obtain an Internet protocol (IP) address for the Microsoft Exchange Server computer dynamically, contact your Internet service provider (ISP) and request a static IP address instead. The ISP should also create a mail exchanger (MX) record and an address (A) record for the Microsoft Exchange Server computer on their Domain Name System (DNS) server.

   NOTE: The Nslookup.exe program can be used to verify that the appropriate MX and A records exist on the DNS server.

2. Contact your ISP and do the following:

       - Request the IP address of their SendMail server.
       - Request the IP address of their DNS server.
       - Specify your site's domain name. This is the address that your ISP
         uses to publish your Web site on the Internet and the address that
         people use to send SMTP messages to you.
   

   On the Connections tab in the properties for the Internet Mail Service, specify the IP address of the ISP's SendMail server instead of the fully qualified domain name (FQDN). To do so, follow these steps:

   a. In the Microsoft Exchange Administrator program, select the

         appropriate Internet Mail Service, and then click Properties on the
         File menu.
   

   b. Click the Connections tab.

   c. In the Message Delivery area, verify that Forward All Messages To

         Host is selected, type the ISP's IP address in the Forward All
         Messages To Host box, and then click OK.
   

3. If your network contains post office protocol version 3 (POP3) e-mail clients that connect to the Microsoft Exchange Server computer, verify that the "Reroute incoming SMTP mail (required for POP3 support)" option is selected on the Routing tab in the properties for the Internet Mail Service.

4. On the Address Space tab in the properties for the Internet Mail Service, verify that an SMTP entry exists for the address * (asterisk). The entry should look similar to the following:

         Type   Address   Cost
         ---------------------
         SMTP   *         1
   
   

5. In the properties for the SMTP entry that you verified existed in step 4, verify that the Routing Address tab is blank. To do so, follow these steps:

   a. In the Microsoft Exchange Administrator program, select the

         appropriate Internet Mail Service, and then click Properties on the
         File menu.
   

   b. Click the Address Space tab, click the SMTP entry, and then click

         Edit.
   

   c. Click the Routing Address tab, verify that the Type and Address

         boxes are blank, click OK, and then click OK again.
   

6. Verify that the Transport Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) protocol is configured properly on the Microsoft Exchange Server computer. To do so, follow these steps:

   a. In Control Panel, double-click Network.

   b. Click the Protocols tab, click the TCP/IP protocol, and then click

         Properties.
   

   c. Click the DNS tab, and then verify that the correct host name is

         specified in the Host Name box.
   

   d. Verify that your site's domain name is specified in the Domain box.

   e. In the DNS Service Search Order area, add the IP address of each of

         your ISP's DNS servers. You requested this information from your ISP
         in step 2.
   

   f. Click OK, and then stop and restart the IMC or Internet Mail

         Service.