XADM: Setting TCP/IP Port Numbers for Internet Firewalls

ID: Q148732

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0, 5.5
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SUMMARY

This article explains how to configure the Microsoft Exchange Information Store, Directory, and System Attendant Services to use predefined TCP/IP port numbers. This is useful when configuring Internet firewalls or routers.


MORE INFORMATION

Some Internet firewalls may not accept TCP/IP port numbers that Microsoft Exchange Server uses for Remote Procedure Call (RPC) communication. To solve this problem, add port 135 to your firewall and configure Microsoft Exchange Server to use the ports that your firewall will allow. The computer must be restarted for these changes to take effect.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys and Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).


To configure the RPC Port for the Microsoft Exchange Directory Service:

  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).


  2. Under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE subtree, go to the following subkey:


    3. SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeDS\Parameters
  3. Add the following registry value
    TCP/IP port
    as DWORD value, specifying the port to be used. The RADIX should be set to decimal when entering the value.


  4. Quit Registry Editor.


To configure the RPC Port for the Microsoft Exchange Information Store Service:
  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).


  2. Under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE subtree, go to the following subkey:


    3. SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeIS\ParametersSystem
  3. Add the following registry value
    TCP/IP port
    as DWORD value, specifying the port to be used. The RADIX should be set to decimal when entering the value.


  4. Quit Registry Editor.


To configure the RPC Port for the Microsoft Exchange System Attendant:

In order to administer an Exchange Server across a firewall, the Microsoft Exchange System Attendant should be configured to use a specific RPC port as well.
  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).


  2. Under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE subtree, go to the following subkey:


    3. SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeSA\Parameters
  3. Add the following registry value
    TCP/IP port
    as DWORD value, specifying the port to be used. The RADIX should be set to decimal when entering the value.


  4. Quit Registry Editor.


NOTE: The DWORD value should be in decimal.

NOTE: This ONLY has to be changed on the computer running Microsoft Exchange Server. Clients always connect to port 135, the RPC endpoint mapper, and then ask what ports they should use for the Directory and Information Store Services.

WARNING: DO NOT assign ports immediately above the 1023 range. For more information about the ramifications and guidelines for static port assignment of Exchange services, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q180795 XADM: Intrasite Directory Replication Fails with Error 1720
For additonal information about Exchange Services for Internet Firewalls, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q155831 XADM: Setting TCP/IP Ports for Exchange and Outlook Client Connections Through a Firewall

Additional query words: proxy

Keywords : kbusage XADM exc4 exc5 exc55
Version : winnt:4.0,5.0,5.5
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: October 20, 1999
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