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IN THIS TASK

SUMMARY

This step-by-step article describes how to set up a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) virtual server on a Windows 2000-based computer.


Microsoft SMTP Service uses the Internet-standard SMTP to transport and deliver mail messages.
Microsoft SMTP Service does not support the use of individual mailboxes; it places incoming messages in a Drop folder or it forwards them to other SMTP servers (if the message is addressed to a remote domain). This feature allows Microsoft SMTP Service to be used as a mail receiver for other programs.


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Install Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) and Microsoft SMTP ServiceBecause Microsoft SMTP Service is a component of Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS), you must install IIS to use Microsoft SMTP Service. To install IIS and Microsoft SMTP service, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

  2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.

  3. Click Add/Remove Windows Components.

  4. In the Windows Components Wizard, click Internet Information Services (IIS), and then click Details.

  5. Click to select the following check boxes:

    • Common Files

    • Documentation

    • Internet Information Services Snap-In

    • Internet Services Manager (HTML)

    • SMTP Service

    • World Wide Web Server


  6. Click OK, and then click Next on the Windows Components page.

  7. On the Completing the Windows Components Wizard page, click Finish.

  8. Click Close.

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Configure the SMTP Virtual ServerWhen you install Microsoft SMTP Service, a default SMTP virtual server is created to handle basic mail delivery functions. The SMTP virtual server is automatically configured with default settings that enable it to accept local client computer connections and to process messages. You can either accept the default settings or change the SMTP virtual server configuration. You can configure the SMTP virtual server to meet your messaging requirements; this article describes basic configuration and security settings that you may want to consider.


This section includes the following topics:

  • How to assign an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

  • How to configure the default domain.

  • How to enable transaction logging.

  • How to set relay restrictions.

  • How to set up a smart host.

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How to Assign an IP AddressTo assign an IP address to your SMTP virtual server, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Internet Services Manager.

    Alternatively, start the IIS snap-in.

  2. Right-click Default SMTP Virtual Server, and then click Properties.

  3. Click the General tab.

    • If you want the SMTP virtual server to respond to connection requests for all IP addresses that are configured on the computer, click (All Unassigned). This is the default setting.

    • If you want to assign a specific IP address to the SMTP virtual server, click the IP address that you want to use in the IP address box.

    • If you want to assign additional IP addresses to the virtual server, follow these steps:

      1. Click Advanced, and then click Add.

      2. Specify the IP address and the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) port number.

        NOTE: The default TCP port is 25.

      3. Click OK, and then click OK.

  4. Click OK.

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How to Configure the Default DomainSMTP virtual servers must have one local default domain. The default domain is used to stamp messages from addresses that do not contain a domain. By default, the name that you specify on the Network Identification tab of the System tool in Control Panel is used as the default domain name.


All incoming mail messages that are designated for the default domain are placed in the Drop folder. By default, the Drop folder is located in the Inetpub\Mailroot folder.


To change the location of the Drop folder, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Internet Services Manager.

    Alternatively, start the IIS snap-in.

  2. Double-click Default SMTP Virtual Server, and then click Domains.

  3. Right-click the default domain, and then click Properties.

  4. Click Browse, locate a folder that you want to use for your Drop folder, and then click OK.


    NOTE: You must place the Drop folder in a folder on the local computer on which Microsoft SMTP Service is installed.

  5. Click OK.

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How to Enable Transaction LoggingLog files keep a record of all of the messages that are received and sent on your computer. To turn on logging, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Internet Services Manager.

    Alternatively, start the IIS snap-in.

  2. Right-click Default SMTP Virtual Server, and then click Properties.

  3. Click the General tab.

  4. Click to select the Enable logging check box.

  5. In the Active log format box, click the log format in which you want to record information. The default log format is W3C Extended Log File Format.

  6. Click Properties.

  7. Specify the settings that you want to use. You can specify settings to include log time period and the location and the name of the log file.

  8. Click OK, and then click OK.

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How to Set Relay RestrictionsBy default, all computers are denied relay access. Microsoft SMTP Service does not allow computers to relay unwanted mail through the virtual server. Also, all computers are denied relay access except those that meet the authentication requirements that are specified in the Authentication box on the Access tab, by default. If your virtual server is on the Internet, it is not recommended that you grant relay access. If you do so, unsolicited mail may be propagated.


To grant or deny permissions to relay messages through the SMTP virtual server, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Internet Services Manager.

    Alternatively, start the IIS snap-in.

  2. Right-click Default SMTP Virtual Server, and then click Properties.

  3. Click the Access tab.

  4. Under Relay restrictions, click Relay.

  5. Do one of the following steps:

    • Click Only the list below.


      -or-

    • Click All except the list below.

  6. Click Add.

  7. Click the settings that you want to use, add the computers, the group of computers, or the domain that you want to specify as exceptions to the access setting that you selected in step 6, and then click OK three times.

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How to Set Up a Smart HostIf you want to designate another SMTP server to handle all outgoing messages, you can set up a smart host to perform this task. After you set up the smart host, all outgoing messages that are designated for remote domains are routed through it.


To configure a smart host, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Internet Services Manager.

    Alternatively, start the IIS snap-in.

  2. Right-click Default SMTP Virtual Server, and then click Properties.

  3. Click the Delivery tab, and then click Advanced.

  4. In the Smart host box, type either the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) or the IP address of the smart host server.


    If you type an IP address, enclose the address in brackets (for example, [192.168.188.228]). When you do so, you can increase performance because Microsoft SMTP Service does not perform name resolution.

  5. If you want Microsoft SMTP Service to attempt to deliver the remote messages directly before it forwards them to the smart host, click to select the Attempt to direct delivery before sending to smart host check box. By default, this check box is not selected.

  6. Click OK, and then click OK.

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TroubleshootingIssue: Messages are not sent to the Drop folder.


This issue can occur because of either of the following conditions:

  • The path to the Drop folder is incorrect.


    To troubleshoot this issue, follow these steps:

    1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Internet Services Manager.

      Alternatively, start the IIS snap-in.

    2. Double-click Default SMTP Virtual Server, and then click Domains.

    3. Right-click the default domain, and then click Properties.

    4. In the Drop directory box, verify that the path to the Drop folder is valid.

  • Either the Drop folder or the hard disk in which the Drop folder is located is full.


    To troubleshoot this issue, free hard disk space in either the Drop folder or on the hard disk in which the Drop folder is located.For additional information about how to troubleshoot Microsoft SMTP Service, click the article number below
    to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    297954 HOW TO: Troubleshoot the Web Server in Windows 2000
    For additional information about how to test Microsoft SMTP Service, click the article number below
    to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    286421 HOWTO: Test Windows 2000 IIS SMTP Services Manually

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REFERENCESFor more information about Microsoft SMTP Service, refer to the Microsoft Mail (SMTP) Service documentation. To do so, start Microsoft Internet Explorer, and then type the following address in the Address bar:

file:\\%systemroot%\help\mail.chmFor additional information about how to create additional SMTP Virtual Servers, click the article number below
to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

303707 HOW TO: Create Additional SMTP Virtual Servers
For additional information about how to create or delete a Microsoft SMTP Service domain, click the article number below
to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

303708 HOW TO: Create or Delete a Microsoft SMTP Service Domain
For additional information about how to configure Microsoft SMTP Service local domains, click the article number below
to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

303537 HOW TO: Configure Microsoft SMTP Service Local Domains
For additional information about how to start, stop, or pause Microsoft SMTP Service, click the article number below
to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

303783 HOW TO: Start or Stop or Pause the Microsoft SMTP Service
For additional information about how to start, stop, or pause an SMTP virtual server, click the article number below
to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

303812 HOW TO: Start, Stop, and Pause an SMTP Virtual Server
For additional information about how to enable SMTP protocol logging for IIS, click the article number below
to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

303738 HOW TO: Enable SMTP Protocol Logging for Internet Information Services
For additional information about how to configure Microsoft SMTP Service on a Windows 2000-Based server cluster, click the article number below
to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

280400 How to Configure the SMTP Resource on a Windows 2000-Based Server Cluster
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