SMTP

Exchange Server 2007 SP1: The most obscure (but relevant) changes

Recently I was asked by a fellow MCT (and now Exchange MVP) to list 3 most obscure (but relevant) changes in Exchange Server 2007 SP1. The first thing that came to mind was the change made to Back Pressure settings. Back Pressure stops inbound mailflow on transport servers if system resources fall below a certain […]

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Renew self-signed certificates in Exchange 2010 and Exchange 2007

In Exchange 2007 and later, Exchange Setup creates a self-signed certificate to protect communication with Exchange services such as SMTP, IMAP, POP, OWA, EAS, EWS and UM. Exchange’s self-signed certificates meet an important need – securing communication paths for all Exchange services by default. The self-signed certificate meets an important need – securing communication paths […]

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SMTP Connector Myth: Messages are always routed over SMTP Connectors with more specific address spaces

An Exchange Server message routing myth forever being propagated (including by me!): If 2 SMTP Connectors (or Send Connectors in case of Exchange Server 2007) exist, one with a more specific address space, like exchangepedia.com, and one for a more generic address space like *, messages are always routed over the Connector with the more […]

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Masquerading SMTP Virtual Servers: Changing the fqdn and masquerade domain

You can change the fully-qualified domain name (fqdn) used by a SMTP virtual server from its properties | Delivery tab | Advanced | Fully-qualified domain name. In the following example, we change the fqdn of a SMTP virtual server from its default – letter.exchangelabs.net, to postcard.exchangelabs.net. Figure 1: Changing the fully-qualified domain name in SMTP […]

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Released: ForeFront Security for Exchange SP1

ForeFront Security for Exchange SP1 follows Exchange Server 2007 SP1 out the door. FSE SP1 is compatible with Exchange Server 2007 SP1. It includes support for Windows Server 2008, IPv6, and improved content filtering. Exchange Server 2007 SP1 and ForeFront Security for Exchange – Before you upgrade Exchange Server 2007 to SP1, make sure you […]

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220 Welcome to a California mail server: Fighting spam with SMTP Banners

If you are interested in messaging and fighting spam, you probably watch the legal response to spam with some interest. Given the nature of email and the art of remaining anonymous or otherwise untraceable that spammers seem to have mastered, anti-spam laws were written off as largely ineffective, or even ridiculous. (The FTC begs to […]

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Set Message Size Limits in Exchange 2010 and Exchange 2007

In Distribution Groups and maximum recipients per message, we looked at how the maximum recipients per message settings are treated differently by Exchange Server 2010/2007 and Exchange 2003/2000 when sending to Distribution Groups. Message size limits are an important mechanism to control mailbox sizes, guarantee service availability, and protect from potential DoS attacks. Another commonly […]

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DigiCert: A Certificate Authority with excellent customer service

I finally took the plunge and decided to get a certificate from a public Certificate Authority (CA) for my Exchange Server 2007 server at home. A certificate that supports Subject Alternative Names (SAN certificate, aka “Unified Communications” certificate), no less. Having dealt with a number of CAs in the past, and having heard some horror […]

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MX Records – Preference or Priority?

At times I’ve used the words Preference and Priority interchangeably to describe the numerical value in MX records that determines which record gets used first. Many folks do it, and no, it’s not a crime to use either as long as the message gets across. However, when actually committing words to paper – when writing […]

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Address Literals in Exchange 2007 and Exchange 2010

RFC 2821 allows the use of a literal form of a recipient’s address, which uses the destination system’s IP address enclosed by square brackets in the domain part, as an alternative to a domain name. Commonly known as address literals, this form of addressing helps in delivery of mail to a recipient when the recipient’s […]

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