Exchange

cnewton2k · 09-04-2010, 14:13

Hi,

I am a bit stumped lol I am trying to setup up SBS2008 with Exchange, I am doing this at home to replace my WHS. Now the problem I have is that webhost (Streamline) don’t allow me to change my MX record to point to my VM IP. Does anyone know how I can get around this?

Cheers!

gordonuk · 09-04-2010, 14:22

Use a host that will allow dynamic ip. I run exchange 2010 on a vm connection with dynamic ip. I use dnsmadeasy to modify my mx records and use a smarthost to send the outbound, as you can't send out from a dynamic IP.

Streamline probably don't allow dynamic ip's for mail servers, as they are likely to change. You need a dynamic host such as the one mentioned above. Your mx records would then be updated automatically if vm changed the ip.

MovedGoalPosts · 09-04-2010, 14:36

You wont be able to point an MX record direct to an IP address. Very few systems would accept that as it breaks protocols.

You need to set a domain or subdomain with the A record for that subdomain matching the IP address of your server. Your MX record then lists the domain / subdomain for the server:
i.e. MX record = mail.mywebsite.co.uk
A record for mail.mywebsite.co.uk = IP.IP.IP.IP

Of course if your Virgin Media IP is dynamic, you could have difficulty tracking it if it changes.

gordonuk · 09-04-2010, 14:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob

Of course if your Virgin Media IP is dynamic, you could have difficulty tracking it if it changes.

So using a dynamic host would be advisable.

Kymmy · 09-04-2010, 14:57

Or you could use something like DYNDNS and get either a compatible router (or update program) to alter the IP if it changes

Dai · 09-04-2010, 15:14

Yes. I've used no-IP with some success in the past.

http://www.no-ip.com/

thebluenose · 09-04-2010, 19:28

Do you need to have port 25 open on the router for exchange ??

Been tempted to set this up at home.

cnewton2k · 09-04-2010, 19:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob

You wont be able to point an MX record direct to an IP address. Very few systems would accept that as it breaks protocols.

You need to set a domain or subdomain with the A record for that subdomain matching the IP address of your server. Your MX record then lists the domain / subdomain for the server:
i.e. MX record = mail.mywebsite.co.uk
A record for mail.mywebsite.co.uk = IP.IP.IP.IP

Of course if your Virgin Media IP is dynamic, you could have difficulty tracking it if it changes.

I currently use dydnsuser.homeip.net from dydns.

What i dont understand is if streamline dont allow me to change my MX record how can i get the incoming mail to me!

At present it is mailserver.xxxxxxx.co.uk and i know the IP address.

MovedGoalPosts · 09-04-2010, 19:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnewton2k

I currently use dydnsuser.homeip.net from dydns.

What i dont understand is if streamline dont allow me to change my MX record how can i get the incoming mail to me!

At present it is mailserver.xxxxxxx.co.uk and i know the IP address.

All I can suggest is if you can't change the MX record, and they won't change it for you, you need to change your webhost to a proper one. I would expect that your MX needs to be something similar to your dydns addy. (I've edited that to stop you getting unwanted hits from internet idiots

)

cnewton2k · 09-04-2010, 21:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob

All I can suggest is if you can't change the MX record, and they won't change it for you, you need to change your webhost to a proper one. I would expect that your MX needs to be something similar to your dydns addy. (I've edited that to stop you getting unwanted hits from internet idiots

)

I was hoping you werent going to say that!

I think i best do some reading up!

Cheers

---------- Post added at 21:53 ---------- Previous post was at 21:39 ----------

Am i right in thinking thats.....

If i move the DNS server's to someones else for example dnsmadeasy i can web requests to my website hosing and then the MX to my dydns?

Xaccers · 09-04-2010, 23:08

As has been said, if your router is compatible, you can get away with using something like a dyndns.org dynamic domain name.
Otherwise register your own domain.
I did the latter through www.discountdomainsuk.com, then get a dynamic dns service and update your name server records to be those of your ddns service (so you'll need to register your domain with a company that gives you full control over it).
I set up my active directory to be the same as my registered domain. This helps with accessing anything internally and externally which uses the same certificate etc.
Just remember, if you run any external services such as websites, you'll need to add them to your SBS DNS server.
I use easydns.com for my ddns service as anything .domain.co.uk gets directed to my current IP which means I can run several services.
I can also add static entries such as a website hosted by an external company.
With them you need a ddns client, this checks your current IP and updates your ddns service provider.
You'll need a smart host service too, I use authsmtp. Set your exchange server to forward emails to the smart host, and it will be sent on your behalf without the recipient knowing. This gets around the problem of recipient mail servers detecting that you're sending from a home address and blocking the mail incase it's spam. It also allows me to get around the port 25 outbound block that my ISP sensibly has in place as authsmtp can handle connections on another port.

MovedGoalPosts · 10-04-2010, 01:29

It is recommended that you use a format of mydomain.local for your active directory type stuff, i.e. the LAN side configurations. You then use the same mydomain.com (or whatever internet addy .co.uk, etc) for the internet side of things. At least that is how every text book, and website guide that I have seen for Small Business Server indicate things should be set up.

---------- Post added at 01:29 ---------- Previous post was at 01:29 ----------

One of the best websites for everything Small Business Server: www.smallbizserver.net

Kymmy · 10-04-2010, 08:34

Remember that MX is effectively a CNAME and not an A record so you can specify any other FQDN as an MX record.. The only time you can specify it as a seperate IP is by setting up your mailserver.*******.*** as an A record in conjunction with the MX record.. I think that Rob's already mentioned this

Xaccers · 10-04-2010, 21:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob

It is recommended that you use a format of mydomain.local for your active directory type stuff, i.e. the LAN side configurations. You then use the same mydomain.com (or whatever internet addy .co.uk, etc) for the internet side of things. At least that is how every text book, and website guide that I have seen for Small Business Server indicate things should be set up

That was the case when W2K came out, but the benefits of using the same domain name made themselves more apparent, especially as people started to understand how DNS actually works. Remember the days when people thought if you set your AD domain to company.com then your DNS server will start servicing requests for external users, or you won't be able to access your externally hosted website etc etc.
All poppycok through.
You can automatically log in using your email address, very handy for users especially with OWA. How many times have calls be logged with service desks because a user can't log in after an admin has logged in using a local admin account because the domain name is wrong. Using email addresses as usernames removes this problem.

Course back then you still had a lot of sites/books telling you that your C: had to be 4GB (NT4's setup restriction due to vFAT), and then 10GB.
Look at how many problems that advice has caused.

cnewton2k · 11-04-2010, 20:16

thansk everyone for ya help with this

i think i am starting to get my head around things!!!