The Ultimate Windows Server 1002003 System Administrators Guide [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

WORKING WITH THE SMTP SERVER

The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) has become the standard Internet protocol for electronic mail. The specifications are established in RFCs 821 and 822. Commonly used on UNIX and Linux environments, SMTP is now integrally connected to mail products like Microsoft Exchange. SMTP Services in IIS provides administrative options for setting routing and message delivery and for governing mail security. It can support hundreds of client mail connections. The SMTP Server is not automatically installed as a default component of IIS. It must be selected from the Configure Your Server Wizard from the list provided with the Add and Remove Programs option. Select Web Server Applications from the list click Details select Internet Information Services click Detail select SMTP Services, and then follow the wizard's instruction through the completion of the installation. It is possible to select FTP and NNTP for installation at the same time as SMTP Services are installed by also selecting these features.

NOTENew to Windows Server 2003 is a POP3 service that must also be installed as a separate function using the Configure Your Server Wizard. To do so, select it from the list provided with the Add and Remove Programs option. POP3 is available under E-Mail Services.

Start SMTP Services by right-clicking the SMTP Virtual Service from the Internet Information Services snap-in and selecting Start. Temporarily suspend and terminate it by selecting Pause or Stop. Multiple SMTP virtual servers can be established using IIS.

SMTP Properties

SMTP is primarily configured through a series of properties settings. To gain access to the six configuration tabs, right-click the targeted SMTP virtual server and select Properties.

In environments that use Microsoft Exchange Server, the documentation on specific procedures for that environment explains how to connect SMTP services. Once connected, products like sendmail, which is widely used in UNIX and other operating system environments, can flow transparently.

GENERAL SMTP SETTINGS

The General tab (Figure 16.20) permits the setting of the SMTP virtual server name, IP address (through the Connection button), and logging administration.

SETTING SMTP AUTHENTICATION, SECURITY, AND PERMISSIONS

The Access tab (Figure 16.21), which deserves a system administrator's special consideration, has four important settings. First, the level of anonymous access (incoming and outgoing message size) is set through the Authentication button. Second, under the Secure communication section, the Certificate button launches the Certification Wizard and the Communication button defines how the certificate is to be used. The Connection control section grants or denies access depending on IP addresses or domain names. Finally, the Relay button establishes permission to relay e-mail through the SMTP virtual service.

REGULATING SMTP DELIVERY

Delivery options are established with the Delivery tab for both outbound and local messages (Figure 16.22). For outbound messages, the system administrator can set the number of retries and intervals for them. For local messages, notification and expiration time periods can be established. The Outbound Security button defines the type of authentication to be required. The Advanced button permits configuration of such communication-specific settings as the maximum number of hops allowable to deliver the mail.

CONFIGURING SMTP LDAP ROUTING

The LDAP Routing tab (Figure 16.23) specifies the identity and properties of the directory services server. This is where mail client data and mailboxes are stored. Just like the Windows Server 2003 Active Directory, the SMTP virtual server uses the LDAP to communicate with directory services. SMTP "consults" an LDAP server to resolve senders and recipients. Once the Enable LDAP routing option is checked, specific LDAP-related configuration can be set for the server, schema, domain, network bindings, user name, and password.

SETTING SMTP OPERATOR SECURITY

The Security tab (Figure 16.24) works like any other Windows Server 2003 security operations property setting. Use the Add button to increase the users or groups that have permission to administer the SMTP virtual server and the Remove button to delete them.

SETTING SMTP MESSAGE LIMITS

The Messages tab (Figure 16.25) is used to set limits on file size, length of the mail session, number of messages per connection, number of recipients, and path to where undeliverable mail should be delivered.