SMTP Connector Question

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TJC - 12 Apr 2006 16:12 GMT

Exchange Experts,

I have a scenario that I am asking for some help with. Currently we run
Exchange 2k3 in two sets of clusters that use XOSoft Wansync to replicate
data from the active cluster to the passive cluster.

Our active site has 4 total servers, 2 exchange servers (1 EVS), 1
Blackberry Enterprise Server, 1 OWA box.

Our passive site has 4 total servers 2 exchange servers (1 EVS), 1
Blackberry Enterprise Server, 1 OWA box. The 2 exchange servers' (1 EVS)
services are turned off by XOSoft. However, the OWA box is on.

In the Active site (routing group A) we have an SMTP connector setup. The
only server setup as a Bridgehead is the OWA box. the other day the SMTP
service stopped sending mail from the OWA box. It queued up for a few hours
before anyone had noticed.
Question 1: Should I add a second server?

Next: Our routing groups match our physical site setup. In the passive
site (routing group B) we do not have an SMTP connector setup.
Question 2. Do I need one?

Question 3: Do I need a connector between my routing groups?
Question 4: If I have a connector setup between my routing groups will my
mail be queued and sent out of routing group B (passive site) if my SMTP
service stops sending in routing group A.

Any help is much appreciated.

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Bharat Suneja [MVP] - 12 Apr 2006 16:43 GMT

Inline.

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Bharat Suneja
MVP - Exchange
www.zenprise.com
NEW blog location:
www.exchangepedia.com/blog
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> Exchange Experts,
>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> before anyone had noticed.
> Question 1: Should I add a second server?

- Yes, for redundancy it is advisable to have more than 1 bridgeheads on a
Connector. These can be any Exchange servers running SMTP, including
front-end servers running SMTP.

> Next: Our routing groups match our physical site setup. In the passive
> site (routing group B) we do not have an SMTP connector setup.
> Question 2. Do I need one?

- If your goal is site-redundancy, you should have a similar setup as your
active site.

> Question 3: Do I need a connector between my routing groups?

- Yes. Routing Groups cannot communicate with other - they are isolated by
default and will not have any mailflow between them. They can be connected
using Routing Group Connectors at each end.

> Question 4: If I have a connector setup between my routing groups will my
> mail be queued and sent out of routing group B (passive site) if my SMTP
> service stops sending in routing group A.

- If both the bridgeheads in your Routing Group A fail the SMTP Connector
for outbound internet mail will be marked as down. If the scope of the SMTP
Connector in Routing Group B is entire Org and not restricted to the Routing
Group, and if servers in Routing Group A can reach servers in Routing Group
B over the Routing Group Connector, messages will be routed through Routing
Group B.

> Any help is much appreciated.

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TJC - 12 Apr 2006 18:31 GMT

Bharat,

I have one more question. I had added a server to the SMTP bridgehead the
other day but it seemed that the messages were just filling up in the queues.
Especially the "Messages queued for deferred delivery". The queue actually
grew quite fast so I pulled it out of the mix and that actually made my smtp
service to stop working.

Question: If I add the server as a bridgehead should I restart the SMTP
service.

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> Inline.
>
[quoted text clipped - 47 lines]
>
> > Any help is much appreciated.

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Bharat Suneja [MVP] - 12 Apr 2006 18:36 GMT

I would restart smtpsvc and resvc.

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Bharat Suneja
MVP - Exchange
www.zenprise.com
NEW blog location:
www.exchangepedia.com/blog
----------------------------------------------

> Bharat,
>
[quoted text clipped - 77 lines]
>>
>> > Any help is much appreciated.

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TJC - 12 Apr 2006 19:01 GMT

Forgive me for my ignorance but what do you mean by resvc?

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> I would restart smtpsvc and resvc.
> > Bharat,
[quoted text clipped - 78 lines]
> >>
> >> > Any help is much appreciated.

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Bharat Suneja [MVP] - 12 Apr 2006 19:15 GMT

Sorry for being cryptic... Routing Engine svc. :)

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Bharat Suneja
MVP - Exchange
www.zenprise.com
NEW blog location:
www.exchangepedia.com/blog
----------------------------------------------

> Forgive me for my ignorance but what do you mean by resvc?
>
[quoted text clipped - 88 lines]
>> >>
>> >> > Any help is much appreciated.

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TJC - 12 Apr 2006 19:50 GMT

Thanks

Signature

Thanks

> Sorry for being cryptic... Routing Engine svc. :)
>
[quoted text clipped - 90 lines]
> >> >>
> >> >> > Any help is much appreciated.

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TJC - 12 Apr 2006 20:51 GMT

Two more questions:

When I create the SMTP connector in Site B should my address space be * and
do I add anything in the CONNECTED ROUTING GROUPS tab?

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> Sorry for being cryptic... Routing Engine svc. :)
>
[quoted text clipped - 90 lines]
> >> >>
> >> >> > Any help is much appreciated.

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Bharat Suneja [MVP] - 12 Apr 2006 22:35 GMT

To route messages to the Internet - SMTP address space * on the Connector.
To route messages between Routing Groups, use Routing Group Connector,
specify the Routing Group you're routing messages to over that Connector.

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Bharat Suneja
MVP - Exchange
www.zenprise.com
NEW blog location:
www.exchangepedia.com/blog
----------------------------------------------

> Two more questions:
>
[quoted text clipped - 113 lines]
>> >> >>
>> >> >> > Any help is much appreciated.

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