Help running an exchange server?

[ric1287]

Hi, i have access to server 2003 and Exchange. I am trying to host my own exchange server, hopefully via VMware, and can't seem to get it working.

I have a domain registered with 1and1, and Server 03 w/ Exchange on a VM machine, so if anyone can point me to a guide (that i cannot seem to find) or any help it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Brazen]

You have to have Active Directory set up before Exchange will work.

 

[ric1287]

yeah, i guess i need to figure that out too. I think i had AD it set up right, but i just dont quite understand how they all work together, and what settings i should have

 

[Brazen]

It's really not hard. You just run the wizard in 2003 to add a role (add domain controller role or Active Directory role or something like that) and it pretty much does all the setup it needs for Active Directory. Once that is finished and rebooted, then you can run the setup for Exchange.

Do this and if you have any questions on a particular step in the wizards, then ask.

 

[ric1287]

ok, and do i use my personal domain for anything? or is this like hosting my own? sorry

 

[Brazen]

basically, your internet dns domain will have no bearing on your Active Directory domain or Exchange. When setting up AD and Exchange, just forget your internet domain even exists. Did you set up a mail exchanger (mx) record with 1and1? You will need to do that, but it can be done later. You also WILL actually have to tell Exchange to accept email for your internet domain, but IIRC, that is done after setup, or at least I know it CAN be done after setup. Am I making sense or just mudding it up?

Basically lets say you register "riciscool.com" with 1and1. Your AD domain can be "farfennugen.local" or "peanutbutter.isgreat" it doesn't matter, but you will have to tell Exchange that your email domain is "riciscool.com"

 

[ric1287]

makes sense, i shall give it i shot i guess.

 

[RebateMonger]

Don't know where your Server 2003/Exchange 2003 are coming from, but if you have access to SBS 2003, you'll find it MUCH easier for a first-timer to implement Exchange, Active Directory, and the necessary network services by setting up an SBS 2003 Server following Microsoft's recommendations.

 

[TG2]

I have 1and1 as well with home Exchange in vmware.

under the 1and1 settings for your domain (ie: riciscool.com) you have to change the mx records form '1and1 servers' to the internet address of your home computer connection, which is probably not a static IP, right?

You should go to DynDNS.com and register a free web url (riciscool.home.net) and then DynDNS has a client that you run on your exchange server/DC at home, that updates the dyndns url with your IP at home, each time it changes.

so riciscool.home.net when typed in will go to your home IP, anytime.

in the 1and1 mx settings, you can change your MX record for riciscool.com to point to riciscool.home.net.

while your in there, make a subdomain for riciscool.com , called email.riciscool.com and point it to riciscool.home.net

so anyplace you can type in email.riciscool.com and get to your home connection.

your home domain can be anything at all, ric.local, ric.home, ric.me, whatever you like.

after you get the domain controller setup, then you install exchange (petri.co.il has alot of helpful tips), after exchange is installed (dont forget sp2 for it) you then go into the system manager and right click on the item on the top of the list (forget the name right now) and there should be an option to configure internet email, this is where you enter the web address you want to do email for, riciscool.com

One problem you may run into is emails getting returned to you or being undeliverable, due to some email systems not accepting emails form home based IP connections, this would need to route your outgoing exchange emails through your ISP's email servers, not too hard to configure.

dont forget to forward port 25 to your internal IP of the exchange server, as well as port 80 and port 443 (you might not need port 80 down the road, but testing with it will help)
And hopefully your ISP doesnt block port 25.

PM me and I can give you some pointers if you get stuck< I think I have screen shots of the MX records with 1and1 that I setup as well.