Ok, so I am in transition out of newb state in the land of server 2003. I know a decent amount, and have some cool stuff working on my server, but I have ran into this issue and could use some help.

I cannot send any e-mail through my server set up as an e-mail server. Outlook on client computers can connect to the e-mail server, see that it is there, but when I send e-mails, they don't send. It shows it as being in the sent items box, nothing comes back as "undeliverable" but it just never gets to its destination. Now, let me tell you about my setup.

First off, this is a home server. I have it behind a router (linksys wrt54g), but nothing else. Also, I do not have a domain registered. I am thinking this MIGHT be my issue, but is that really it? If I just go to some company, register a domain name, and then enter that as my domain in the setup, would it really work just like that?

What I expected: since I do not have a domain, I had expected myself to be able to send e-mail, but not receive any back. I expected this because since there is no domain registered to me/it that there is no way I could receive anything back. But I did expect to be able to send e-mail out.

Anyways, so is there a port I need to open (besides 25) to let traffic go out? Any help would be awesome. I am new at the e-mail server setup, so thanks for your help.

Is this Exchange? I didn't realize one could run Exchange without AD.

Life's more painless for the brainless.

You can't run Exchange without AD. But he can have AD without having a domain registered.

We'd need to know what email product you are running and a bit more about your environment. If this is Exchange, which version? You can send email without a domain name registered. And you are correct, you can send but won't be able to have anything sent to you with out the proper MX records recorded in DNS. Getting into the details of how to set up an email environment is beyond what can be explained in a few lines on a forum.

If this is Exchange and you can send internally (to other members in your AD domain) but can't send to the outside world, you'll need to configure an Internet connector. Again, trying to explain Exchange in a forum isn't possible.

More details are needed.

FYI: Since you said you were setting this up at home, there is a good chance your ISP blocks outgoing mail. This is to prevent spammers from using their network. You can call your ISP to find out. If that is the case, not much you can do unless you upgrade your service to a business package that will allow you to run your own email server.

-Ryan Adams
Computer Tips, Guides, Downloads, and more:http://RyanTAdams.com

So, to get back to you all, this is not Exchange. I was just trying to use server 2003, where I configure it with the role of an e-mail server. So, I thought I set up smtp correctly, and I can pop into it. So to clarify, this is not exchange.

That leads into another question, do I neec exchange in order to send e-mail? If so, then that is the problem. (I've never configured an e-mail server before, and I wanted to learn, so I figured the best way to do so was just try it, and here I am).

I also thought it might be possible for the ISP to block it, but can it block outgoing e-mail? I can see them choosing to block port 25 or so for incoming (they block incoming connections for port 80), but wouldn't I still be able to send out the packets (for lack of a better word).

Thanks again for the continued help, hope this is enough information for you guys to make some guesses. I appreciate it.

Also, I am not running active directory. I'm the only one who lives at my place, and I only have two other computers, so I am not using it.

If your not using AD your not using Exchange. Im presuming your using the basic features of IIS (pop and smtp) for your outlook clients to connect? This will only work internally. Its not robust or versatile enough to allow you to relay mail outside of your network. Can you confirm precisely WHAT application you are using to send email.Note some ISP`s do block port 25. You will need to send your email via smarthost or via there own SMTP servers in order to relay mail.

SBS Specialist extraordinaire!!