DOCUMENT:Q115496 28-OCT-1999 [pcmail] TITLE :SMTP: Configuring the Mail Routing Host Without DNS PRODUCT :Microsoft Mail For PC Networks PROD/VER:MS-DOS:3.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Mail Gateway to SMTP, version 3.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mail Routing Host ----------------- The Microsoft Mail Gateway to SMTP depends on a mail routing host in the TCP/IP network to route its mail. This is the host defined in the Administrator program under Gateway, SMTP, Setup, in the IP Address of SMTP Router field. The mail routing host is sometimes referred to as the smart host. The mail routing host routes mail in two ways: 1. Domain name service (DNS) 2. Hosts file, usually kept in \ETC\HOSTS For details on the DNS, see the application note "Configuring the SMTP Gateway and DNS" (GW0645). Hosts File Contents ------------------- The hosts file is a flat file on the mail routing host that consists of two vital pieces of information: IP addresses and host domain names. The gateway computer must have an entry in the host file, and so must the domain names assigned to Microsoft Mail postoffices. Domain names are assigned in the Administrator program, under Gateway, SMTP, Address Map, in the SMTP domain field. For example, the entries in the hosts file for the gateway computer MSMAILGWY.COMPANY.COM at IP address 123.123.4.5 that has Mail postoffice domain names of HQ.COMPANY.COM and SALES.COMPANY.COM, would look like this: 123.123.4.5 MSMAILGWY.COMPANY.COM 123.123.4.5 HQ.COMPANY.COM 123.123.4.5 SALES.COMPANY.COM This ensures that mail addressed to SPARKY@HQ.COMPANY.COM is routed to the gateway computer by the SMTP host for processing by Mail. Additional query words: ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbMailSearch kbMailGateSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbMailGateSMTP300 Version : MS-DOS:3.0 ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1999.