XADM: How to Configure Microsoft Exchange Server with Proxy Server

ID: Q181847

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

This article explains how to configure Microsoft Exchange Server to operate behind Proxy Server 2.0 to handle incoming Internet client requests (this is known as "reverse-hosting"). SMTP servers and POP clients on the Internet must be configured to contact the Proxy Server computer through the appropiate port in order to communicate with the Exchange Server computer. It should be noted that this article is specifically for running Exchange Server behind Proxy server. If the two products are to be installed on the same computer, this article does not apply.

In addition, versions of the Wspcfg.ini file need to be placed in the directory where the server application's .exe files are installed. Because Exchange Server has more than one .exe file, more than one Wspcfg.ini file is needed in specific directories.


MORE INFORMATION

  1. Add the following section to the first Wspcfg.ini file. This section is required for the Exchange SMTP service: 
    
      [Msexcimc]
      ServerBindTcpPorts=25
      Persistent=1
      KillOldSession=1


  2. Place this file in the directory where the Msexcimc.exe file is located. The default directory path is \exchsrvr\connect\msexcimc\bin.


  3. Confirm that the SMTP port is bound to the Proxy Server computer's port 25.


  4. The second Wspcfg.ini file contains entries needed for the Exchange Store (Store.exe), as follows: 
    
      [Store]
      ServerBindTcpPorts=110,119,143
      Persistent=1
      KillOldSession=1

    Additional ports can be listed in this because Store.exe sets POP mail on port 110, NNTP on port 119, and IMAP4 on port 143.


  5. Place this second Wspcfg.ini file in the directory where Store.exe is located. The default directory path is \exchsrvr\bin.


  6. Verify that your DNS MX records point to the Proxy Server computer and not to the Exchange Server computer. Because the MX record is different from the regular GetHostByName call, you must configure network TCP/IP properties, using Control Panel, to use DNS for the Exchange Server computer. The WinSock Proxy client application automatically redirects the DNS MX request.


  7. Stop and restart the Exchange services, or restart the Exchange Server computer, for the new settings to take effect. You should be able to contact the Exchange Server computer by connecting to the Proxy Server computer's external IP address using SMTP, NNTP, or POP protocols.


NOTE: If you have an internal DNS server on your network, you can use DHCP to configure the internal server. This will allow you to use both internal and external DNS servers to resolve names on your internal network and on the Internet.

For additional information on configuring Exchange Server with Proxy Server, refer to the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:
Q176771 Using Packet Filters with Exchange Server 


Keywords          : kbusage XGEN XADM XFOR 
Version           : WINDOWS:4.0,5.0,5.5; WINNT:2.0
Platform          : WINDOWS winnt 
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: June 3, 1999