With an Exchange 2007/2010 Edge Transport server, can you route mail from the edge to a 3rd party SMTP server? Or can the mail flow only straight from the Edge directly to a HUB server?

The mail Should flow directly from Hub To Edge and Vice Versa ,However you can Install a third party SMTP just after your Edge ServerMCP, MCSE 2000 , MCSA 2000 ,MCSA 2003 , MCITP , MCTS , MCT

i guess no. why would like to put a third party between HUB and EDGE ? they communicate using edgesubscription. which i dont think is available with third party SMTP http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc526574.aspx . you can have a third party solution between EDGE and INternet .. that would just be additional server (cost) and configuration overhead for the same thing.. i would not recomend thatDhruv

I'm just trying to take a look at my mail flow, and I'd like inbound mail at least to get filtered thru the Edge before getting to another one of my systems. That way that system gets even less SPAM/viruses.

please check with the third party email system if it can be configure with edge subscription with edge server role.Dhruv

Hi, That is feasible by configuring the Hub to receive the email from the third party SMTP system as trust. Thanks AllenAllen Song

You can do both. You can have a third party filter spam for you before it reaches your Edge Server or you can have a Barracuda Spam filtering device.

You can do both. You can have a third party filter spam for you before it reaches your Edge Server or you can have a Barracuda Spam filtering device.

Check this Article I hope it gives you better idea than your scenario http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb201724.aspx MCP, MCSE 2000 , MCSA 2000 ,MCSA 2003 , MCITP , MCTS , MCT