I would like to setup my own Exchange environment at home, but like most I just have your standard home router. Do I need a Small business type router that is capable of translating external IPs to setup my Inbound Exchange mail flow? Just curious what other people are using/doing?

While it's easy to set up an Exchange server at home, you're going to have to jump several hurdles to host your own real e-mail domain if you have typical residential Internet service. First, many ISPs require you to use their SMTP server, which means you will have to use it as a smart host for outgoing SMTP. Second, if your IP address is dynamic, you will need a service that updates your A record if your IP address changes, and that same service will probably have to host your MX record. Third, you will need to ensure that your ISP will forward your SMTP mail through to your server, subject to the SMTP limitations I described in my first point. Fourth, if your IP address is dynamic, then it's probably blacklisted since antispam agents assume, usually correctly, that such addresses belong to infected computers acting as spambots. Fifth, you won't be able to create a reverse DNS lookup, further causing your outbound mail to be tagged as spam. Sixth, it'll be difficult for you under these circumstances to create a valid SPF record, further adding to your woes for being recognized as a legitimate mail sender. I recommend that you obtain small-business Internet service and ensure that your ISP will be able to provide you with all the features you need or else your experience will not be a good one.Ed Crowley MVP "There are seldom good technological solutions to behavioral problems."

I already have small business class service, and I actually already have a static IP. My service provider asked me if I wanted more too. So I'll assume I can get as many static IPs as I need.

On Tue, 11 Jan 2011 03:00:19 +0000, Chaz4031 wrote: >I already have small business class service, and I actually already have a static IP. My service provider asked me if I wanted more too. So I'll assume I can get as many static IPs as I need. Since you have a static IP address you should be okay -- but you really need some sort of firewall. That router may be able to block (or open) ports, but it isn't going to do any sort of stateful packet inspection. Years ago, I ran Exchange from behind a simple LinkSys ADSL router. It worked out okay but it's not something I'd do today. --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP

I was thinking about just buying an appliance; for example a Barracuda appliance. If I were to do this would I then be able to tie that device into my internal home network? If so, how?

Also if I were to use a Barracuda-type device would I then be able to direct that mail flow to an Exchange 2010 Edge server. I was thinking about using a TMG/Edge/Forefront combo-type server.

On Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:44:31 +0000, Chaz4031 wrote: >I was thinking about just buying an appliance; for example a Barracuda appliance. If I were to do this would I then be able to tie that device into my internal home network? Sure. >If so, how? It becomes your MX. You configure the appliance to send all inbound mail to your Exchange server. --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP

On Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:46:09 +0000, Chaz4031 wrote: >Also if I were to use a Barracuda-type device would I then be able to direct that mail flow to an Exchange 2010 Edge server. Yes. >I was thinking about using a TMG/Edge/Forefront combo-type server. If you're licensing the FPE2010 you get a pretty good spam filter (CloudMark) with it. It's still not a flexible as a 3rd-part software or appliance, but you're not going to need a cannon to kill flies, either. --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP

Hi, I would like to setup my own Exchange environment at home, but like most I just have your standard home router. Do I need a Small business type router that is capable of translating external IPs to setup my Inbound Exchange mail flow? Just curious what other people are using/doing? As far as I know, most of home router also supports Port traffic Forwarding. So you do not have to buy a Small business type router. For example, your exchange server is connectting to Internet via the router and it does not have a public static IP. Only the router have the Public static IP. Then you just need to configure the router to forward the traffic on 25 port to the exchange server/ a internal IP address. You can do this on the router configuration page, such as http://192.168.1.1 Gen Lin TechNet Subscriber Support in forum If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfb@microsoft.com Please remember to click “Mark as Answer” on the post that helps you, and to click “Unmark as Answer” if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread. Thanks Gen Lin-MSFT

Hi, Is there any update on this problem?Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread. Thanks Gen Lin-MSFT