We have an Exchange 2003 SP2 server/s. The SMTP server is configured as Virtual SMTP server on Exchange. The server is being accessed by the outside users via OWA. We have to install an application on a bunch of laptops, the application uses an SMTP email alert. In order for the email alert to work we have to set upan SMTP server as well as user/password for authentication.Email alerting works fine from theoutside, howeverwewould like the email alert to workfromthe outside aswell. So for example if the lapops are being taken outside and used with an Internet connection we would like to keep getting the email alert messages.Is there a way to use the current Exchange/SMTP server setup we already have for the application to do email alerting.

Sure, you could allow authenticated relay. ( Which is probably already set because that is the default in 2003)However, that is generally a bad idea as it can lead to a compromised server ( Not to mention that a lot of ISPs aren't going to allow clients to open a SMTP connection to your server from the external client, that is often blocked -).It would make more sense in this scenario to have the laptop users send the message using the SMTP server of the ISP they are connected to , the same way they would send a regular email. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/821746How to prevent unsolicited commercial e-mail in Exchange 2003

David, Thanks for your reply. You said, use the ISP SMPT server?If I am understanding your suggestion is to use the SMPT serverof the ISPthat currentlygiving service to the company?So I guess we would need to set up the ISP SMTP serverforthe SMTP emailalert once we get an account/user/password fromourcurrent ISP.Now...If we enable relay for authenticated users as below specified,as long as there is authentication in placewouldn't be secure enough since just authenticated users would be the only ones with rights to send? Would the authenticationtake place with no encryption?I am justtrying to understand...Thank you! - On the application, use your Exchange server's external IP address as the SMTP address, use their active directory username and password for authentication, port 25, no TLS- Onthe exchange server, go to SMTP Virtual Server -> Properties -> Access -> Connection -> Make sure there are no restrictions there (i.e. you are not blocking external IP address) and click OK- Under Access -> Authentication -> Make sure Basic authentication is checked, and TLS is not checked.- Click on Users and grant 'Relay Permission' to authenticated users (This is only needed if they are sending an email where the from field is not their original email address)