Hi, I've configured a test lab to learn exchange 2003,(please see the attached pic for the configuration), internet is now working in my network, i can send out emails, but when i try to reply back let say from yahoo i get an error message (please see the attached file for the error details. I've purchased a domain and configured the A-record and MX record as well, (please see the attached pictures for the configuration of my domain management). I've a residential cable broadband line with dynamic IP if that helps. I am not new to IT but this is my first time with server side networking so please bear with me while i try to follow your suggestions Many thanks network diagram: http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/8586/exchagelab12.jpg host record settings: http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/4328/dnsmanagerzonefileedito.jpg MX record settings: http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/4328/dnsmanagerzonefileedito.jpg Error Message: http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/7060/errormessagey.jpg

Also as far as i know i've got a dynamic IP because i dont pay extra to have static IP, but on the other hand my IP rarely changes and at least for the last two weeks since i am doing this lab my IP hasnt changed. i tried to get static IP from my ISP but they told me that i need to have business broadband in order to have static IP. anyway i am not bothered about static IP because the only purpose is to learn exchange and not to build a professional email server but at the same time i want to simulate my lab environment just like a real email server.

Hi, I am assuming that 86.18.117.193 is your dynamic IP address which is used by your exchange server. Then you should create a MX record and set the mail server value to smtpmail.justpractical.info. If the dynamic IP is hosted by a router, you should create a forward rule in the router to forward the 25 port traffic to your internal exchange server.

Hi Gen, I believe the one issue going on here testing inbound/outbound is the residential service with dynamic IP line. I believe in most cases, the ISP will block inbound/outbound SMTP 25 traffic to their residential subscribers. I would believe the first steps in making this work, besides the port translations, is to get a business line to insure inbound and outbound 25 is not being blocked. There's more info regarding the setup for the original poster at: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winserverNIS/thread/02be159d-09fa-444d-b056-4e1b43e3b2bf/#bd186b88-7bbe-4da9-af11-cda15009be7b Regards, AceAce Fekay MVP, MCT, MCITP EA, MCTS Windows 2008 & Exchange 2007, MCSE & MCSA 2003/2000, MCSA Messaging 2003 Microsoft Certified Trainer Microsoft MVP - Directory Services This posting is provided AS-IS with no warranties or guarantees and confers no rights.

hi, sorry for the late reply, i was trying to fix the problem, luckily port 25 is not blocked on my line, i tested it by telnetting it to my email server using port 25. but i was still not able to receive the emails, then as mentioned by Gen Lin I tried to sort out my public DNS records and found out that MX record was not setup properly, once its done i was able to receive emails, thank you very much for your help , you guys are great.

Glad to hear you got it working. I looked at your image again at: http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/4328/dnsmanagerzonefileedito.jpg But I didn't see the A record for it. It appears to be fine for the mailstore1.secureserver.net entry, but the 'smtpmail' one would have caused problems since it's not resolvable. Glad you got it working. AceAce Fekay MVP, MCT, MCITP EA, MCTS Windows 2008 & Exchange 2007, MCSE & MCSA 2003/2000, MCSA Messaging 2003 Microsoft Certified Trainer Microsoft MVP - Directory Services This posting is provided AS-IS with no warranties or guarantees and confers no rights.