Process to Configure Mail Flow And Client Access In Exchange 2016

Anuraag Singh | Published: September 14, 2016 | Exchange Server 2016, General Info | 5 Minutes Reading

In this article I am going to describe about how to configure mail flow and client access in Exchange 2016.

Exchange 2016 requires mail flow configuration and client access, after its complete installation. This allow users to send emails from Exchange 2016 to Internet and other external email clients like MS Office Outlook, and Exchange ActiveSync. Here, we are going to consider Exchange ActiveSync (single) and a SMTP namespace.

Diagrammatic Representation of Steps To Configure Mail Flow and Client Access

In this blog, we are going to discuss about each and every steps to configure mail flow and client access in detail and hence learn that how to configure mail flow and client access in Exchange 2016.

Step 1: Creating A New Send Connector

Send connector is the one that give permission to the Exchange server for sending emails externally, based on its configuration. Open Exchange Admin Center and then go to Mail Flow >> Send Connectors >> New
Mention the Name of connector and select its type. Click on Next to continue
A Network Settings window will appear, which provide following two options:
- MX record associated with recipient domain: With help of this option, the server will try to determine the target email server using DNS lookups. While choosing this option, keep in mind that internal DNS server can fix external domain names
- Route mail through smart host: Here smart host is SMTP server of Internet provider or any other SMTP server.
Select any of the two option and then click on Next button. Here, we are choosing the first network settings option i.e., MX routing option.
From this current connector window, provide the Address Space to which this connector will route mail. For doing so, click on ‘+’ button
- Fill the text box of Type, Fully Qualified Domain Name FQDN, and cost & then click on Save
- Take a review of Address Space Configuration and then click on Next to go to next page.
Now click on + button to select the server. Select the server by clicking on it and then click on Add >> OK
Review the Source Server Details from the current pane and then click on Finish in order to complete configuration
Now the new send connector window will get closed and you will find your new connector listed in send connector section of EAC

Step 2: Adding an Additional Accepted Domains

Accepted Domains is basically a SMTP namespace for which Exchange server sends or receive emails. It comprises of the domains, which are authoritative and also that receives mail & relay it on an external email server. By default, the domain is added to accepted domains section and its type is Authoritative.

Click on + button for adding a new accepted domain. This will open a new window in which you’ll have to mention Name, Accepted domain, and type of domain & then click on Save button
After saving the file successfully, you will find the accepted domains in form of list

Step 3: Configuring The Default Email Address Policy

Email address policy describes the format of email address. By default, the email address is created and applied to all recipient types & the format of mail address is kelly@contoso.com. Such policy of mail address is acceptable and hence, it is not compulsory to make changes into it. Still, if some one wants to make some modification, then they will have to open Exchange Admin center and then go to Email Address policy >> Edit button
After completion with all settings, click on Save button

Step 4: Configure External URLs

Before connecting to new server from the Internet, configuration of external domains, or URLs,, on the virtual directories server of mailbox is required. This is done too configure public domain name services. To do so, follow the below-mentioned steps:

Open EAC and go to Servers section
Select any one Internet server listed in front of you and then click on Edit button
Now go to Outlook Anywhere tab and mention the Internal Host name and external host name & then click on Save
From EAC menu, go to servers >> Virtual Directories and then click on Configure button.
Choose any one server and then click on + button. Mention the Domain name that you want to use for External access and then click on Save save button
Now you will get a live status report of configuration procedure and at the end completion message

Step 5: Configuring Internal URLs

Following two options are available for configuring Internal URLs, which depends on the addressing scheme (Already implemented or to be implemented):

Configure an identical internal and external URLs
Configure different internal and external URLs

TIP: It is recommended to use a same URL (external and internal) because it makes server accessing easy as there is only one URL to remember for functioning.

Configuring an identical Internal and External URLs
Such configuration is achieved with help of different commands of Power Shell
Configuring a different Internal and External URLs
- Go to Servers >> Virtual directories >> Edit button
- From new panel, replace the host name after https:// and before /ecp with new FQDN, which is to be used and then click on Save button for all virtual directories.

Step 6: Configuring A SSL Certificate

Exchange features like Exchange ActiveSync, and Outlook Anywhere, need certificates to be completely configured on Exchange 2016.

That’s all! Therefore, firstly there is a need to perform configuration and then acquire SSL certificate as per our need.

Conclusion

As we have discussed about the process to configure mail flow and Client Access In Exchange 2016. All processes are described very well in steps with pictorial representation.