This conversation took place in the Small Business Server newsgroup on support.microsoft.com (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)
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Hi Alan,
Though I do not do it personally I object to the statement that system administrators who use this method are hacking, as much as I object to the implication that ISPs are offering value for those extra dollars.
In Montreal Videotron is the major player in the cable modem game, and they offer home users packages from between $30 and $75 per month. For that you get a dymanic IP address, a mail box, and several blocked ports so that you cannot run your own servers.
They also offer a corporate package for roughly double the price. For an extra $50 per month they also offer a static IP address, and they will unblock the ports for you. They offer no other value for those dollars. Believe me, I know because several of my clients use the service.
While I do admit that unsecure mail servers are dangerous and can consume bandwidth, I insist that competent IT Professionals who are capable of administering their own server and do not want to use their @videotron.ca address should be allowed to do so. I can assure you that my Exchange Server has not once relayed an improper e-mail (I do not use Videotron nor port mapping) by the way, but trust that any administrator worth their salt can manage to secure their server, and if not then any provider worth THEIR salt will detect the unwarranted traffic and block the service until it is fixed.
Respectfully,
Mitch Garvis
--
MDG, MCSA
MCSA (2003), MCSA (2000)
Certified Small Business Specialist
Visit my blog at www.mitpro.ca/Blogs/tabid/55/BlogID/2/Default.aspx
"ALeghart" wrote:
> The easiest method possible is to get an ISP that allows running a mail
> server. Using a hacked method to make an end-run around your ISPs port
> blocking is just that...a hack.
>
> There are good reasons why ISPs don't want their bottom-dollar
> customers to use port 25 without restrictions. Most of the policies
> have been requested by network and mail server administrators (like
> those in this discussion group) who are tired of home users bombarding
> our mail servers with spam and viruses.
>
> SBS is capable of running with POP connectors for receiving inbound
> mail from your external mail host. Outbound mail can be routed via
> port 25 to your ISP's SMTP relay. It is then subject to the scanning,
> filtering, and tracking policies of your ISP (to reduce spam, abusive
> volumes of traffic and virus proliferation).
>
> Regards,
> Alan Leghart
>
>
> JoeF wrote:
> > What is my best option to use Exchange without forwarding everything to an
> > outside POP mail provider? I know that there are ways to have a mail server
> > with a cablevision ISP by redirecting ports and such, but don't know any
> > details.
> >
> > I had to use the POP Connector to receive messages and I had to forward all
> > outgoing messages to the POP mail provider. It seems that only users who have
> > a POP mail account with the POP Mail provider, can send mail. All the
> > Performance reports, etc which are sent by the administrator, bounce back to
> > the administrator account and I never receive them (My address is outside the
> > domain). All users who have a POP mail account with the provider can send me
> > mail. I want to eliminate this with the easiest method possible. Thanks for
> > any assistance.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > JoeF