Exchange Frontend Server/SSL Issue

[vijmat]

Our exchange initially consisted one Exchange 2000 Enterprise server (Server 1) which also had SSL running on it. Since we branched out in multiple sites and had almost 300 Mailboxes in one site we decided to get a second exchange server (Server2) for this site.

Now as soon as I try to make "Server 1" as the Frontend server, the OWA stops working. I assume that the SSL is causing problems here. Let me know if I am wrong. So I uncheck the frontend box and everything comes back to normal.

"Server 2" is ready (as a part of the same org and it has no SSL) and sends and recieves mail to any parts of the globe, but it does not send any mail to "server 1". It shows up fine in the active directory and system manager, but they just don't send mail to each other.

So my question is
1) Is there any way I can make the "Server 1" a front end server or do I have to buy another server to do the job of a frontend?

2) Why are the 2 servers not sending mails between them?

I really need your help and expertise in this matter. If you know what I am doing wrong, please let me know.

Viju Mathai
viju@jevs.org
215-728-4720

 

[vijmat]

And also...I heard that we need one Frontend server for each Protocol (for eg...POP3, HTTP...etc)

Is this true?

Viju Mathai

 

[georgesz]

1. you do not need a separate front-end for each protocol
2. you cannot have mailboxes on a front-end server. as soon as you check that box, users can no longer log on with Outlook to that box. When you make it a front-end, all it will do is send request to the back-end servers.

Sounds like you really don't need a front-end though, if all you want to do is move some of the mailboxes to a second server.

OWA works by default on any exchange 2000 server.

georgesz

 

[vijmat]

Thanks for your reply
I think I came to know the hard way that a Frontend server cannot have mailboxes.

We are going into multiple server senario (3-4 servers). One exchange 2000 server for each major site. So for this reason I think I should put a frontend server to maintain a single namespace for pop3 and OWA. Thanks for letting me know that a frontend server can handle all the protocols (pop3, IMAP4, HTTP..). I guess I just heard some bad rumor.

I also found out that if we do not have a frontend server we should atleast have SSL on all the servers (because the 1st server is running on SSL) and then manupulate the MX record on the DNS server.

Thanks
VM