Problems fter renaming the computer in Windows 2003 / Exchange 2003

[rbby2003]

In a Windows Small Business Server 2003 / Exchange server 2003 setup, problems came after renaming the computer.

1. Exchange server stopped working completely after renaming the computer. Then I changed the name back to its previous one and restarted the computer, and Exchange appears to be working, Information store running normally, sending and receiving email in the domain working good and all related exchange services started automatically.

2. Now I can not receive any email from outside of the domain. It was receiving emails from outside of the domain before the name change. Now the computer name has been changed back and I can not receive any email. I checked the MX record for the domain and the receipient policy in exchange system manager and they have been the same.

Any idea to fix the problem please?

 

[Zelandakh]

Did you just rename the computer or did you use the MS command line program to change the name?

If the Exchange box is a DC you can't do it (I've tested this and it really can't). Otherwise there is a utility whose name I can't recall that does it for you and requires 2 restarts.

 

[rbby2003]

Thanks for offering your idea, Zelandakh.

This is a DC, which is running Windows Small Business server 2003.
In 1 Windows Server 2003 standard edition, I tried to rename the machine, and it is true, there is no option to rename, the CHANGE button is grayed.

As for the Windows Small Business server 2003 I just renamed the machine. Right-click My Computer--Properties---Computer name...... Now I changed the name back, but I can not receive emails from outside of the domain.

How can I receive emails from other domains?

 

[netometer]

Is the SMTP service running - can you telnet on port 25 to the server?
Try sending a message through console session.

NetoMeter

http://www.netometer.net

 

[rbby2003]

netometer,

I can send email out to emailaddress@yahoo.com, and send and receive email in the domain, but can not receive email from emailaddress@yahoo.com or other domains.

 

[netometer]

Try sending a message from console to a real user and check whether the users receives the message. here is an example of a telnet session:

http://www.netometer.net/samples/telnet/step1.html

Please, post the results of the telnet session.

NetoMeter

http://www.netometer.net

 

[rbby2003]

netometer,
First your player is cool. Thanks.
Second, telnet would to open port 25, as shown:

Welcome to Microsoft Telnet Client

Escape Character is 'CTRL+]'

Microsoft Telnet> set localecho
Local echo on
Microsoft Telnet> open
( to ) web 25
Connecting To web...Could not open connection to the host, on port 25: Connect f
ailed
Microsoft Telnet>

 

[netometer]

Try the same but instead of web use the ip address of the server

NetoMeter

http://www.netometer.net

 

[rbby2003]

netometer,

I tried to use IP address, and I opened TCP port 25. But it did not let me to send email.

Now there is some problem with that, how do I fix that? I still did not figure out the relationship between this telnet 25 and receiving email thing. Because when I sent email to address@hotmail.com and there is no problem. But I could not use this Telnet 25 to send email.

 

[netometer]

You can send emails only to domain user. Exchange 2003 does not allow you to relay (send emails to other domains) unless you are not authenticated.

NetoMeter

http://www.netometer.net

 

[netometer]

Type "ipconfig /all" on the server and post the result here

NetoMeter

http://www.netometer.net

 

[markdmac]

OK, so you probably have already guessed this but with SBS you should never rename the server.

To get your mail flowing again you will probably just need to re-run the SBS ICW (Internet Connection Wizard) which you will find in the SBS To Do List.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

 

[rbby2003]

markdmac, I did follow SBS ICW wizard in the To Do List. And I restarted the server. No good luck yet. Not receiving email from other domains.


netometer, I am able to send email to other domains, when I send email to address@hotmail.com and it works fine, I mean I received email from the domain in hotmail mailbox. In the domain everything works fine too. The only problem is I can not receive email from other domains, which was OK before I renamed the SBS server.

Fortunately this is a test machine. Don't change the name of Windows Small Business Server 2003. Never ever.

 

[markdmac]

Have you checked your MX record?

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

 

[rbby2003]

markdmac, netometer,
Thanks for all your input.

Now I am receiving emails. Everything works fine.
And through the problem I've found another way to disable receiving emails in Exchange, I mean blocking email from other domains.
The real problem was:
In the properties of the default SMTP virtual server, under Access---Authentication, Anonymous Access was not checked. I don't know how this got changed from renaming the computer name, because exchange was working fine, sending and receiving, before name change. Because Anonymous Access was not checked, the Exchange server is not accepting connection initiated from other domains, but at the same time outbound emails have the authentication info so that outbound emails work fine.