How to Configure Microsoft Exchange SMTP Connector to use VisualGSM Enterprise Server to send SMS

This tutorial demostrates how it is possible to configure Microsoft Exchange SMTP Connector to use VisualGSM Enterprise Server to send SMS.

The SMTP Connector on Microsoft Exchange is normally used to send email via your ISPs email server. You can configure the SMTP Connector to process only specific domains or "address space", using the Address Space properties.

For example, you can configure the SMTP Connector to process all emails to the domain sms.mycompany.com as SMS messages.

To send SMS using exchange, you would point the SMTP Connector to VisualGSM Email2SMS Addon. For this case, VisualGSM Email2SMS Addon would be configured as an SMTP server.

Name your SMTP Connector, e.g. "Email2SMS".

Check the option "Forward all mail through this connector to the following smart host" and enter the server address on which you installed VisualGSM Email2SMS Addon (usually the same server as VisualGSM Enterprise Server).

If you are using IP addresses then enclose the addresses in [ ].

Click the "Add" button under "Local Bridgeheads" and choose the "Default SMTP Virtual Server".

If you want this connector to be used for just certain domains, then remove the '*' ^.

Enter the domain which you intend to filter and forward to Email2SMS Addon using the SMTP Connector. Everything after the @ should be entered. For example, you can use a subdomain of your company domain, like sms.companydomain.com. The 'sms' subdomain (i.e. sms.companydomain.com) will distinguish emails meant for SMS from regular emails to your company domain (i.e. companydomain.com).

For instance, emails sent to 0125546566@sms.visualtron.com will be filtered and forwarded to Email2SMS addon, whereas emails sent to sales@visualtron.com would be delivered as regular emails.

If you want to route all outbound email via your Exchange server through Email2SMS addon via the SMTP Connector - leave the '*' in place^'.

^^Notes:- If you are running Email2SMS Addon on the same Server as Microsoft Exchange, you would need to reconfigure the "Default SMTP Virtual Server" by amending the "outbound connections tcp port" to a port other than port 25. You can find the tcp port setting under Protocols / SMTP / Default SMTP Virtual Server / Properties / Delivery Tab.

The reason is because you cannot run concurrently 2 different SMTP servers listening to default SMTP port 25 on the same machine. For example, you can configure the "outbound connections tcp port" to port 26 (Email2SMS Addon must also be configured to listen to port 26).

If you wish to send regular emails through Email2SMS Addon, under Address space, leave '*' in place under the address setting, so that all emails will be forwarded by the SMTP Connector to Email2SMS Addon. Using the "Filter by To: Domain" setting on Email2SMS Addon, you can instruct Email2SMS Addon to filter off emails to a specified domain and deliver them as SMS, while leaving the rest to be delivered as regular emails.

Tip:- If you are using SMTP authentication for your Email2SMS setup, you would need to add a username and password to the SMTP configuration. On the properties of the connector click on the "Advanced" tab. Click on the "Outbound Security" button. Change from anonymous to basic authentication. Click on the "Modify" button and enter the username and password as required.

1. Install VisualGSM Enterprise Server and Email2SMS Addon.

If you have not installed VisualGSM Enterprise Server and Email2SMS Addon, you can download the installers from this link (VisualGSM SMS Gateway and Email2SMS Addon Download). Refer to the "Quick Start Checklist" on how to configure VisualGSM Enterprise Server.

3. Set SMS recipient as "Email Recipient User"

Click on "SMS Setting" tab, and then set "SMS recipient" as "Email Recipient User".

4. Click "Save All", and then restart Email2SMS service.

Run VisualGSM Manager, logon and then start VisualGSM Service using the "Start" button on VisualGSM Enterprise Manager.

Note:- If VisualGSM service does not start, refer to the returned message and check your setup. Refer to the next section, troubleshooting.

You can send to phone numbers (e.g. +4335435435@sms.yourdomain.com) , groups of phone numbers (comma delimited) or even to "Exchange distribution lists" containing individual phone numbers.