Planning for e-mail

Before setting up e-mail, you must have a basic plan for how to use e-mail on your system.

Before you start setting up e-mail, answer the following questions:

  1. What will my e-mail addresses look like?
  2. What is the IP address of my Domain Name Server (DNS)?
  3. Do I have a firewall? If the answer is yes, what is its IP address?
  4. Do I have a mail proxy, mail router, or mail relay? If the answer is yes, what is its IP address?
  5. Will I be using a Domino® database?
  6. Will I be using the IBM® i POP server to receive mail?
  7. Will I need an ISP dialup scheduler?
  8. Will I need the MSF framework?
  9. Will I need performance?
  10. Will I need System Distribution Directory users?

You might want to refer to the e-mail scenario for basic information about how e-mail works.

If you will be using the Domino server and the IBM i SMTP server, refer to Hosting a Domino and SMTP server on the same system topic. For additional information about Domino, refer to the Domino topic or the Lotus® Domino for IBM i Web site.

Most systems no longer use a dialup connection to reach their ISP, Internet Service Provider. If you are still in need of one then the two new directory types: *SMTP and *SMTPMSF will not function for you. Neither directory type supports dial up scheduling.

If you do not need to use the MSF framework then setting the directory type to *SMTP may give you a boost in performance as e-mail will be directly delivered to the mailbox without going through configurable exit programs. This directory type uses WRKSMTPUSR to enroll users into SMTP. This is the default for new installations.

If you do need to use the MSF framework then the default setting for the directory type there are two methods available. The first is the default for upgraded installations type *SDD. Type *SDD uses the system distribution directory to manage access to the e-mail server, and email goes directly to MSF. For Directory Type *SMTPMSF the system distribution directory is not used, and WRKSMTPUSR user access is used instead. For *SMTPMSF the email goes through the server first and then through MSF in a compatibility mode to make sure existing exit programs still work. Utilizing *SMTPMSF may have a performance boost over *SDD because the system distribution directory is not utilized.

If the MSF framework is not utilized any email that has a resolved outgoing email address will be still forwarded to the SMTP server if the MSF framework receives a SMTP outgoing email. This can be done via SNDDST and the use of the Internet Recipient (TOINTENT), keyword. SDD POP mailboxes will be ignored by the SMTP server when using the new Directory Types: *SMTP and *SMTPMSF. SNADS messages will not be forwarded to the SMTP server if the Directory Type is *SMTP or *SMTPMSF.

If you do not plan to use the SMTP or POP servers, disable them to ensure that they will not be used without your knowledge.