@fcyarbrough: "We have 3 - E2K3 Back End servers and 2 - E2K3 Front End servers.  We also
have 2 servers running MailMarshal (MM) SMTP for our SPAM filtering
solution.  We want to use both MailMarshal servers in a sorta loadbalanced
state for incoming and outgoing SMTP.
I am thinking the 3 BE servers should forward their outgoing email directly
to either MM1 or MM2 (I think that setting both of these MM servers as a
SmartHost on the BE servers SMTP property will allow me to do this).
For incoming SMTP mail, the MX records will point to our 2 MM servers who
will evaluate the email then forward it on to either FE server.  The FE
servers then should be able to send it to the appropriate BE server.
Does this sound reasonable?
Thanks,
Fred"
    @amulnick_No_SPAM: "It sounds reasonable, but I don't think it will provide any kind of 
load-balancing per se.  I would expect you to have two underutilized servers 
at any given point in time with that configuration.
There is some fault tolerance there however as long as it's not a soft or 
transient error that occurs.  Testing should show you the effectiveness and 
boundaries of that solution.
Al
"Fred Yarbrough" <email_address> wrote in message 
news:%<email_address>
<quote>"
    @fcyarbrough: "Thanks Al!  I understand that this is not true load balancing but more of a
fault tolerance solution in the event of a system crash.  Am I correct to
assume that incoming SMTP mail must be forwarded to our FE servers from the
MM servers in order for it to be delivered to the appropriate BE server?
Thanks,
Fred
news:%<email_address>
<quote>
servers
and
also
loadbalanced
who"
    @amulnick_No_SPAM: "It's not a requirement, but it's a good idea.  Any of the Exchange servers 
"could" deliver it for you, but then what would be the point of a FE SMTP 
server if not to control traffic?
"Fred Yarbrough" <email_address> wrote in message 
news:<email_address>
<quote>"
    @fcyarbrough: "Al,
    Thanks for your recommendation.  Your opinion is highly respected as I
have seen your other postings on the MS groups.  You are very knowledgeable.
Thank,
Fred
news:<email_address>
<quote>
of
to
or
as
FE"
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