Setting up Notes® routing

By default, Domino® uses Notes® routing to transfer messages between servers. Notes® routing uses information in the Domino® Directory to determine where to send mail addressed to a given user. If two servers are in the same Notes® named network, Notes® routing automatically transfers mail between them. A Notes® named network is a group of servers in a given Domino® domain that share a common protocol and are connected by a LAN or modem connections.

About this task

To set up routing between servers that are not in the same Notes® named network, you must create documents in the Domino® Directory to specify how to route mail within the Notes® mail system.

One of the documents you create is a Connection document. Connection documents specify how and when two servers connect to exchange mail and update common databases through replication. When you create a Connection document, Notes® routing is enabled by default. To route mail between servers in different Notes® named networks requires a pair of Connection document, one from each server to the other.

How you create connections for Notes® routing depends on:

  • The location of the two servers: same Notes® named network, same Domino® domain, adjacent Domino® domain, non-adjacent Domino® domain
  • The type of network connection between the two servers: LAN, network dialup, or pass-through

In addition, the number of Connection documents you need to create depends on how you want to route mail -- that is, whether you want to route mail both to and from a server, only to a server, or only from a server. Since, in most cases, you'll want to route mail in both directions, you generally need to create two Connection documents for each connection.

In small Domino® networks, you can minimize the number of Connection documents by using the same document to schedule mail routing and replication. Or you can create a separate Connection document for each task.

Table 1. Typical connections and required documents

Type of connection required

Documents required to create connection

To a server in same Notes® named network

No Connection documents required. There must be a common entry on the Ports > Notes Network Ports tab of each server's Server document.

To a server in a different Notes® named network within the local Domino® domain

Two Connection documents -- one from each server -- to ensure that mail routes in both directions.

To an adjacent Domino® domain

Two Connection documents, one in each Domino® domain, to ensure that mail routes in both directions.

One Adjacent domain document if you need restrictions.

To a non-adjacent Domino® domain

Two Connection documents, one in each Domino® domain that connects to the adjacent Domino® domain.

Two Non-adjacent domain documents, one in each Domino® domain that are not adjacent, to provide restrictions and simplify addressing across the intermediary domain between the first and third domains.

To a gateway for a foreign domain

One Foreign domain document to identify the foreign domain for non-mail messaging systems, such as fax or pager systems.

To an SMTP-enabled server (for example, a server that can send mail to the Internet)

One Foreign SMTP domain document to identify the destination for messages being sent to the Internet.

One SMTP connection document to specify the SMTP-enabled server.

Procedure

  1. Create Connection documents to enable message transfer between servers in different Notes® named networks.
  2. Depending on your messaging system topology, create these documents, as necessary:
    • Non-adjacent domain documents.
    • Adjacent domain documents.
    • Foreign domain documents.
    • Foreign SMTP domain documents.
    • SMTP Connection documents.