Configuring Routing Group Connectors

Routing group connectors are one-way routes for outgoing messages; messages travel outbound to the connected routing group. A routing group connector must exist in each routing group for the routing groups to communicate to each other and to send messages outbound to the other routing group. Although administrators can connect routing groups with an X.400 connector or SMTP connector, a routing group connector is the preferred connection method because this connector is designed and optimized for connection performance. Bridgehead servers, discussed later in this lesson, are the endpoints in the communication link between routing groups. To configure the options for a routing group connector, use the following steps:

1.	In ESM, expand the routing group to use as the originator of the connection, right-click Connectors, select New, and then click Routing Group Connector.
2.	On the General tab, type a descriptive name, such as OaklandToDetroit, for the routing group connector.
3.	Using the Connects This Routing Group With drop-down list, select the destination routing groups to connect to.
4.	In the Cost value field, assign an appropriate cost for the connector; the default value is 1.
5.	If all servers in the local routing group will function as bridgehead servers, select Any Local Server Can Send Mail Over This Connector. Otherwise, select These Servers Can Send Mail Over This Connector and then click Add to specify servers in the local routing group that can function as bridgehead servers for this connector.
6.	On the Remote Bridgehead tab, click Add, and then select the remote bridgehead server from the list of servers in the routing group to which you are connecting. Click OK to create the connector.

Tip

If a message is displayed asking to create a routing group connector in the remote routing group, click Yes. This new routing group connector permits the remote routing group to send messages to the local routing group.

After the routing group connector is installed, administrators may want to change additional settings, such as delivery options, delivery restrictions, and content restrictions.