Introduction to Microsoft SMTP Service

Mail delivery is a common feature of Internet sites. Internet messages are generally transmitted and delivered using the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). Microsoft® Internet Information Server (IIS) version 4.0, the Internet site management tool, has a component dedicated to the SMTP delivery process. That component is Microsoft SMTP Service, which you can use to configure your hardware to deliver messages over the Internet.

Microsoft SMTP Service supports basic SMTP delivery functions. It also provides features that allow you to customize your configuration to accommodate unique delivery and security requirements.

Review this section for an overview of Microsoft SMTP Service components to determine what the pieces are, what they do, and how they work together.

This section contains:

Key Features: Describes Microsoft SMTP Service functions.
Components: Describes each component of Microsoft SMTP Service and its specific function, with links to detailed information.
Process Overview: Describes the process that Microsoft SMTP Service uses to deliver messages both locally and remotely.

Related information is available on the following topic:

Configuring Microsoft SMTP Service; see Operating Microsoft SMTP Service.