Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 enables the local network to communicate with internet. This is done through SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) which gives the local network the ability to send and receive emails over internet.  The default port set for SMTP is port 25. To make the network more secured, the port 25 can be disables and can be changed to port 587.  Here is how to configure port 587 on Microsoft Exchange Server 2003.

Start the Exchange System Manager

Click on the start menu and select ‘All Programs’.  Look for Microsoft Exchange Server in the programs list. Select it and another list appears.  Click on ‘Exchange System Manager’ available in the list. This starts the System manager and opens a window.

Open the Properties Window

Once the Exchange System Manager starts, locate the server name on the left side of the screen. Click on the server name and expand the tree. Click on the protocols folder. The tree expands. Click on the SMTP folder. In the SMTP folder, you’ll find “Default SMTP Virtual Server”. Right click on it and select properties. This opens properties window.

Change the Listening Port of SMTP to Port 587

In the properties window click on ‘General’ tab. You’ll find and ‘Advanced’ button. Click on it and then click on the ‘Edit’ button. Here you’ll find the TCP port set to default port 25. Next to label ‘TCP Port’ you’ll find a text box.  Change it to port 587 and click ‘OK’. Now the virtual server is configured to listen to the port 587.

Change the Outbound Port of SMTP to Port 587

In the properties tab, click on the ‘Delivery’ tab. You’ll find a button ‘Outbound Connections. Click on the button. The default TCP port is set to Port 25. Next to label ‘TCP Port’ you’ll find a text box. Change it to port 587 and click ‘OK’. Now the virtual SMTP server is configured to send outbound traffic to Port 587.

Quit the Exchange System Manager

Once the changes are made, click ‘OK’ in the main properties window to save the changes. Quit the Exchange System Manager. This enables changes in configuration to take place.

Now the Microsoft Exchange Server is configured to use Port 587 for communication with the internet.