When you have an Exchange Server account in Small Business Server 2003 and Outlook is configured to use the POP3 account as default some users discover the SBS Exchange account is reset as the default account every time they reboot.

This is caused by the SBS2003 logon script that configures the client computers when the user logs on. The logon script includes a reference to sbsdefault.prf, an Outlook profile file which configures the user's Outlook profile automatically and sets the SBS Exchange account to be the default email account.

This can be fixed one of three ways:

1. Edit the logon script so the PRF doesn't run when the user logs on
2. Edit the registry to prevent changes in the default account
3. Configure SBS2003 to use the POP3 account's address as the default SMTP address and send all mail through the SBS server.

Logon Script

The logon script points to \\servername\Clients\Setup folder, which contains the PRF and other configuration files, including the configuration files needed to set Internet Explorer's home page to the SBS Windows Sharepoint Services (WSS) site. Any of these configuration files can be edited using Notepad.

Because users can run the Outlook profile file by double clicking or using a command line, the prf can be removed from the Setup folder and distributed to users the first time they use Outlook.

Tip: When you use hosted POP3 or IMAP accounts, open the PRF in Notepad and edit the PRF, adding your POP3 or IMAP accounts to the profile to eliminate the need to completely configure accounts in Outlook later. See Create an Outlook Profile File (*.PRF) for help creating PRF files.

Registry Key

A registry entry can be used to prevent the SBS login script from changing the transport order. Note: This key is set on the user's computer.

Key: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\SmallBusinessServer\ClientSetup
REG_DWORD Name: NoTransportOrder
Value: 1 

SBS2003 SMTP

When the SBS2003/Exchange Server is properly configured to send e-mail to the Internet, users can leave the Exchange account set as the default. You can safely use SBS2003's SMTP to send email to the Internet without exposing the server to the Internet, any more than the clients are exposed when sending email.

Configure each user's active directory account to use their public SMTP address as the default SMTP account for their profile all email sent to the Internet will have their email address and replies will go to their hosted POP3 account.

When all users have addresses in the same domain (ie, everyone has an @slipstick.com address) and their SBS username is the same as their POP3 alias:

1. Open the Exchange System Manager
2. Navigate to the the Recipients container then Recipient policies.
3. Right click on the email account policy (often called Default policy) and choose Properties.
4. Click on the Email Addresses (Policy) tab then New.
5. Select SMTP address and click Ok.
6. In the Address field type @domain_name.com and click Ok.
7. Select the new address and click the Set as Primary button.
8. Click Ok.
9. Click Yes when the dialog asks if you want to update all address to match the new addresses.

If their POP3 address uses their first and last names, see Creating a New Email Alias in Exchange Server.

When each user has a different domain address or their SBS username is not the same as their POP3 alias or name:

1. Open Active Directory Users and Computers and local the SBS accounts
2. Right click on a user account and choose Properties
3. Select the Email Addresses tab
4. Click New then SMTP address and click OK
5. Type the users POP3 email address in the Email address field
6. Click OK
7. Select the new address and click the Set as Primary button.
8. Click Ok.

Repeat for each user.

Now when email is sent using the Exchange account the From address will be the same address used by their POP3 email account. They can either collect their mail as they always have with Outlook or SBS can be configured to collect it for them.

If an SMTP server was not configured in Exchange at the time SBS was installed, the administrator will need to configure it. If the Internet provider requires that all mail go through their SMTP server, configure the SMTP server to use a smart host.