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What is a Smarthost?
Comprehensive SMTP Relay Guide

Benefits of using smarthost for email delivery, setup guide and best practices.

8 min read
MXGate Team

1 What is Smarthost?

Smarthost (smart server) is an intermediate SMTP server where emails are routed before being sent to the recipient. Also known as "relay host" or "mail relay".

Simple Definition: Instead of sending emails from its own IP address, your mail server sends them through the smarthost. The smarthost forwards these emails from its own clean IP pool, increasing delivery success.

Today, smarthost usage has become a standard practice especially for hosting providers, ISPs, and organizations sending high-volume emails. According to Radicati Group research, 67% of enterprise companies use some form of relay service for email delivery.

2 How Does Smarthost Work?

Your Mail Server
Postfix, Exim, cPanel
Smarthost
Clean IP Pool
Recipient
To Inbox

Step by Step Process

  1. 1
    Email Creation: User or application sends an email.
  2. 2
    Routing to Smarthost: Mail server forwards the email to smarthost instead of sending directly (with SMTP auth).
  3. 3
    Processing and Filtering: Smarthost applies spam checking, virus scanning, and content filtering.
  4. 4
    Delivery: Email is delivered to recipient from clean IP address. High delivery rate achieved.

3 Why Use Smarthost?

IP Reputation Protection

Your server's IP address doesn't get blacklisted. Even if a customer sends spam, your IP is not affected.

99%+ Delivery Rate

Thanks to sending from clean IP pool, emails reach inbox instead of spam folder.

Bypass ISP Restrictions

Works seamlessly even on networks with port 25 blocking. Ports 587 and 465 are supported.

Centralized Monitoring

Monitor all outgoing emails from a single panel. Statistics, logs, and reports.

Statistics

%67
Enterprise relay usage rate
%99.9
Delivery success rate
%85
Spam reduction rate

4 Setup Guide

MXGate Smarthost setup takes only 3 minutes. Here are quick start guides for popular systems:

cPanel/WHM Setup

  1. 1 WHM > Exim Configuration Manager > Advanced Editor
  2. 2 Find "Smart Host (SMTP Route)" section
  3. 3 Enter smtp.mxgate.com.tr:587
  4. 4 Enter your SMTP Authentication credentials
Detailed cPanel Guide

5 Smarthost vs SMTP Relay vs Mail Gateway

These terms are often confused. Here are the differences:

Term Definition Usage
Smarthost Intermediate server that forwards emails Outgoing email routing
SMTP Relay Same meaning as smarthost Usually for SaaS services
Mail Gateway Inbound + outbound email security Comprehensive email protection
MTA (Mail Transfer Agent) Email server software Postfix, Exim, Sendmail

6 Frequently Asked Questions

Are smarthost and SMTP relay the same thing?
Yes, smarthost and SMTP relay terms are generally used interchangeably. Both mean routing emails through an intermediate server. Technically, smarthost is the name of the server that provides SMTP relay service.
Is it safe to use a smarthost?
Using a trusted smarthost provider is safe. Professional providers like MXGate offer TLS/SSL encryption, DKIM signing, and SPF compliance. Your emails are transmitted encrypted and their contents are not read.
Is smarthost free?
Some providers offer limited free plans, but paid plans are recommended for professional use. MXGate offers a 14-day free trial. Paid plans are typically priced based on the number of emails sent.

Conclusion

Using a smarthost is critical, especially for hosting providers and organizations sending high-volume emails. It protects your IP reputation, increases your delivery rate, and centralizes your email management.

MXGate Smarthost Try Free

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