Configure a Newsgroup Feed From a NNTP Server

In Exchange 2000/2003, how can I configure a newsgroup feed from a live NNTP server?
To configure an Exchange 2000 mail server to receive a live newsgroup feed from a live NNTP newsgroup server do the following:
Write down the URL for the live NNTP server. These addresses usually (but not always) come in the form of news.domain.com or similar. We’ll use the live MCT (Microsoft Certified Trainer) news server. This server’s address is privatenews.microsoft.com, but it requires a username and password so you won’t be able to use it. I used this server only for the purpose of capturing the screenshots, do not try to access it yourself.

1. Open the Exchange System Manager console.
2. Drill down to your server’s name and open the Protocols container.
3. Open the NNTP container, double-click the Default NNTP Virtual Server.
4. Right-click the Feeds sub-container and choose New.

 

5. In the New NNTP Feed Wizard page enter the IP address or the FQDN of the remote live NNTP server. Click Next.

 

6. In the Select the remote server role select the Peer role (Unless you’ll accept remotely configured feeds, and then you’ll select the Master role). Click Next.

 

7. In the next window select both the Inbound and Outbound feeds (In case you want local users to be able to post items to the remote server via your own server). Click Next.

 

8. In the Pull Articles From page make sure you configure the proper desired date.

Note: If you configure a date that’s too far in the past, or if the remote NNTP server has a very high volume of traffic – you’ll end up with a totally run-down Internet connection and the traffic from the remote NNTP server will totally saturate your bandwidth. Make sure you check the date and that it’s not too far in the past. Click Next.
 

9. In the Newsgroups window see what newsgroups you want or do not want to receive.

Note: Notice that the default * setting will download ALL the newsgroups from the remote server causing you a lot of traffic and a possible bandwidth problem. Also, take extra care with newsgroups that might have specific adult content or other kind of un-wanted or illegal content. You can filter these newsgroups by excluding specific words such as *sex* etc.
 

10. I’ve removed the default * and set up to include only the following newsgroups:

 
Note: If you didn’t configure the filters right you will probably end up with a pocket-full of un-desired newsgroups and they will all be listed under the Internet Newsgroups public folder in Outlook, and also clutter your M: drive. Getting rid of them isn’t as easy as you think… Make sure you filter for the correct and wanted groups only!

11. Click Ok and Finish.

After the Feed was created you must now configure some of it’s settings (These settings can be easily changed later on).

1. Right click the Feed and choose Properties.

 

2. In the General window you can disable the feed, change the outgoing TCP port (119 by default) and set the retrieve date.

 

3. In the Subscription window you can change the newsgroup filter options.

 

4. In the Schedule window  you can set the… well, you’ve guessed it!

 

5. And in the Security window you can configure a username and password for the authentication to the remote server.

 

6. Now you wait.

After waiting a while if you refresh the Newsgroups container under the Default NNTP Virtual Server you’ll suddenly see all the newsgroups that are being downloaded from the remote server:
Before and after
You can also see the newsgroups in the the M: drive:
 
You can also access to read from and post to the newsgroups via Outlook (MAPI) and Outlook Express (NNTP or IMAP4) clients.
 
You can also Configure Web Access to Newsgroups Hosted on Exchange 2000/2003 if you want.
Notice that the earliest available item is from the date you’ve configured when you’ve first set up the Feed.