Recently I setup a new server for a client that required smtp services running. Annoyingly though, whenever the server was rebooted the smtp service had to be manually started. Server restarts aren’t common to be fair, but when they do occur the configuration requirements should be zero.

I needed the SMTP service to automatically start running on reboot, and the solution was simple.

The SMTP service’s startup type is, by default, set to Manual. To alter this navigate to Start -> Administrative Tools -> Services and find the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) service.

Right click on the service and choose properties. A modal window should appear where you can change the startup type from Manual to Automatic.