I am attempting to use Axigen for internal emails only like scanning from printers etc.
Can Axigen forward requests for external SMTP server to those mail servers? Basically can my local server be the middle man directing local mail to my local SMTP and external like to OFC365?
Yes it can.
Recommended configuration: using authenticated sessions.
If this is not possible - than allow routing messages based on IP addresses exceptions so your mail server will not be an open relay.
Nevertheless, the first to check is connectivity to “internet” on TCP port 25 from your system where Axigen will be installed.
This is simple to test using a telnet command to an external destination like:
$ telnet outlook-com.olc.protection.outlook.com 25
Trying 52.101.132.31...
Connected to outlook-com.olc.protection.outlook.com.
Escape character is '^]'.
220 HK3PEPF00000221.mail.protection.outlook.com Microsoft ESMTP MAIL Service ready at Wed, 5 Feb 2025 19:34:59 +0000 [08DD3E3461479787]
quit
221 2.0.0 Service closing transmission channel
Connection closed by foreign host.
If this the above test will not work than Axigen will not be able to send the messages to any external SMTP servers. In this case you have to ask your ISP / hosting provider to allow you to connect on that TCP port to external world.
Good Luck,
Ioan