How to add a MX record in the DNS server?

[discoverer]

As title.

It's not said in any book I've found.
So I come here to ask the best book in the world -- YOU !

Thanks in advance!

/Discoverer

[Steven Sim Kok Leong · Accepted solution]

Hi,

In the master DNS database file, add an MX record for the domain you want to receive the email. You can add just one line, as in the following:

MX 10 mailhost

The above example specifies that the host with the name mailhost is designated to receive all the mail addressed to this domain. If the domain name is mydomain.com, any mail message with the address user@mydomain.com will now be delivered to user@mailhost.mydomain.com.

You can also set up multiple MX records, as in the following:

MX 10 mailhost
MX 100 mailhost.abc.sg.
MX 200 www.def.sg.

The reason for setting up multiple MX records is for a reliable mail delivery. If the primary mail server is down, the mail message will be temporaily sent to another mail server designated by the MX record. In the above example, if the primary mail server mailhost.mycomain.com does not respond, a delivery will be attempted to the host mailhost.king.co.kr. If that host is also down, then another attemp to the host www.netkorea.com will be made. The number associated with each MX record specifies the priority of the mail servers.

Hope this helps. Regards.

Steven Sim Kok Leong
Brainbench MVP for Unix Admin
http://www.brainbench.com

[Wodisch]

Hello discoverer,

in addition to whta Steven wrote, do not forget to send a signal "HUP" to the running "named" (or "bind") to make it re-read the database files...

HTH,
Wodisch