So where does the psychic part come in? I think I have a vague understanding of what an Mx record is and what it does, so clearly if my mail host were not the same host as my A record (which may or may not also be a "web host" of some kind) I would need an Mx record to designate which hosts were responsible for mail to my domain. But in the event my A record also happens be my mail host I am not required to have an Mx record (though it is still recommended).
My original response was to the assertion that it is a crapshoot as to whether or not a mail host will fall back to an A record if an Mx record does not exist. I asserted (and still do) that it is not a crapshoot and that any RFC complaint MTA will do this as a matter of course. I did not assert that an Mx record is not required when one wishes to specify a responsible mail host for a domain which do not map to the corresponding A record. Clearly that is the purpose of an Mx record is it not? -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Dickenson, Steven Posted At: Tuesday, February 07, 2006 11:19 AM Posted To: swynk Conversation: Not receiving email Subject: RE: Not receiving email No, what he's saying is that if you send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED], and there is no MX record for example.com, then it will try an SMTP connection to the A record example.com (usually points to the web server for most domains). In this particular instance, mail sent to [EMAIL PROTECTED] will be successfully delivered by most MTA's out there. However, mail sent to [EMAIL PROTECTED] will not be sent, as any sane MTA (including Exchange) will try to connect to the A record of plymouthcovenant.org, which is their web host. In this instance, if his web server and mail server were the same, he wouldn't need an MX. Steven --- Steven Dickenson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Computer Network Manager The Key School, Annapolis Maryland -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Randal, Phil Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2006 11:33 AM To: Exchange Discussions Subject: RE: Not receiving email Right, so we now have psychic MTA's which automagically deduce which of your hosts is the mail server? Amazing! Phil ---- Phil Randal Network Engineer Herefordshire Council Hereford, UK > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of > Chris Scharff > Sent: 07 February 2006 16:21 > To: Exchange Discussions > Subject: RE: Not receiving email > > Mx records are not required. Any MTA which doesn't 'fall back' to > using an A record when no Mx record is present is a POS and has no > business in a production environment. > > -----Original Message----- > > Redyhosting is wrong, there is no MX record on plymouthcovenant.org > nor mail.plymouthcovenant.org. Some email servers will fall back to > the A record....but that is a crap shoot. > > _________________________________________________________________ List posting FAQ: http://www.swinc.com/resource/exch_faq.htm Web Interface: http://intm-dl.sparklist.com/read/?forum=exchange To subscribe: http://e-newsletters.internet.com/discussionlists.html/ To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Exchange List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe via postal mail, please contact us at: Jupitermedia Corp. Attn: Discussion List Management 475 Park Avenue South New York, NY 10016 Please include the email address which you have been contacted with.
