MX Records Entry

Overview

This interface allows you to route a domain's incoming mail to a specific server. Changes that you make to a domain's MX (Mail Exchanger) entry also result in changes to the DNS records.

This interface is useful, for example, if you wish to create a backup mail exchanger to handle mail when the server is down.

Configure Email Routing

Warning:

Misconfigured MX entries can completely disable your ability to receive mail. If you are unsure which option to choose, please contact support. 

To determine how your server routes mail for a domain, perform the following steps:

  1. Select the desired domain from the menu.
  2. Select one of the following options under Email Routing:
    • Automatically Detect Configuration — The server uses the current MX record or records for the domain to select the appropriate configuration from the list below.
    • Local Mail Exchanger — The domain accepts mail even if an MX record with higher priority exists. The server routes mail to both domains when this happens.

      Note:

      Choose this option if your server uses smart hosts or another gateway service to filter mail. 

    • Backup Mail Exchanger — The domain acts as a backup mail exchanger and holds mail in the queue if the primary exchanger is offline.

      Note:

      Configure the primary MX entry to point to the appropriate exchanger. 

    • Remote Mail Exchanger — The domain does not accept mail. Instead, it sends it to the primary mail exchanger.

      Note:

      Configure the primary MX entry to point to the appropriate exchanger. 

  3. Click Change.

Add a New MX Entry

To add a new MX entry to the domain, perform the following steps:

  1. Under the Add a New Record section, enter the priority of the new MX entry in the Priority text box.

    Remember:

    • Lower values denote higher priority. The highest priority is 0.
    • The primary mail server or servers (those with the lowest priority values) receives mail that is sent to your domain.
    • Backup, or secondary, mail servers (those with higher priority values) are for backup or other purposes.
    • If you assign the same priority value to multiple mail servers (and needs this level of mail server) the system distributes mail to those servers randomly.
  2. In the Destination text box, enter the hostname of the new mail exchanger.

    Important:

    You must specify a fully qualified domain name (FQDN). You cannot specify an IP address here. 

  3. Click Add New Record.

Delete an MX Entry

To delete an MX entry, perform the following:

  1. Click Delete next to the appropriate MX entry in the MX Records list.
  2. Click Delete to confirm.

Edit an MX Entry

To edit an MX entry, perform the following:

  1. Click Edit next to the appropriate MX entry in the MX Records list.
  2. Change the Priority or Destination as desired.
  3. Click Edit to confirm.
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