What is an MX record?

[1666]

We use exchange 5.5 on a NT 4 network, and I read about users creating MX records for Exchange and don't have a vlue why and thought you guys could help explain this to me. We don't use MX records as far as I know everything gets "pushed" to our ISP.

Kind Regards

A

 

[Ntr0P]

If everything is already working for you, then you won't need to mess with it. However...

MX = Mail eXchange record. It is used in DNS and allows a one to specify where mail should be sent. Basically a MX record will point to the domain name of your mail server. There will then be an A record which resolves the domain name to an IP address. In a nutshell this is how mail gets to your mail server over the Internet.

 

[city42]

Hi,
Your ISP holds your MX Record. If you have an internal Exchange Server you would need to contact your ISP and give them the proper info on how people on the internet can see it. Example mail.xxxxxx.com 66.xx.66.xx is an MX record that would point to your site. If I wnat to send you an email asda@xxxxx.com I would send it in my mail box it would then go out to the internet the Isp would resolve the name through the MX record and send it to you.
I hope this helps