two MX records, which answers?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mmac
  • Start date Start date
M

mmac

If I have two different priority MX records for two mail servers, what would
make the second machine come into play? Would I have to shut the first
machine off for the second to answer or will it look for a user on the first
machine and then the second?
 
In
mmac said:
If I have two different priority MX records for two mail servers,
what would make the second machine come into play? Would I have to
shut the first machine off for the second to answer or will it look
for a user on the first machine and then the second?
Click to expand...

Clients and or users do not query MX records, only SMTP servers do that.
The second server will be connected to if the first is busy.
 
what if the first server doesn't have the user name in it's database? will
it look to the second one?
 
-----Original Message-----
what if the first server doesn't have the user name in it's database? will
it look to the second one?
Click to expand...

No, it will not. Mail will get returned as undeliverable.
 
In
mmac said:
what if the first server doesn't have the user name in it's database?
will it look to the second one?
Click to expand...
Then the first server needs to be configured to send unknown users to the
second.
 
Please tell me how do I make the first server do that? that would solve my
migration problem.
 
In
mmac said:
Please tell me how do I make the first server do that? that would
solve my migration problem.
Click to expand...
That depends on the server software you are using. Most have a setting for
forwarding unknown users in a domain to another server.
 
In
Kevin D. Goodknecht said:
In
That depends on the server software you are using. Most have a
setting for forwarding unknown users in a domain to another server.
Click to expand...

FYI:

Actually, with Exchange 2k, and the servers are part of the same
Organization, and the user is in the Organization, it will know what server
the mailbox is on. NO forwarding needed with Exchange. The Ex2k mailbox is
an attribute of the user in AD so it finds this info in AD.

If still with Ex55 and Ex2k, and both servers are part of the same Org, then
it will know where the mailbox is.

Mutliple MXs are for either load balancing or fault tolerance.


--
Regards,
Ace

Please direct all replies to the newsgroup so all can benefit.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.

Ace Fekay, MCSE 2000, MCSE+I, MCSA, MCT, MVP
Microsoft Windows MVP - Active Directory
 
so then my two servers must not be part of the same org even though I thought
they were. Hmmm something's amiss. How do I verify the Organization of each
server?
 
In
mmac said:
so then my two servers must not be part of the same org even though I
thought they were. Hmmm something's amiss. How do I verify the
Organization of each server?

"Ace Fekay [MVP]"
Click to expand...

Hi Mike

If the two servers are part of the same Ex55 site, then they are in the same
Org.
:-)


--
Regards,
Ace

Please direct all replies to the newsgroup so all can benefit.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.

Ace Fekay, MCSE 2000, MCSE+I, MCSA, MCT, MVP
Microsoft Windows MVP - Active Directory
 
Hi Ace,
Then I must have something else going on. my user on the ex2k box doesn't get
mail. the return message says that he doesn't exist. But the message only shows
that it looked at the first server. Never the second. Thats why I was wondering
what it would take to have the outside world look for him on both. Someone said
that I could configure the first machine to look at the second one. Bug I
haven't figured out how yet. I'll look at it monday night as usual and try some
experiments. It appears that we have left the realm of DNS for this issue and so
would be off topic for this NG.
 
In
mmac said:
Hi Ace,
Then I must have something else going on. my user on the ex2k box
doesn't get mail. the return message says that he doesn't exist. But
the message only shows that it looked at the first server. Never the
second. Thats why I was wondering what it would take to have the
outside world look for him on both. Someone said that I could
configure the first machine to look at the second one. Bug I haven't
figured out how yet. I'll look at it monday night as usual and try
some experiments. It appears that we have left the realm of DNS for
this issue and so would be off topic for this NG.
Click to expand...

Hi Mike,

Then maybe (what I think is happening) because you have the ADC CA (since i
was aware of that talking to you previously), it's a separate server. I
would like to see you move everything to your Ex2k box, point your MX to
that box and you should be good to go. Having the two servers up can cause
issues like this. Like to see you get this resolved. If you want me to
remote in, no prob, be glad to help out...

--
Regards,
Ace

Please direct all replies to the newsgroup so all can benefit.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.

Ace Fekay, MCSE 2000, MCSE+I, MCSA, MCT, MVP
Microsoft Windows MVP - Active Directory
 
In
mmac said:
OK, I guess it's time to prepare the troops for the disruption.
Click to expand...

Hey, got to do it sooner or later.... In the long run you'll be happier.
:-)

Just post back or email if you need help.


--
Regards,
Ace

Please direct all replies to the newsgroup so all can benefit.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.

Ace Fekay, MCSE 2000, MCSE+I, MCSA, MCT, MVP
Microsoft Windows MVP - Active Directory
 
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