[nzlug] Understanding email DNS

[Michael Adams]

On Sat, 07 Oct 2006 10:37:30 +1300 (NZDT)
Mark Foster wrote:

> > graphically
> > *********
> > (e-Xpert)
> > foo.org.nz
> >     |
> >     - northern.foo.org.nz MX --> mail.nth.org.nz
> >     - eastern.foo.org.nz MX --> mail.bar.org.nz
> >     - others.foo.org.nz
> >
> > (Iserve)
> > bar.org.nz (which we own)
> >     |
> >     -mail.bar.org.nz <-- eastern.foo.org.nz
> > *********
> >
> > Can the mail be pointed to a server mail.bar.org.nz as above?
> > If so:
> > . Will our foo group be able to use eastern.foo.org.nz email addys?
> > . What do i ask e-Xpert to set up at their end?
> > . What do i ask Kiwiwebhost(Iserve) to set up their end?
> 
> Oh and as a followup to my earlier email
> 
> - MX records simply need to be a valid dns hostname, they don't have
> to be within the same domain.  (mail.bar.org.nz being an address
> record within an entirely different domain, doesnt matter)
> 
> - Mail server must be configured to be authoritive for the domain 
> concerned or they will drop the inbound mail ("we do not relay")
> 
> - Mail server which is authoritive for the domain or subdomain
> concerned should be hosting mailboxes under the domains or subdomains
> - or forwarders to other valid addresses, or whatever. By being
> authoritive, it handles what happens to the mail for the domain or
> subdomain.
> 
> So to specifically answer your questions:
> 
> - Your DNS host must create appropriate DNS entries to create the 
> subdomains and point their mail to wherever you want it.

The subdomain already exists. I need to ask them to point the mail MX
record to mail.bar.org.nz.

> - The Mail services host must know about the domain, configure itself
> to accept mail relay for that domain, and sort you out with mail
> addresses / mailing lists / whatever you're after.

So i must ask IServe to accept mail relay for eastern.foo.org.nz. Then i
can assign the email addresses myself over cpanel.

That answers the questions.

Thanks.

-- 
Michael
 Those that can, do; those that can't, teach.