I am trying to sort out a DNS server as I want to host emails directly by having my mail delivered to me using smtp on my exchanger server rather than use POP collectors etc. System: Domain name being held by company. I have access to changing name server settings, a records and MX records. Windows 2003 Small Business Server with Exchange using POP3 collectors, SMTP virtual servers. DNS settings are set to the default configuration when the installation was done. Server has two NIC's, one internal, one external with its own static IP separate from my router. Currently using POP collectors to receive emails, and have on the domain name the URL forwarded to the IP address of my server which is working for basic website. Objective: I want to be able to receive email on the server directly (SMTP) without using any pop collectors. I need to set up MX records etc, but I have no idea at all how to go about this. I am a complete novice when it comes to DNS, and need to be walked through how to do it, literally click for click, and also with an idea what the end result of the DNS tree should look like. I have had a go myself, but don't think I have done it all right, as when I try to change the name server settings for the domain name, I keep getting error messages. I would really appreciate it if someone could help me. Anyone help out there??
Setting up DNS Server on Windows 2003 - SORTED
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This may help as far as setting up the Exchange side is concerned. It's fairly simple - just need to get the MX records right!
http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/MF002.html
http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/MF002.html
Thanks, but first I must get the nameservers setup on the server, I know it has to be done through the DNS menu, but I dont have a clue what I need to have.
I need A entry, nameserver entries, and MX entries. I can put what I think in, but I would like someone who has done this to tell me how to do it. once I have done my server, I can update the entries on the domain name.
I need A entry, nameserver entries, and MX entries. I can put what I think in, but I would like someone who has done this to tell me how to do it. once I have done my server, I can update the entries on the domain name.
I don't think you need to set up anything in your local DNS server, that just resolves local Active Directory DNS requests (or forwards them to an external DNS server, usually that of your ISP, when it can't resolve them itself). You edit the MX records on your external server at the hosting company to point to your Exchange Server's external IP address and Exchange does the rest (once you've done the steps in that guide). Make sure you open the right ports on your router/firewall to allow incoming on port 25.
OK the domain name is 'pointed' at the ip address that I have so if someone put the full url in it goes to the server.
I cannot put an IP address in as the MX record, as I get this error message when trying to apply 'MX 1: The mail exchanger is not sufficient or hasn't been approved.'
It accepts it when I merely put in domain.co.uk
Is this all that I need to do as far as the domain name is concerned as does the 'mx' look at the domain.co.uk forwarding to IP and work like that??
I cannot put an IP address in as the MX record, as I get this error message when trying to apply 'MX 1: The mail exchanger is not sufficient or hasn't been approved.'
It accepts it when I merely put in domain.co.uk
Is this all that I need to do as far as the domain name is concerned as does the 'mx' look at the domain.co.uk forwarding to IP and work like that??
Thanks for your help so far shiuming. You are being very helpful.
I have waited for the DNS changes to complete, according to their control panel they have. I have just sent an email to the domain, and its been returned as mail delivery failed, invalid address. I did have an 'instant mail' package for the domain which gives 5 pop accounts and authorised SMTP access. I am in the process of getting this removed from my package.
Does this sound right to you?
I have waited for the DNS changes to complete, according to their control panel they have. I have just sent an email to the domain, and its been returned as mail delivery failed, invalid address. I did have an 'instant mail' package for the domain which gives 5 pop accounts and authorised SMTP access. I am in the process of getting this removed from my package.
Does this sound right to you?
You're welcome dude. Had to do something in between reboots on this nightmare of a new 2003 Server rebuild I've been doing all day long, it was driving me bonkers [
] The stuff that has gone wrong, you just couldn't make up! []
First thing to do is find the source of this returned mail, whether it's from your web host's mail server or your Exchange Server. Check the mail header in the returned message, does it give any hint of having passed through an Exchange Server (there should be a trace of the server's host name in there somewhere), if so make sure you have sent your message to a valid user name on Exchange.
I find Outlook Express much easier than Outlook for examining mail headers. Highlight a message, then go to File > Properties then Details tab.
] The stuff that has gone wrong, you just couldn't make up! []First thing to do is find the source of this returned mail, whether it's from your web host's mail server or your Exchange Server. Check the mail header in the returned message, does it give any hint of having passed through an Exchange Server (there should be a trace of the server's host name in there somewhere), if so make sure you have sent your message to a valid user name on Exchange.
I find Outlook Express much easier than Outlook for examining mail headers. Highlight a message, then go to File > Properties then Details tab.
The error seems to have been generated by one of 1&1's mail servers, it is actually listed as one of the ones that would be used as a backup mail server, so I have temporarily made my domain name have only 1 mail server which is my domain.co.uk with a prio of 10.
I will need to wait now for DNS to sort itself out, and wait for 1&1 to do their bit about removing my instant mail assuming that does cause a conflict. Unfortunately, they dont do anything till about 5am I find! lol.
Thanks for your help so far, you have got me further along in my head, DNS confuses the hell out of me, everything I read appeared to make it look like I had to set my own name servers up and all sorts. What you say and that link you sent are making great sence.
Are you about tomorrow if I need more help??
Ta
I will need to wait now for DNS to sort itself out, and wait for 1&1 to do their bit about removing my instant mail assuming that does cause a conflict. Unfortunately, they dont do anything till about 5am I find! lol.
Thanks for your help so far, you have got me further along in my head, DNS confuses the hell out of me, everything I read appeared to make it look like I had to set my own name servers up and all sorts. What you say and that link you sent are making great sence.
Are you about tomorrow if I need more help??
Ta
Still cant get it to work, but at last I have spoken to a very helpful person at the unhelpful 1&1. The reason I am not getting mail delivered by SMTP is that they have to create a reverse lookup for me, yet they wont, as I am not on the correct package. They want me to pay to have the package changed ?25 a year, so instead I am in process of transferring my domian name to someone else who will allow me ull control and have promised me in email that they will allow it and can sort it out for a small one off admin fee of ?10!
You don't need a reverse lookup address to receive email. Some email
servers may be configured to reject email from a those without but it
shouldn't stop mail being delivered to you. I'd say that was a salesman
on the end of the phone getting you to part with your hard earned...
not a 'techie'
servers may be configured to reject email from a those without but it
shouldn't stop mail being delivered to you. I'd say that was a salesman
on the end of the phone getting you to part with your hard earned...
not a 'techie'
Well, I lost my rag big time with 1&1 who just wouldnt help without me spending serious cash. If the ?10 fee that I spend with my isp works, then I dont care, I just want it to work, its been winding me up for the last two weeks.
Well, got it sorted elsewhere, and well worth spending a little bit of cash. All working, with full backup mailserver as well. Thanks for the help you provided Schuming, it helped make it much clearer in my mind as to what I needed.
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