Using local Exchange 2003 as email server

[hchan]

Just a quick question... How can I create an Address record that points to a exchange server? Here's what I'm thinking:
Create a subdomain called ...exchange.whatever.com and have it point to the ip on exchange. Edit my MX record and enter exchange.whatever.com for whatever.com. Does that sound right? Thanks!

[openbox]

Yep. Create an A record for your Exchange' IP and then point the MX record at the hostname.

[hchan]

Yep. Create an A record for your Exchange' IP and then point the MX record at the hostname.

What's the easiest way to create an A record? I don't think u can create them manually unless you're using something like zoneedit right? The only way to really do it is to create a subdomain in cpanel and have it point to the ip of exchange.

[james]

You can do it via whm if you have the add/edit dns zone function enabled.

From memory you have to manually request it before you're able to do it.

This will let you edit the dns records for each account.

I think you have to submit a trouble ticket asking to get this feature enabled.

James

[openbox]

Yes, submit a ticket and request access to edit your zones. Make sure you have an understanding of DNS before mucking around in your zone files.

[Pedja]

There is no need for A record. Simply point MX record to an IP.

[Dan]

There is no need for A record. Simply point MX record to an IP.

I'm not so certain that this is true Pedja, as I understand it an MX record cannot point to an IP. It also cannot point to CNAME record. It has to point to a domain name that has a corresponding A record for it.

[chrisd]

as I understand it an MX record cannot point to an IP.

You're absolutely right.

Even if it were syntactically legal, a lot of sending mailers will barf if the MX lookup returns an ip. It is unlikely to work in all cases.

Plus, among other things, you take away the destination's ability to control their own DNS (i.e. change their physical location without notifying everybody that might be pointing to them) - which could become a problem if the remote server is in a domain outside of your control.