What is an MX record?

Category: All about domain names

DNS

An MX record has a FQDN and a priority. The priority is a number which is used to choose which mail server to use if multiple MX records exist for a domain name. A mail server trying to send an email to you will always try the lowest number priority first!

Additionally an MX record has a host name to allow you to use e-mail addresses with subdomains. The hostname is usually left blank to specify the mail server for the domain name on its own.

If you have a mail server at mail.someserver.be and you want to add this for your domain name yourdomain.be, you would add an MX record with a blank hostname, an FQDN of mail.someserver.be, and a priority, for example 10.
This would mean that mails sent to @yourdomain.be will be delivered at the mailserver mail.someserver.be.

If you had a backup mail server that you only wanted mail delivered to in case of a problem with your main mail server, you would add another MX record with an FQDN of mail.someotherserver.be and a higher priority number, for example 20 or 50.

This would mean that any mails addressed to @yourdomain.be which can not be delivered to the server at mail.someserver.be will be delivered to the server at mail.someotherserver.be.

Adding a hostname into the MX record simply means that you are specifying the mail servers for a subdomain. For example adding an MX record for hostname "sales", FQDN mail.salesserver.be with priority 10 would mean that e-mails sent to @sales.yourdomain.be will be delivered to the mail server mail.salesserver.be. E-mails addressed at @yourdomain.be will not be affected.


Related articles

Apache - Install SSL Certificate

This article assumes you've received your certificate from the Certificate Authority, and that you wish to install it on your...

Read more

How can I move (transfer) a .com, .net or .org domain name?

If you would like to move (transfer) a domain name (typically com, .net or .org) from your current registrar to...

Read more

How can I publish my website via FTP?

If you use shared web hosting at Kinamo, either Linux hosting or Windows hosting, you can use an FTP program...

Read more

Need extra help?

Were not all your questions answered?
Don't worry, we will be happy to help you via a support request!

Kinamo

Select your language