>I am a total novice trying to maintain a SBS server setup at my 4 person
>company, so please tolerate my rudimentary question.  I have the exchange
>server set up and running fine, but I am not sure if the MX record, that is
>maintained by my ISP is correct.  The MX record is set to my static IP
>address, and I think that it may be causing errors.  A test program that I
>tried over the internet said that my "MX" record is wrong and it should be
>set to my host name not my IP address.  All of the "A" records maintained by
>my ISP point to my static IP address also
>
>The problem is that I am not sure what my hostname is.  I know my domain
>name, I know the server name, and I know the exchange server name from the
>exchange server settings, but I dont know which if any of those are my host
>name.  How do I find out what my host name is.  And, do I need to do anything
>with it to let the world know where it points to before I put it in the MX
>record?

"Steve Antonio [MSFT]" wrote:

> You should have an A record which points to your public IP address and
> a specific server name. Say your public ip was 192.168.0.1. You would
> create an A record for mail.company.com with that IP. Then you create
> an MX record that points to mail.company.com.
>
>
> On Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:10:04 -0700, Hydrology
> <Hydrol***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >I am a total novice trying to maintain a SBS server setup at my 4 person
> >company, so please tolerate my rudimentary question.  I have the exchange
> >server set up and running fine, but I am not sure if the MX record, that is
> >maintained by my ISP is correct.  The MX record is set to my static IP
> >address, and I think that it may be causing errors.  A test program that I
> >tried over the internet said that my "MX" record is wrong and it should be
> >set to my host name not my IP address.  All of the "A" records maintained by
> >my ISP point to my static IP address also
> >
> >The problem is that I am not sure what my hostname is.  I know my domain
> >name, I know the server name, and I know the exchange server name from the
> >exchange server settings, but I dont know which if any of those are my host
> >name.  How do I find out what my host name is.  And, do I need to do anything
> >with it to let the world know where it points to before I put it in the MX
> >record?
> Hope this helps.
>
> Steve Antonio, CISSP
> Microsoft Exchange Support
>

>Hi Steve, thanks for the response.  I created an "A" record for
>mail.domain.com and then pointed that at my IP.  Then I created an MX record
>for mail.doimain.com, but mail is not my server name or any name in my
>domain.  Should I use the Exchange Server name
>(exchangeservername.domain.com), or just the actual Server
>name(Server-1.domain.com)?
>
>With the mail.domain.com, I ran a mail test from DNSReports.com and I got
>the "Bogus MX record - XX.120.91.162. is supposed to be a hostname, not an
>IP!]".  Maybe I didnt wait long enough for the records to update.  I will try
>again in a few hours and let you know how it went.
>
>
>"Steve Antonio [MSFT]" wrote:
>
>> You should have an A record which points to your public IP address and
>> a specific server name. Say your public ip was 192.168.0.1. You would
>> create an A record for mail.company.com with that IP. Then you create
>> an MX record that points to mail.company.com.
>>
>>
>> On Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:10:04 -0700, Hydrology
>> <Hydrol***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>>
>> >I am a total novice trying to maintain a SBS server setup at my 4 person
>> >company, so please tolerate my rudimentary question.  I have the exchange
>> >server set up and running fine, but I am not sure if the MX record, that is
>> >maintained by my ISP is correct.  The MX record is set to my static IP
>> >address, and I think that it may be causing errors.  A test program that I
>> >tried over the internet said that my "MX" record is wrong and it should be
>> >set to my host name not my IP address.  All of the "A" records maintained by
>> >my ISP point to my static IP address also
>> >
>> >The problem is that I am not sure what my hostname is.  I know my domain
>> >name, I know the server name, and I know the exchange server name from the
>> >exchange server settings, but I dont know which if any of those are my host
>> >name.  How do I find out what my host name is.  And, do I need to do anything
>> >with it to let the world know where it points to before I put it in the MX
>> >record?
>> Hope this helps.
>>
>> Steve Antonio, CISSP
>> Microsoft Exchange Support
>>

"Steve Antonio [MSFT]" wrote:

> DNS changes take a bit to propogate out, so try again in an hour or so
> and DNSReports should be good.
>
> As for the servername, If you have a firewall between your server and
> the internet, then you can just redirect incoming requests for
> mail.domain.com:25 to server.domain.com:25.
>
> However, if the Exchnge server's IP address IS the public IP address,
> then you'll need to change the MX and A records to reflect the correct
> address.
>
> -Steve
>
> On Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:40:02 -0700, Hydrology
> <Hydrol***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >Hi Steve, thanks for the response.  I created an "A" record for
> >mail.domain.com and then pointed that at my IP.  Then I created an MX record
> >for mail.doimain.com, but mail is not my server name or any name in my
> >domain.  Should I use the Exchange Server name
> >(exchangeservername.domain.com), or just the actual Server
> >name(Server-1.domain.com)?
> >
> >With the mail.domain.com, I ran a mail test from DNSReports.com and I got
> >the "Bogus MX record - XX.120.91.162. is supposed to be a hostname, not an
> >IP!]".  Maybe I didnt wait long enough for the records to update.  I will try
> >again in a few hours and let you know how it went.
> >
> >
> >"Steve Antonio [MSFT]" wrote:
> >
> >> You should have an A record which points to your public IP address and
> >> a specific server name. Say your public ip was 192.168.0.1. You would
> >> create an A record for mail.company.com with that IP. Then you create
> >> an MX record that points to mail.company.com.
> >>
> >>
> >> On Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:10:04 -0700, Hydrology
> >> <Hydrol***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> >I am a total novice trying to maintain a SBS server setup at my 4 person
> >> >company, so please tolerate my rudimentary question.  I have the exchange
> >> >server set up and running fine, but I am not sure if the MX record, that is
> >> >maintained by my ISP is correct.  The MX record is set to my static IP
> >> >address, and I think that it may be causing errors.  A test program that I
> >> >tried over the internet said that my "MX" record is wrong and it should be
> >> >set to my host name not my IP address.  All of the "A" records maintained by
> >> >my ISP point to my static IP address also
> >> >
> >> >The problem is that I am not sure what my hostname is.  I know my domain
> >> >name, I know the server name, and I know the exchange server name from the
> >> >exchange server settings, but I dont know which if any of those are my host
> >> >name.  How do I find out what my host name is.  And, do I need to do anything
> >> >with it to let the world know where it points to before I put it in the MX
> >> >record?
> >> Hope this helps.
> >>
> >> Steve Antonio, CISSP
> >> Microsoft Exchange Support
> >>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Steve Antonio, CISSP
> Microsoft Exchange Support
>

>Hi Steve, I do have a firewall between the server and the Internet.  This
>also leads to another question.  I have a public domain name "domain.com",
>but I guess that I also have an internal domain name called "domain.local" 
>which is the name of my local domain.  The SBS server and exchange server are
>on the same machine under "domain.local".  Should I be using the internal
>domain name in the MX record at my ISP?  It dosent have a .com so I am not
>sure if it is a FQDN.  My Exchange Server name is "Server-1.domain.local". 
>Do I need to account for this in the procedures that we have been talking
>about here?
>
>"Steve Antonio [MSFT]" wrote:
>
>> DNS changes take a bit to propogate out, so try again in an hour or so
>> and DNSReports should be good.
>>
>> As for the servername, If you have a firewall between your server and
>> the internet, then you can just redirect incoming requests for
>> mail.domain.com:25 to server.domain.com:25.
>>
>> However, if the Exchnge server's IP address IS the public IP address,
>> then you'll need to change the MX and A records to reflect the correct
>> address.
>>
>> -Steve
>>
>> On Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:40:02 -0700, Hydrology
>> <Hydrol***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>>
>> >Hi Steve, thanks for the response.  I created an "A" record for
>> >mail.domain.com and then pointed that at my IP.  Then I created an MX record
>> >for mail.doimain.com, but mail is not my server name or any name in my
>> >domain.  Should I use the Exchange Server name
>> >(exchangeservername.domain.com), or just the actual Server
>> >name(Server-1.domain.com)?
>> >
>> >With the mail.domain.com, I ran a mail test from DNSReports.com and I got
>> >the "Bogus MX record - XX.120.91.162. is supposed to be a hostname, not an
>> >IP!]".  Maybe I didnt wait long enough for the records to update.  I will try
>> >again in a few hours and let you know how it went.
>> >
>> >
>> >"Steve Antonio [MSFT]" wrote:
>> >
>> >> You should have an A record which points to your public IP address and
>> >> a specific server name. Say your public ip was 192.168.0.1. You would
>> >> create an A record for mail.company.com with that IP. Then you create
>> >> an MX record that points to mail.company.com.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> On Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:10:04 -0700, Hydrology
>> >> <Hydrol***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >I am a total novice trying to maintain a SBS server setup at my 4 person
>> >> >company, so please tolerate my rudimentary question.  I have the exchange
>> >> >server set up and running fine, but I am not sure if the MX record, that is
>> >> >maintained by my ISP is correct.  The MX record is set to my static IP
>> >> >address, and I think that it may be causing errors.  A test program that I
>> >> >tried over the internet said that my "MX" record is wrong and it should be
>> >> >set to my host name not my IP address.  All of the "A" records maintained by
>> >> >my ISP point to my static IP address also
>> >> >
>> >> >The problem is that I am not sure what my hostname is.  I know my domain
>> >> >name, I know the server name, and I know the exchange server name from the
>> >> >exchange server settings, but I dont know which if any of those are my host
>> >> >name.  How do I find out what my host name is.  And, do I need to do anything
>> >> >with it to let the world know where it points to before I put it in the MX
>> >> >record?
>> >> Hope this helps.
>> >>
>> >> Steve Antonio, CISSP
>> >> Microsoft Exchange Support
>> >>
>> Hope this helps.
>>
>> Steve Antonio, CISSP
>> Microsoft Exchange Support
>>

"Steve Antonio [MSFT]" wrote:

> ..local will not route on the internet, it's not a valid TLD. You
> always want to use the public domain name when setting up MX and A
> Records on external DNS. The Firewall should be able to reroute
> anything coming to the public name to the internal server with the
> internal name.
>
> -Steve
>
> On Wed, 25 Apr 2007 17:52:02 -0700, Hydrology
> <Hydrol***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >Hi Steve, I do have a firewall between the server and the Internet.  This
> >also leads to another question.  I have a public domain name "domain.com",
> >but I guess that I also have an internal domain name called "domain.local" 
> >which is the name of my local domain.  The SBS server and exchange server are
> >on the same machine under "domain.local".  Should I be using the internal
> >domain name in the MX record at my ISP?  It dosent have a .com so I am not
> >sure if it is a FQDN.  My Exchange Server name is "Server-1.domain.local". 
> >Do I need to account for this in the procedures that we have been talking
> >about here?
> >
> >"Steve Antonio [MSFT]" wrote:
> >
> >> DNS changes take a bit to propogate out, so try again in an hour or so
> >> and DNSReports should be good.
> >>
> >> As for the servername, If you have a firewall between your server and
> >> the internet, then you can just redirect incoming requests for
> >> mail.domain.com:25 to server.domain.com:25.
> >>
> >> However, if the Exchnge server's IP address IS the public IP address,
> >> then you'll need to change the MX and A records to reflect the correct
> >> address.
> >>
> >> -Steve
> >>
> >> On Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:40:02 -0700, Hydrology
> >> <Hydrol***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> >Hi Steve, thanks for the response.  I created an "A" record for
> >> >mail.domain.com and then pointed that at my IP.  Then I created an MX record
> >> >for mail.doimain.com, but mail is not my server name or any name in my
> >> >domain.  Should I use the Exchange Server name
> >> >(exchangeservername.domain.com), or just the actual Server
> >> >name(Server-1.domain.com)?
> >> >
> >> >With the mail.domain.com, I ran a mail test from DNSReports.com and I got
> >> >the "Bogus MX record - XX.120.91.162. is supposed to be a hostname, not an
> >> >IP!]".  Maybe I didnt wait long enough for the records to update.  I will try
> >> >again in a few hours and let you know how it went.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >"Steve Antonio [MSFT]" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> You should have an A record which points to your public IP address and
> >> >> a specific server name. Say your public ip was 192.168.0.1. You would
> >> >> create an A record for mail.company.com with that IP. Then you create
> >> >> an MX record that points to mail.company.com.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> On Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:10:04 -0700, Hydrology
> >> >> <Hydrol***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> >I am a total novice trying to maintain a SBS server setup at my 4 person
> >> >> >company, so please tolerate my rudimentary question.  I have the exchange
> >> >> >server set up and running fine, but I am not sure if the MX record, that is
> >> >> >maintained by my ISP is correct.  The MX record is set to my static IP
> >> >> >address, and I think that it may be causing errors.  A test program that I
> >> >> >tried over the internet said that my "MX" record is wrong and it should be
> >> >> >set to my host name not my IP address.  All of the "A" records maintained by
> >> >> >my ISP point to my static IP address also
> >> >> >
> >> >> >The problem is that I am not sure what my hostname is.  I know my domain
> >> >> >name, I know the server name, and I know the exchange server name from the
> >> >> >exchange server settings, but I dont know which if any of those are my host
> >> >> >name.  How do I find out what my host name is.  And, do I need to do anything
> >> >> >with it to let the world know where it points to before I put it in the MX
> >> >> >record?
> >> >> Hope this helps.
> >> >>
> >> >> Steve Antonio, CISSP
> >> >> Microsoft Exchange Support
> >> >>
> >> Hope this helps.
> >>
> >> Steve Antonio, CISSP
> >> Microsoft Exchange Support
> >>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Steve Antonio, CISSP
> Microsoft Exchange Support
>

>Hi Steve, thanks for your help.  I have one last question.  I am trying to
>set up an SPF record on my domain controler. I have gone to several different
>help sites and I think that the record should look like this:
>
>"v=spf1 a mx ip4:192.168.0.2"
>
>I think that this says that the exchange server at our internal IP address
>192.168.0.2 is the only inbound and outbound mail server.  The mx modifier
>points to our external static IP address. Is this going to work?  Should I
>use the internal IP address or should I be using the external static internet
>IP address?
>
>"Steve Antonio [MSFT]" wrote:
>
>> ..local will not route on the internet, it's not a valid TLD. You
>> always want to use the public domain name when setting up MX and A
>> Records on external DNS. The Firewall should be able to reroute
>> anything coming to the public name to the internal server with the
>> internal name.
>>
>> -Steve
>>
>> On Wed, 25 Apr 2007 17:52:02 -0700, Hydrology
>> <Hydrol***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>>
>> >Hi Steve, I do have a firewall between the server and the Internet.  This
>> >also leads to another question.  I have a public domain name "domain.com",
>> >but I guess that I also have an internal domain name called "domain.local" 
>> >which is the name of my local domain.  The SBS server and exchange server are
>> >on the same machine under "domain.local".  Should I be using the internal
>> >domain name in the MX record at my ISP?  It dosent have a .com so I am not
>> >sure if it is a FQDN.  My Exchange Server name is "Server-1.domain.local". 
>> >Do I need to account for this in the procedures that we have been talking
>> >about here?
>> >
>> >"Steve Antonio [MSFT]" wrote:
>> >
>> >> DNS changes take a bit to propogate out, so try again in an hour or so
>> >> and DNSReports should be good.
>> >>
>> >> As for the servername, If you have a firewall between your server and
>> >> the internet, then you can just redirect incoming requests for
>> >> mail.domain.com:25 to server.domain.com:25.
>> >>
>> >> However, if the Exchnge server's IP address IS the public IP address,
>> >> then you'll need to change the MX and A records to reflect the correct
>> >> address.
>> >>
>> >> -Steve
>> >>
>> >> On Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:40:02 -0700, Hydrology
>> >> <Hydrol***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >Hi Steve, thanks for the response.  I created an "A" record for
>> >> >mail.domain.com and then pointed that at my IP.  Then I created an MX record
>> >> >for mail.doimain.com, but mail is not my server name or any name in my
>> >> >domain.  Should I use the Exchange Server name
>> >> >(exchangeservername.domain.com), or just the actual Server
>> >> >name(Server-1.domain.com)?
>> >> >
>> >> >With the mail.domain.com, I ran a mail test from DNSReports.com and I got
>> >> >the "Bogus MX record - XX.120.91.162. is supposed to be a hostname, not an
>> >> >IP!]".  Maybe I didnt wait long enough for the records to update.  I will try
>> >> >again in a few hours and let you know how it went.
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >"Steve Antonio [MSFT]" wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >> You should have an A record which points to your public IP address and
>> >> >> a specific server name. Say your public ip was 192.168.0.1. You would
>> >> >> create an A record for mail.company.com with that IP. Then you create
>> >> >> an MX record that points to mail.company.com.
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> On Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:10:04 -0700, Hydrology
>> >> >> <Hydrol***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>> >> >>
>> >> >> >I am a total novice trying to maintain a SBS server setup at my 4 person
>> >> >> >company, so please tolerate my rudimentary question.  I have the exchange
>> >> >> >server set up and running fine, but I am not sure if the MX record, that is
>> >> >> >maintained by my ISP is correct.  The MX record is set to my static IP
>> >> >> >address, and I think that it may be causing errors.  A test program that I
>> >> >> >tried over the internet said that my "MX" record is wrong and it should be
>> >> >> >set to my host name not my IP address.  All of the "A" records maintained by
>> >> >> >my ISP point to my static IP address also
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >The problem is that I am not sure what my hostname is.  I know my domain
>> >> >> >name, I know the server name, and I know the exchange server name from the
>> >> >> >exchange server settings, but I dont know which if any of those are my host
>> >> >> >name.  How do I find out what my host name is.  And, do I need to do anything
>> >> >> >with it to let the world know where it points to before I put it in the MX
>> >> >> >record?
>> >> >> Hope this helps.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Steve Antonio, CISSP
>> >> >> Microsoft Exchange Support
>> >> >>
>> >> Hope this helps.
>> >>
>> >> Steve Antonio, CISSP
>> >> Microsoft Exchange Support
>> >>
>> Hope this helps.
>>
>> Steve Antonio, CISSP
>> Microsoft Exchange Support
>>

"Steve Antonio [MSFT]" wrote:

> You should use the external address. You don't need the SPF record on
> the internal DNS servers, just the externally facing server (i.e. the
> one managed by the ISP).
>
> Here's an example:
>
> TXT  v=spf1 mx ip4:externalIP mx:mail.domain.com
>
> On Thu, 26 Apr 2007 11:28:04 -0700, Hydrology
> <Hydrol***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >Hi Steve, thanks for your help.  I have one last question.  I am trying to
> >set up an SPF record on my domain controler. I have gone to several different
> >help sites and I think that the record should look like this:
> >
> >"v=spf1 a mx ip4:192.168.0.2"
> >
> >I think that this says that the exchange server at our internal IP address
> >192.168.0.2 is the only inbound and outbound mail server.  The mx modifier
> >points to our external static IP address. Is this going to work?  Should I
> >use the internal IP address or should I be using the external static internet
> >IP address?
> >
> >"Steve Antonio [MSFT]" wrote:
> >
> >> ..local will not route on the internet, it's not a valid TLD. You
> >> always want to use the public domain name when setting up MX and A
> >> Records on external DNS. The Firewall should be able to reroute
> >> anything coming to the public name to the internal server with the
> >> internal name.
> >>
> >> -Steve
> >>
> >> On Wed, 25 Apr 2007 17:52:02 -0700, Hydrology
> >> <Hydrol***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> >Hi Steve, I do have a firewall between the server and the Internet.  This
> >> >also leads to another question.  I have a public domain name "domain.com",
> >> >but I guess that I also have an internal domain name called "domain.local" 
> >> >which is the name of my local domain.  The SBS server and exchange server are
> >> >on the same machine under "domain.local".  Should I be using the internal
> >> >domain name in the MX record at my ISP?  It dosent have a .com so I am not
> >> >sure if it is a FQDN.  My Exchange Server name is "Server-1.domain.local". 
> >> >Do I need to account for this in the procedures that we have been talking
> >> >about here?
> >> >
> >> >"Steve Antonio [MSFT]" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> DNS changes take a bit to propogate out, so try again in an hour or so
> >> >> and DNSReports should be good.
> >> >>
> >> >> As for the servername, If you have a firewall between your server and
> >> >> the internet, then you can just redirect incoming requests for
> >> >> mail.domain.com:25 to server.domain.com:25.
> >> >>
> >> >> However, if the Exchnge server's IP address IS the public IP address,
> >> >> then you'll need to change the MX and A records to reflect the correct
> >> >> address.
> >> >>
> >> >> -Steve
> >> >>
> >> >> On Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:40:02 -0700, Hydrology
> >> >> <Hydrol***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> >Hi Steve, thanks for the response.  I created an "A" record for
> >> >> >mail.domain.com and then pointed that at my IP.  Then I created an MX record
> >> >> >for mail.doimain.com, but mail is not my server name or any name in my
> >> >> >domain.  Should I use the Exchange Server name
> >> >> >(exchangeservername.domain.com), or just the actual Server
> >> >> >name(Server-1.domain.com)?
> >> >> >
> >> >> >With the mail.domain.com, I ran a mail test from DNSReports.com and I got
> >> >> >the "Bogus MX record - XX.120.91.162. is supposed to be a hostname, not an
> >> >> >IP!]".  Maybe I didnt wait long enough for the records to update.  I will try
> >> >> >again in a few hours and let you know how it went.
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> >"Steve Antonio [MSFT]" wrote:
> >> >> >
> >> >> >> You should have an A record which points to your public IP address and
> >> >> >> a specific server name. Say your public ip was 192.168.0.1. You would
> >> >> >> create an A record for mail.company.com with that IP. Then you create
> >> >> >> an MX record that points to mail.company.com.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> On Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:10:04 -0700, Hydrology
> >> >> >> <Hydrol***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >I am a total novice trying to maintain a SBS server setup at my 4 person
> >> >> >> >company, so please tolerate my rudimentary question.  I have the exchange
> >> >> >> >server set up and running fine, but I am not sure if the MX record, that is
> >> >> >> >maintained by my ISP is correct.  The MX record is set to my static IP
> >> >> >> >address, and I think that it may be causing errors.  A test program that I
> >> >> >> >tried over the internet said that my "MX" record is wrong and it should be
> >> >> >> >set to my host name not my IP address.  All of the "A" records maintained by
> >> >> >> >my ISP point to my static IP address also
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >The problem is that I am not sure what my hostname is.  I know my domain
> >> >> >> >name, I know the server name, and I know the exchange server name from the
> >> >> >> >exchange server settings, but I dont know which if any of those are my host
> >> >> >> >name.  How do I find out what my host name is.  And, do I need to do anything
> >> >> >> >with it to let the world know where it points to before I put it in the MX
> >> >> >> >record?
> >> >> >> Hope this helps.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Steve Antonio, CISSP
> >> >> >> Microsoft Exchange Support
> >> >> >>
> >> >> Hope this helps.
> >> >>
> >> >> Steve Antonio, CISSP
> >> >> Microsoft Exchange Support
> >> >>
> >> Hope this helps.
> >>
> >> Steve Antonio, CISSP
> >> Microsoft Exchange Support
> >>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Steve Antonio, CISSP
> Microsoft Exchange Support
>