Add a mail exchanger (MX) resource record to a zone

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

To add a mail exchanger (MX) resource record to a zone

  • Using the Windows interface

  • Using a command line

Using the Windows interface

  1. Open DNS.

  2. In the console tree, right-click the applicable forward lookup zone and click New Mail Exchanger.

  3. In the Host or domain text box, type the domain name for which this record is to be used to deliver mail.

  4. In the Mail server text box, type the DNS host computer name of the mail exchanger or mail server host that delivers mail for the specified domain name.

    As an option, you can click Browse to view the DNS namespace for mail exchanger hosts in this domain that have host (A) records already defined.

  5. Adjust the Mail server priority as needed for this zone.

  6. Click OK to add the new record to the zone.

Notes

  • To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure.

  • To open DNS, click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click DNS.

Using a command line

  1. Open Command Prompt.

  2. Type: dnscmd ServerName /RecordAdd ZoneNameNodeName [/Aging] [Ttl] MX PreferenceMXServerName

Value Description

dnscmd

Specifies the name of the command-line program.

ServerName

Required. Specifies the DNS host name of the DNS server. You can also type the IP address of the DNS server. To specify the DNS server on the local computer, you can also type a period (.).

/RecordAdd

Adds a new resource record.

ZoneName

Required. Specifies the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of the zone in which you will add the new MX resource record.

NodeName

Required. Specifies the FQDN of the node in the DNS namespace. You can also type the node name relative to the ZoneName or @, which specifies the zone's root node.

/Aging

Specifies that this resource record is able to be aged and scavenged. If this command is used, this resource record is able to be aged and scavenged. If this command is not used, the resource record remains in the DNS database unless it is manually updated or removed.

/OpenAcl

Specifies that new records are open to modification by any user. Without this parameter, only administrators may modify the new record.

Ttl

Specifies the Time-To-Live setting for the resource record.

MX

Required. Specifies the MX resource record type for the record you are adding.

Preference

Required. Specifies a numeric value (between 0 and 65535) that indicates the mail exchange server's priority with respect to the other mail exchange servers. Lower numbers are given greater preference.

MXServerName

Required. Specifies the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) for a mail exchanger. The value entered here must resolve to a corresponding host (A) resource record in this zone.

Notes

  • To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure.

  • To open a command prompt, click Start, point to All programs, point to Accessories, and then click Command prompt.

  • This procedure requires the Dnscmd Windows support tool. For information about installing Windows support tools, see Related Topics.

  • To view the complete syntax for this command, at a command prompt, type:

    dnscmd /RecordAdd /help

Formatting legend

Format Meaning

Italic

Information that the user must supply

Bold

Elements that the user must type exactly as shown

Ellipsis (...)

Parameter that can be repeated several times in a command line

Between brackets ([])

Optional items

Between braces ({}); choices separated by pipe (|). Example: {even|odd}

Set of choices from which the user must choose only one

Courier font

Code or program output

Information about functional differences

  • Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.

See Also

Concepts

Managing resource records
Resource records reference
Install Windows Support Tools