Add an 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

You can use the following procedure to add a mail exchanger (MX) resource record to a zone. You can perform this procedure by using the DNS snap-in or by using the Dnscmd command-line tool.

Administrative credentials

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 the Run as command to perform this procedure.

Adding an MX resource record to a zone

  • Using the Windows interface

  • Using the command line

To add an MX resource record to a zone using the Windows interface

  1. Open the DNS snap-in.

  2. In the console tree, right-click the applicable forward lookup zone, and then click NewMail Exchanger (MX).

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

  4. In Mail server, type the Domain Name System (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 value in Mail server priority as needed for this zone.

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

Note

To open the DNS snap-in, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click DNS.

To add an MX resource record to a zone using the command line

  • At a command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

    dnscmd ServerName**/RecordAdd** ZoneNameNodeName [/Aging] [Ttl] MX PreferenceMXServerName

    Value Description

    ServerName

    Required. Specifies the DNS host name of the DNS server. You can also type the Internet Protocol (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.

    Ttl

    Specifies the Time to Live (TTL) setting for the resource record.

    MX

    Required. Specifies the MX resource record type for the record that 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 FQDN for a mail exchanger. The value entered here must resolve to a corresponding host A resource record in this zone.