4

I have the following configuration in my DNS Zone. I want to switch the @ record to a different IP address, but I want to keep the MX records the same. Please note the IP address has been changed to 76.13.141.185 to protect privacy.

image

So, what I'm wondering is, can I change then @ record and then can I just change the MX entries Host from @ to 76.13.141.185 ?

image

I'm wondering because when I use http://www.mxtoolbox.com/ and do a MX lookup for a different domain that is I believe on the same server, it gives me 4 different IP addresses, none of which match the current @ record's IP address.

image

So should I change my MX section to look like this?

image

Community
  • 1
cwd
  • 2,693
  • 9
  • 32
  • 47

2 Answers2

4

MX entries specify which server(s) to contact for delivering emails to a certain domain. The "@" refers to the base domain, and not to an ip address.

The MX records have nothing to do with the A records for the same domain, they are completely separate. So if you change the A record for "@", it normally won't affect any MX records.

But if you change the "@" to 1.2.3.4 in an MX record, that means the server it points to (e.g. mx1) will be used for delivering emails sent to something@1.2.3.4 and not to something@your.domain. I think there is no point in doing that, and it probably wouldn't work at all.

aditsu
  • 386
  • 4
  • 10
  • I think you're right. I need to just put the @ sign into the host column. I wil try it tomorrow. thanks. – cwd Aug 24 '11 at 05:13
1

The @ symbol refers to just the domain... Basically when no prefix is used, the @ symbol can be used. So just put @ in the column on Godaddy.

mark
  • 166
  • 5
  • You're quite incorrect. `@` is a shortcut for the **current** $ORIGIN. This does not mean it is always equal to the zone name: the $ORIGIN is equal to the zone name *only* when you haven't set it manually. – adaptr Mar 09 '12 at 11:19
  • @adaptr - can you elaborate on $ORIGIN or post a link to more information on it? – cwd Mar 29 '12 at 13:39
  • Either the [**Zytrax book**](http://www.zytrax.com/books/dns/ch8/origin.html) or the [**RFC**](http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1035), section 5.1 Format will have more information. – adaptr Mar 29 '12 at 14:44