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What are MX records and what do they look like?


These are special resource records for mail routing. An MX record specifies a
domain name and an associated computer, the "mail exchange", which is able to
deliver e-mail to an e-mail address with this domain name.

A Sample MX record that you can register with 1&1 looks like this:
Domain Name MX1: mail.domain.com Priority: 10 IP Address 192.168.1.1
Domain Name MX2: backup.domain.com Priority: 20 IP Address 192.168.1.2
Domain Name MX1: mail.otherdomain.com Priority: 30 IP Address 10.11.12.10

Explanation of the terminology:

Priority
To differentiate them, each MX record has a priority (lower the number, higher the
priority). The MX record with the highest priority is the actual target computer
where mail boxes are located. The other MX records designate the backup computers
in case the actual target computer is not accessible. They store the e-mails
temporarily, and periodically attempt to redirect e-mails to the actual target
computer.

IP Address
An IP address is used for a subdomains like mail.domain.com.

SD1B902


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