MX records definition

[Igmar Palsenberg]

On Fri, 15 Dec 2000, Paul Bijnens wrote:

> 
> 
> We have a problem with sending mail to one specific site
> ("cannot check MX records for recipient host").
> Because they do receive mail from other people now and then
> they believe it has something to do with us.
> However, I believe it is something in their DNS setup with
> their MX record.  But I'm no expert.
> 
> What I find strange is that when I dig for the mx record,
> there is no "additional section" with A records for the hosts.
> 
>   $ dig writetc.com mx
> 
>   ; <<>> DiG 8.2 <<>> writetc.com mx 
>   ;; res options: init recurs defnam dnsrch
>   ;; got answer:
>   ;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 4
>   ;; flags: qr rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 1, AUTHORITY: 1, ADDITIONAL: 0
>   ;; QUERY SECTION:
>   ;;	writetc.com, type = MX, class = IN
> 
>   ;; ANSWER SECTION:
>   writetc.com.		23h59m27s IN MX  0 mail.writetc.com.
                                                ^^^^
 
					Sounds pretty bogus to me.

Looks like the 0 in the MX record priority is giving problems.
                                             

>   ;; ANSWER SECTION:
>   mail.writetc.com.	23h47m55s IN CNAME  mailhub.ficsgrp.com.
>   mailhub.ficsgrp.com.	23h47m55s IN CNAME  watson.ficsgrp.com.
>   watson.ficsgrp.com.	23h47m55s IN CNAME  watson.eu.s1.com.
>   watson.eu.s1.com.	9h14m43s IN A	194.74.111.3

Yuk.. MX records need to be A records, not CNAMES.
And even if it where legal, using these kind of constructions is UGLY.

> If you could help them point out where the problem is, they, but me
> too, would be happy.
> Or if everything is perfect, then the problem is here at my site, and
> I'm back to investigating whatever is wrong.  


	Igmar