Do I really need an MX record? (for e-mail to work)

[Kurt Boyack]

On 24 Dec 2005 04:16:00 GMT, 理昌 <leicheong.bbs at bbs.sayya.org> wrote:
> ※ 引述《kboyack at gmail.com (Kurt Boyack)》之銘言：
> > You made two changes. One was forgetting to add an MX record, and the
> > other was changing the IP address of your mailhost. You are assuming
> > that getting rid of the MX record is the reason you are getting less
> > spam, but you also think that most spam comes from zombies and that
> > zombies do not use MX records.
> >
> > Weather you have an MX record or not, the spammers will eventually
> > figure out which IP can be used for getting email to your domain, and
> > the spam will start flowing again. Several people on this list have
> > recommended having MX records, and I think that is the best practice.
> >
> > Without MX records, there could be people that cannot send email to
> > you. If that is acceptable by the people you work for, then you have
> > no reason for having MX records.
>
> I'd like to comment a little on this as well.
>
> Having MX record is like having standard mailboxes at the entrance
> of your building. If you don't have that, the postman will have no
> problem taking the letter to your apartment and drop the letter through
> the letterhole on the door.
>
> Likewise, the annoying advertisement leaflet sender here in Hong Kong
> will have not problem drop the leaflets in the letterhole either.
>
> You really can't stop unwanted people finding where to deliver things
> to you unless you know who they are(note: finding only :) ), if you
> know that you many receive email from somewhere you don't know. (That's
> the case for most sales department)
>
> Does the above make sense to you?
No. Spammers will find and use SMTP servers even if they do not have
MX records. MX records are not required to send mail to a domain, and
you will get junk mail even if you do not have them.

If you do not have MX records, there could be people that cannot send
email to you.