# MX record

#### WHAT IS THE MX RECORD?

Using the MX record, you can enter a domain name by which server handles the mail. The MX record is the abbreviation for Mail eXcahnge.

<p class="callout info">The server address specified in the MX record can never be an IP address, it must always be a domain name. (for example, `staffmx.dotroll.com`) You must assign a priority to the MX record, which in the case of multiple records means the order in which the sending server attempts to send the message.</p>

<p class="callout danger">Incorrect setting of the MX record may result in no mail being sent to that domain name.</p>

For a domain name, you can set multiple MX records to increase the probability that the mail will be delivered to ensure redundancy.

#### QUERYING MX RECORD

For example, you can use the nslookup command in Windows to access record MX, while under Linux the host command.

Example of a Windows-based nslookup query:

```
nslookup -q=MX dotroll.com
Server:  google-public-dns-a.google.com
Address:  8.8.8.8

Non-authoritative answer:
dotroll.com     MX preference = 10, mail exchanger = staffmx.dotroll.com
```

Example of Linux based host query:

```
host -t MX dotroll.com
dotroll.com mail is handled by 10 staffmx.dotroll.com.
```

#### MX RECORD FORMAT

Priorityif multiple MX records are specified for the domain then the email will be sent to the priority with a lower priority (server)

<table id="bkmrk-fields-name-descript"><tbody><tr><td>**Fields name**</td><td>**Description**</td></tr><tr><td>Name</td><td>this field contains the domain or subdomain name.</td></tr><tr><td>TTL</td><td>this field contains record lifetime in seconds. This is the time until the entry is stored in the resolver.</td></tr><tr><td>Priority</td><td>if multiple TXT records are specified for the domain then the email will be sent to the priority with a lower priority (server)</td></tr><tr><td>Mail server exchange target</td><td>contains the mail server address (`staffmx.dotroll.com`).</td></tr></tbody></table>

#### ADDING MX RECORD

1. Sign in with [https://admin.dotroll.com](https://admin.dotroll.com/?swcfpc=1) with your username and password
2. In the top menu bar, click the **Domains** / **My Domains** menu.
3. Select the domain name for which you want to make the change and then click on it.
4. In the **Manage** box on the left, select **Manage DNS**.
5. At the bottom of the page, click **Add**. 
    - In the first field, you can enter a subdomain name, or leave blank
    - the TTL value can be selected in the second field, but typically the default is 1 hour
    - select **MX** from the next drop-down list.
    - enter the priority IP address in the last field.
    - enter the remote mail server address in the last field.
6. Then click **Save Changes**.