need a pro to resolve DNS issues with mail server

I'm having a lot of problems. it turns out that the end server who is trying to recieve my mail is rejecting it because it can not be verified.

I've put together a bunch of images of my DNS entries, my server logs of two accounts on the same server. NOTE: one domain is working on the server while the primary one is not.

i got a feeling my problem has something to do with my domain to a webserver on one side of the country and the mail server at another ip on the other side of the country.

please go to www.eappearance.com for the logs. they're posted right up there.

thanks you in advance, i'll need a pro on this one...

Hello mate

The report is saying that you have installed an Invalid MX record with an IP address which is what your problem is and why the mail is not authenticating properly but looking at your DNS records everything seems to be in order.....

could it be that when that exim domain that i'm trying to send my mail to tries to verify www.concept4.ca, it points to my web server which has no mail servers on it?

someone in another forum was saying something about inserting a CNAME record to point from concept4 to eappearance where my mail is hosted and to change my MX record to point to the eapperanace domain name - not ip.

has anyone set up a mail server and a web server on different IP's but shared the same domain name? essentially that is my issue here. i'm not having any problems with eappearance.com since both web and mail server is on the same domain.

(i applogise for the fuss here, but concept4.ca is not being hosted on the same host as the mail server because it's pipe is too small)

i know someones got the answer..

Aahhhhh i can sleep now!!!

This is something for all you DNS pro's to learn cause it caused me a real headache and there was only one guy who was able to help me...

http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showt...091#post2002091

He may be a web hosting guru, but he's no dns guru. Using CNAME's will break your mail for SOME people. It is a violation of the DNS standards to assign CNAME's to the target of a MX record.

http://www.dollardns.net/cgi-bin/dn...&lr=4&submit=DS

You've got an EVIL cname for "mail.concept4.ca". However, since you're not even using it, all is fine. Another strange thing is it appears you are using "eappearance.com" instead of "mail.eappearance.com" as the target of your MX record.

http://www.dollardns.net/cgi-bin/dn...&lr=4&submit=DS

The other domain is using "mail.eappearance.com" as the mail server. It does not have any CNAME's associated with it.

So all appears good. There's a few mistakes, but the mistakes don't break you.

ok this is how I *think* I should draw out my records with everydns.net

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
first - for the web servers

concept4.ca A 24.222.146.254
www.concept4.ca A 24.222.146.254

now the tricky part - the mail server on another host which hosts eappearance web, and mail.

concept4.ca MX 10 mail.concept4.ca
mail.concept4.ca A 69.196.144.174

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

However! this is how I had my records before if you look at my DNS images at www.eappearance.com!

Can you have a second look in my logs under concept4 at eappearance.com where i've posted all my info?

essentially the important part to pick out is the error which says that

550_verification failed for preardon@concept4.ca
550_It appears as though the DNS operator for concept4.ca
550_has installed an invalid MX record with an IP address
550_instead of a domain name on the right hand side.
550_550 Sender verify failed
QUIT

Thanks again.. hope we can put this one to rest.

i followed this. It also mentions that CNAME's are bad bad..

So i'm still broken. can someone have another look in this forum to continue troubleshooting this with me?
http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showt...384#post2003384

also for other newbies i've found this.
http://www.rscott.org/dns/mx.html

There is nothing wrong with your mail dns configuration. Don't take just my word for it. This report agrees:

http://www.dnsreport.com/tools/dnsr...ain=concept4.ca

Almost. It complained about domain literals and there being only 1 MX record, but those are unimportant. There's also a big fat red error concerning your SOA's which seem to be a problem with EveryDNS. If you want to switch hosting, that may be recommended.

So I'd like to test out your error for myself. I know the SMTP protocol pretty darn well and can debug things pretty easily. If it's an email address that doesn't work, tell me what it is. If it's only 1 mail server that doesn't work for the given email address, then tell me the mail server's domain as well.

No, I don't use MSN. For real time chat I use IRC

thanks for pointing out the discrepancies in my first solution. i was sure that there was something up when he mentioned CNAME's. anyway i also mined for some more info on all of this and if you look up at one of my links there's a section in that DNS that specifically states that CNAMES are not to be pointed to mx records.

anyway now that the DNS has propogated, all seems to be working fine.

please see http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showt...15&pagenumber=2 for my final records. this did end up solving my problem with having web hosted on one server and the mail hosted on another.

Silent, can you recommend any other free DNS services - or would you recommend setting up your own?

what's your take on this?

"Silent, can you recommend any other free DNS services - or would you recommend setting up your own?"

EveryDNS is actually high on my list which can be found in the link below. I've never noticed before that they have this wierd SOA serial thing going on where it's changing every few moments. Very odd. Shouldn't cause any problems, but it's definately unusual. As for setting up your own DNS server, there's no point really, unless you just wanna have fun, or you've got a unique setup in mind. I've mentioned this in another topic.

http://www.dollardns.net/compare.html

i'm glad i came across ya. you've been a wealth of info. i'll be sure to pass on what i've learned from ya.