How do I create an MX record?

What is an MX record?

MX records define the name of the Mail eXchange (MX) and to establish order of delivery. These records set the location of the server (or host) that all electronic mail is to be processed by. MX records must only be pointed to a hostname, and not to an IP - the IP address is always resolved by the A record of the host.

Priority

In many cases, in order to provide an uninterrupted email service, many zone records contain more than one MX record. Each contains its own entry, and each is given a priority. The lower the number, the higher the priority. If one of these MX fails for any reason, the next listed prioritised MX record will process the email.

MX records used for our email hosting services:

In this example email for yourdomainname.com.au is delivered first by mx3.partnerconsole.net, because this has a higher priority.

Changing MX records

Cloud Hosting customers

To point your domain name to your own email exchange server, (which must have a static IP address):

1. Login to your Account level console 
2. Manage the domain you want to make changes to
3. Click Zone Manager in the left column (Note: If this option is not displayed, please contact our Technical Support. The Zone Manager page details the domain zone records and allows for changes to A, CNAME, MX, NS, TXT or SRV records)
4. Create an A record hostname defining the MX IP address (e.g. mail)
5. Select MX in the drop down menu and click 'Create New Record' button
6. In the following page, type:

7. Click [Add Record]
8. Create additional MX records as required

Note: Standard DNS propagation time of up to 2 hours may apply.

cPanel Hosting customers

There are two steps to achieving this.

Firstly, point your domain name to your own email exchange server, (which must have a static IP address):

1. Login to your Account level console
2. Manage the domain you want to make changes to
3. Click cPanel Login
4. Click Advanced DNS Zone Editor
5. Click Edit under the Action column corresponding to the mail.yourdomainname.com.au record and change the record as follows:

6. Click [Edit Record] to save the configuration Secondly, assign the above server as the default mail server:
7. Click Home on the top left corner
8. Click MX Entry
9. Under the MX Records section click on Edit under the Action column

10. Click [Edit] to save this configuration

Note: Standard DNS propagation time of up to 2 hours may apply.