Maintaining MX (Email) Settings While Transferring Domains to New Registrar

Do MX and CName Settings Survive / Stay Alive During Domain Transfers

[weeks]

I have not run into this situation before.

Moving all domains to one register (Google Domains).

The client has several different domains connected to their MS Outlook email addresses on domains at their others registers (Network Solutions and GoDaddy).

With the transfer hokey-pokey are the MX records (and CNAME records) going to come over to Google Domains for Network Solutions and GoDaddy so email service remains uninterrupted? 

Or, can we find all of the info we need in the Network Solutions and GoDaddy accould and just copy it from there and not have to go into the Microsoft 365 admin center, which is being handled by another business outside of the website, so it's more billable hours.

Thanks for any insights you can provide.

[Webwork]

Off the cuff ideas.

First off, request an "accelerated" or "expedited" transfer. No 5 day delay. Darn near real time (get someone on the phone, if you can). If your outbound registrar isn't a ______ (some bad word) this may save some grief and avoid uncertainty.

Next up: What about running a test? Register 2 test domains, set up the same services, etc. Might save money and aggravation in the long haul. Might help anticipate and work out the bugs . . or simply make the real move run more smoothly.

I suspect, but don't know with certainty, that MX records do NOT "move with the domain". This is based on what I know about the domain name system. I "suspect" that the TLD management system is designed with simplicity in mind, that is, designed to handle the "necessary and certain". Domain names ALL have some basic operational requirements . . and not all domains are associated with or provisioned with the various "other records" . . so transfers . . meh . . totally talking out of my _ _ _. I strongly suspect they don't move with the domain . . but I'd like to know for certain. (Run a test, in ANY case, since it's likely better to know based on your own, direct, experience EXACTLY how ALL the pieces you have in place handle the process.)

I'm somewhat confident that, if you don't change your Web host / Web servers / IP addresses, things should continue to operate. A domain transfer should only affect the systems record relating to the identity of the registrar.

Alrighty . . I wish I was more helpful.

[weeks]

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I had felt something of an idiot that I can't figure this out myself or find a solid answer, but you make some good points about my concerns.

Yes, we're going to run a "test" starting with one of the smaller division's domains before we do the corporate name.

The internet is getting old, like me. As part of this entire process we found a website up and running the firm had forgotten it had. But Google still saw it. Sheee....

[weeks]

Another part of my question:
Am I right we should be able to find all of the settings needed for the new register within the dashboard of the old registers without having to fuss with the email (MS Outlook) admin?

[Webwork]

A cautious "I think so".

You likely need to check all the relevant (available?) domain related settings available in the current registrar's GUI/dashboard. There aren't that many but . . there may be slight differences / variations in the verbiage used in the system navigation links in the current and future registrar's. Also, sometimes you need to "drill down" as some links, to certain functions, won't be in the primary navigation but exist only at the page level . . and they can be quite important . . like . . cough . . settings related to "Glue Records" . . cough . . arrghh

[weeks]

arrghh indeed
I will report back on what happened, but I think we're going to wait after the holidays when all hands are on deck.
We will, one way or another, get an answer to this.
I did find this link from MS which was helpful in determining what we needed to have in regards to Outlook email:
[docs.microsoft.com...]
So, we can go looking for what's what. Maybe.
Problem here is we're working on work that is not ours. Who knows how they might have configured it.
Thanks again.

[weeks]

And here is what happened.

We carefully copied all of the records at the old registrar (Network Solutions), got in touch with the firm that handled the MS Outlook email to let them know what we were doing. (They had no insights, BTW.)

Then, on a Friday afternoon, we started the transfer process. Carefully checking the boxes at the new registrar (Google Domains), we indicated that we wanted to bring over (or export) all of the current settings.

Several days later, after the exchange of auth codes and such, everything moved over from Network Solutions to Google Domains completely. Zero downtime with websites or emails. There was no need to fuss with the MS Outlook settings--note the domain names didn't change, only where the domains were registered.

We did this again with GoDaddy and it worked fine both times. It's been in place for over 10 days now.

Happily, it was much ado about nothing. All of the client's domains are now on one dashboard.

Note: Google Domains, GoDaddy & Network Solutions are major players in this business. If you're moving from or to Shady Tree Domains, your experience might be different. And I'd STILL copy all of the records in place at the domain registrar you are leaving, no matter who I was working with.

[phranque]

thanks for following up on this thread, weeks!

[Webwork]

Thanks for laying out the process and :) for your success, weeks!