DNS Settings

Which IP address to use

[aaronjf]

I am running a dedicated server. The majority of the sites on the server are using a pooled IP address. However, one of the sites is on a dedicated IP address.

The site with the dedicated IP address is having a lot of mail problems. Mostly connection errors. Now mail is able to be recieved and sent. However, half of the time a connection error occurs when checking mail. I have looked at everything else. None of the other sites are having this much trouble. The only thing left I can think of is that it is DNS settings.

My question is this. The domain name is registered with Network Solutions. In the DNS settings, should the mail.domainname.com's corrisponding IP address be the dedicated IP address of the site? Or should the mail.domainname.com's IP address be the IP address of the Server/Pooled Address?

Sorry if this question does not belong here. I had no idea where to post it and this seemed like the best place since we don't have a DNS forum.

[Corey Bryant]

If you still need help with this, the MX record needs to point to the IP address of your mail server in your DNS settings.

let's say you shared IP address is 1.2.3.4 and the dedicated IP address is 1.2.3.5. You mail server is maybe 1.2.3.6. All your MX records need to point to 1.2.3.6. Did you look at the other DNS records to see if they match the dedicated one?

-Corey

[aaronjf]

No, I used the dedicated IP address for all settings for the site that is on the dedicated IP. I am guessing that the mail is on the shared IP address of the server itself. Does this sound right?

The strange thing is, should I not be recieve mail at all if mail is on the server's IP address? I am recieving mail. I just can't hold a connection.

[Corey Bryant]

It does sound a little odd, but I would check to see what IP address you are using for your MX records. And then try to use that IP address for the site that is on the dedicated IP address. Usually when you set up an email program, you specify what IP address it listens to as well as the port. Check both of these as well

-Corey

[aaronjf]

I will give it a wirl. Thanks Corey.

[Corey Bryant]

Hopefully it will help. If not - let me know. I had one client that had the same problem - she had four accounts with us & one email account gave her a lot of problems. She upgraded to Outlook 2003 & has not had any issues since.

-Corey

[jimbeetle]

The site with the dedicated IP address is having a lot of mail problems. Mostly connection errors. Now mail is able to be recieved and sent. However, half of the time a connection error occurs when checking mail.

It might not be DNS-related at all. I've had a handful of people who have been able, after they patched XP with SP2, to send and receive e-mail via Outlook on some accounts and not others, with intermittent problems here and there. Very frustrating.

Try removing -- not upgrading -- any firewall and reinstalling the latest version. This has cured each of my problems (so far).

[eggy ricardo]

I have had similar problems. I have 10 email accounts from one ip (reseller account - accounts spread over various domains) and was having problems with at least one email address chucking up a few errors each day. Like Corey, I also recently upgraded to Outlook 2003 (from 2000) and I havent had an issue with them since.

Hope this helps
Cheers
Richard

P.S. This happened before and after upgrading to SP2 although now with Outlook 03 on SP2 it is fine.