Use an MX Record to Direct Mail to Your Domain

An MX (mail exchanger) record tells messaging servers on the Internet where to deliver e-mail to recipients in a particular domain. An MX record contains directions to a particular server and the preference of that server among various servers. If e-mail can't be delivered to the first preference server, it is delivered to the second, or the third, or so on. A lower preference value indicates a preferred server. If the preference values of multiple MX records for a domain are equal, the messaging servers are accessed in random order.

To direct all incoming e-mail for the domain to the cloud-based service, and to prove domain ownership, you must create a specific MX record at your domain's DNS hosting service.

The MX record must contain the following information:

• Target Server   <MX token>.mail.outlook.com
  
• Preference/Priority   10 or High
  

The Live@edu Service Management Portal provides the information you need to create each type of DNS record. The values for several types of records include a unique 30-character token for each domain. When you create the DNS records, to avoid typos, copy and paste the information from the Service Management Portal to the data entry form for your DNS hosting service.

Typically, DNS records that you create for new domains are detected quickly. Updates to DNS records for existing domains may take longer to be detected. However, it should take no longer than 72 hours before a change is detected.

Important   You must remove any preexisting MX records that are unrelated to the cloud-based service, even if the preexisting MX records are less preferred than the MX record that you create for the service.

• Create DNS Records at 1&1
  
• Create DNS Records at CentralNic
  
• Create DNS Records at eNom Central
  
• Create DNS Records at GoDaddy.com
  
• Create DNS Records at Network Solutions
  
• Create DNS Records at Register.com
  
• Create DNS Records at Yahoo!
  
• Prove Domain Ownership with BIND-Based DNS
  
• Prove Domain Ownership with Windows-Based DNS
  

Not finding your domain registrar? See Create DNS Records.

Want more information and instructions about how to find your domain registrar or DNS hosting service? See Domain Name Registration and DNS Hosting Services.