Confirming your DNS Settings

This chapter provides some quick tests to ensure that you have a working IMail Server configuration. See How a Mail Server Uses DNS for detailed DNS information. To check the DNS record for your IMail Server, you can use either of the following tools:

• WS_Ping ProPack. If you have installed an evaluation copy of WS_Ping ProPack, you can use the Lookup tool that is a part of this suite of diagnostic tools.
• Nslookup. You can use the "nslookup" command in Windows 2000, Windows 2003, Windows XP.

To check your DNS settings using WS_Ping ProPack:

1. From the Start menu, click Programs > WS_Ping ProPack > WS_Ping ProPack, then click the LookUp tab.
2. View the MX record to verify that the domain name is pointing to the correct host name. Enter the following:
   1. Name or IP address. Enter the domain name (for example, domain.com).
   2. DNS Server. Enter the host name or IP address of the domain name server you want to use.
   3. Query Type. Select MX from the list.
   4. Click Start. You receive information such as:

   >domain.com,
10,mail.domain.com

3. View the A record and verify that host name is pointing to the correct IP address. Enter the following:
   1. Name or IP address: Enter the Official Host Name of the IMail Server host (for example, mail.domain.com).
   2. DNS Server: Enter the host name or IP address of the domain name server you want to use or select stack from the drop-down list to use your operating system's network stack.
   3. Query Type: Select A from the list.
   4. Click Start. You receive information such as:

   >mail.domain.com
156.21.50.10

4. View the PTR Record and verify that the IP Address points to the official host name. Enter the following:
   1. Name or IP address: Enter the IP address of the IMail Server host (for example, 156.21.50.10).
   2. DNS Server: Enter the host name or IP address of the domain name server you want to use or select stack from the drop-down list to use your operating system's network stack.
   3. Query Type: Select PTR from the list.
   4. Click Start. You receive information such as:
      >10.50.21.156.in-addr.arpa.
host = mail.domain.com.
5. Record any errors. If you host your own DNS server, correct the entries. If your DNS service is hosted by an ISP, contact them and request the changes.

To check your DNS settings using the "nslookup" tool:

1. Run the Windows "nslookup" command to view the MX record. View the MX record to verify that the domain name is pointing to the correct host name. For example, enter:

   nslookup
>ls -t MX domain.com

   The command returns information such as:

   >domain MX 10 mail.domain.com

2. Under the Windows "nslookup" command, view the A record and verify that host name is pointing to the correct IP address.

   nslookup
>ls -t A mail.domain.com

   The command returns information such as:

   >mail.domain.com A 156.21.50.10

3. Under the Windows "nslookup" command, view the PTR Record and verify that the IP Address points to the official host name.

   nslookup
>ls -t PTR 156.21.50.10

   The command should return information such as:

   >mail.domain.com PTR 156.21.50.10

4. Record any errors. If you host your own DNS server, correct the entries. If your DNS service is hosted by an ISP, contact the ISP to request the changes.