On 6 Jul 2006, at 15:44, chrisisbd@leary.csoft.net wrote:
There are multiple MX records currently on the system where my domains are hosted, if I set the one with the lowest number (='best') to my Linux box with postfix I will get the mail sent there by default. If I set the lower priority ones to the existing mail host will that then receive the mail if my home system dies? How long does a sender wait before using the 'next best' MX record?
I wouldn't bother with multiple MX records these days. Firstly, the sending MTA will re-try every so often before giving up - usually about after a week.
Secondly, if you have multiple MX records, I can guarantee to you that spammers will use the lowest priority MX to send their crap because usually that's the least protected of mail servers (i.e. the server just stores and delivers/passes-on mail rather than processing it through RBLs, etc.)
If you do have multiple MX records, make sure they're configured to re-deliver mail that's sent to it and as for when it re-delivers and how, is entirely up to how that mail server is configured.
Regards,
Martyn