Configuring Backup MX - Incoming Gateway on Backup or Production?

Question asked by Neal Culiner - 2/11/2015 at 9:25 AM

Answered

Hello,

I'm reviewing my setup, I use SM 13.x Enterprise. I have a production mail server and another server has SM setup as a backup. I reviewed portal.smartertools.com/kb/a2668/configure-smartermail-as-a-backup-mx-server.aspx but I'm confused by the term "incoming gateway".

Do I configure the incoming gateway in the production mail server or on the backup mail server? The term confuses me as it seems the "incoming" should be entered on the production side as mail flows from backup to production.

Thank you

P.S. SmarterTools - not being able to put links in posts because my account doesn't allow it is counter productive. Please review.

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Linda Pagillo Replied

2/12/2015 at 6:57 AM

Hi Neil. The incoming gateway must be set up on the backup server. For example, if you want the backup server to be the backup for the production server, add the IP of the production server to the Incoming Gateway section of the backup server. Also be sure to complete the rest of the set up such as adding secondary MX record to your mail domain's DNS zones which point to the backup server. I hope this helps.

Linda Pagillo Mail's Best Friend Email: linda.pagillo@mailsbestfriend.com Web: www.mailsbestfriend.com Authorized SmarterTools Reseller Authorized Message Sniffer Reseller

Neal Culiner Replied

2/12/2015 at 8:22 AM

Thank you, it's all setup that way, just odd with the naming trying to ensure the data is going in the right direction.

Neal Culiner Replied

2/12/2015 at 8:23 AM

Marked As Answer

Not sure how to mark this as answered, all good now thanks to Linda P.

Linda Pagillo Replied

2/12/2015 at 8:44 AM

I understand :) Please let me know if you have any additional questions about the set up. I have a few backup servers set up this way.

Linda Pagillo Mail's Best Friend Email: linda.pagillo@mailsbestfriend.com Web: www.mailsbestfriend.com Authorized SmarterTools Reseller Authorized Message Sniffer Reseller

Neal Culiner Replied

2/12/2015 at 8:48 AM

It would really help if SmarterTools put images (screenshots) in their docs instead of very brief text. Visuals are so much better.

Linda Pagillo Replied

2/12/2015 at 9:38 AM

You may be able to request that from them. They may also have some videos online. I believe I have found a few Youtube videos from them showing how to do specific tasks.

Linda Pagillo Mail's Best Friend Email: linda.pagillo@mailsbestfriend.com Web: www.mailsbestfriend.com Authorized SmarterTools Reseller Authorized Message Sniffer Reseller

Neal Culiner Replied

2/12/2015 at 1:14 PM

When I tested my e-mail address on dnsstuff.com the backup mail server reported: [Could not connect: Got an unknown RCPT TO response: 550 No such user here ]

Linda Pagillo Replied

2/12/2015 at 2:42 PM

Can you tell me exact steps you took to set everything up? I'm positive that I can help you, but I would need to know exactly how you have everything configured. Thanks.

Linda Pagillo Mail's Best Friend Email: linda.pagillo@mailsbestfriend.com Web: www.mailsbestfriend.com Authorized SmarterTools Reseller Authorized Message Sniffer Reseller

Neal Culiner Replied

2/12/2015 at 3:14 PM

Thank you. I go to www.dnsstuff.com/tools and in the Mail Tools tab the top right item is an e-mail test. I put in my e-mail and test it. I think what it's doing is performing a telnet test or something. The backup e-mail server as you don't know doesn't have any actual domains or users so when the e-mail test is happening against all MX records it returning that the user is not found. I reviewed the backup e-mail setup and in the incoming gateway tab there is no user validation.

Linda Pagillo Replied

2/12/2015 at 3:36 PM

Ok, I think I know what the problem is. You need to have one placeholder domain set up on the backup server. Here is the instructions right from the Smartermail v13 manual: Configuring a Backup MX Server Add a placeholder domain (called "example.com") to open up the port to listen on. Configure SmartHosting by adding the IP addresses to which delivery should be allowed. In general settings, change the delivery retry times to 10, 10, 10, and 1440 In DNS, add secondary MX records pointing to the new server's IP. Set the preference value higher than the main MX record. Here is the link to the entire article from the help file: http://help.smartertools.com/SmarterMail/v13/Default.aspx?qq=%2fSmarterMail%2fv13%2fTopics%2fSystemAdmin%2fMisc%2fBackupMX.aspx Thanks.

Linda Pagillo Mail's Best Friend Email: linda.pagillo@mailsbestfriend.com Web: www.mailsbestfriend.com Authorized SmarterTools Reseller Authorized Message Sniffer Reseller

Neal Culiner Replied

2/12/2015 at 3:50 PM

Thank you again, I did do that but when going through it an error was occurring while saving changes so I deleted the fake domain and re-added it and now it tests good. Thanks for letting me [bounce] this off you :)

Linda Pagillo Replied

2/12/2015 at 3:59 PM

Anytime! :)

Linda Pagillo Mail's Best Friend Email: linda.pagillo@mailsbestfriend.com Web: www.mailsbestfriend.com Authorized SmarterTools Reseller Authorized Message Sniffer Reseller

Steve Reid Replied

2/18/2015 at 8:26 AM

That KB article is not correct. The placeholder domain has not been require since a few version of smartermail ago.

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