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Group_007Flag for United States of America

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External DNS MX configurations settings conflict between MX, Exchange, external host provider, and Citrit server

We recently had a company contact us abuot not being able to send us email. They went through the process of using MX Toolset.

Upon which they found that kxxchemicals.com resolved to external ip address 70.42.x.161 (which is correct and configured on our sonicwall for smpt) but they also discovered another IP Address 70.42.x.163 was also resoving to kxxchemicals.com using data1.kxxchemicals.com; this is our Citrix server. All this makes since (pretty much). The problem here is that i dont not know how to correct it due to my current level of DNS internal/external routing and such.

This is the reason I got from our Network guy:

Data1 is an alias for 70.42.x.161. The purpose is to be able to host multiple sites with the same WAN IP (MX, Citrix etc…).  This setup was there from the beginning. We need to review all DNS records and tell them what change you want them to make. You should tell them either point to IP address or alias. They will not know what you are talking about. All they know is making change to dns records.

I am able to cut/paste internal / external DNS, sonicwall settings, available ext ip addresses. I just need help on figuring out which open is best for our current situation and why?

I would also like to know where/how our Citrix server is showing up with a MX record, especially since it is not located on our current external DNS host company. Could it be that this is a left over entry from another host?
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Tony J
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Well I would start by confirming yourself that these external names have MX records:

You can either use nslookup.exe with set type=mx followed by the names

I actually tend to use an external DNS Server too if possible:

so, from a command prompt:

Nslookup
server 8.8.8.8
set type=mx
servername1
servername2

I would also head over to www.mxtoolbox.com and use their tools to get more information.

As long as the MX record resolves to the correct A record for the correct IP address, and the firewall allows port 25 through to whatever is receiving email, it shouldn't matter if you share that same IP on another name for Citrix.
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ASKER

I have confirmed for myself through MX Toolset prior to posting this question. Everything that resolves to the kxx.com with IP address xxx.xxx.xxx.163 and data1.kmxxxx.com is correct.

My question was where can I find the reason that Citrix is using xxx.xxx.xxx.161 is using MX record to resolve to the data1kmxxxx.com . And yes this configuration is causing issues external users sending email to our domain. Citrix should not be using MX record and yes all the other stuff is correct (port 25 / smtp).
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Tony J
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will check it out and reply shortly...
Yes the problem was in the external DNS records. Someone had added/rearranged DNS entries without cleaning up old entries.

Thank you!
Thanks for the points, but may I ask why only the 'B' grade?