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Deerek11Flag for United States of America

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Changed email server and mail going to both servers

Hello, I changed a customer from Action Host mail server Saturday morning I deactivated the MX records they had pointed to action host servers  and added google's mx records,  Yesterday some mail started to drop in to the google mail boxes but not all,  I checked this morning and mail is still going to the action host servers but some and only a few are making it to the google servers, is this how the transition happens? my concern is today users will have some mail in google and other mail in action host, is there something I done wrong or any suggestions on how to speed this process up?
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Ivan
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Hi,

TTL record is responsible for how long a MX record is valid. Usually record propagation is done within 24h, but in most cases even faster.
When TTL time pass, then mail servers go to public DNS to ask for new value of MX record.

Maybe old MX record had a TTL of few days, like 2-3 or something, so now many email server that have send you an email 2-3 days ago, are still sending to where old MX record was pointing, and only new email server are pointing to your current server. Until TTL expires on all server, you could see some email delivered to old server, and some to new..as it is happening.

Regards,
Ivan.
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ASKER

Thanks is there any way for me to check the old server TTL time frame ?
I just checked mxtoolbox.com and it still showing the old MX records ?
Hi,

are you sure old MX is disabled? Double check that, because if mxtoolbox is showing old record, then it could be that both new and old records are alive. That is causing email to beehive like this.
the old mail server doesn't allow me to delete the old records it only allows me to disable them the tech support of action host tell me within 5 days request them to remove those records but when I do that they will delete the mailbox's .... I was hoping to have all the mail going to google before I have them delete the old box's to ensure all users have all their mail.... any suggestions
Hi,

when you checke via mxtoolbox, you can see TTL of old MX record.  There are 4 filed's that will show up, when you enter your domain name.

Pref
Hostname
IP Address
TTL

What does it say for TTL?
it says 4hrs
Hi,

well if you have disabled old MX then that should not happened, after 4h or a bit more. Problem is that it seams that old MX is still there, as it is visible via mxtoolbox website.

I am not sure how can that be, if you have disabled them. Could it be that hosting company did not propagate those records to other public DNS servers, and that is why it is still visible?

Bottom line is, when you remove old MX it should not be visible. If you cant do that, and new server is up and running, and users are connected to it, then I would try with changing value of old MX to point to new server. You don't care for old server, so simple point everything to new one.
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infedonetwork

I suggest to manage your own public DNS.
If you pick a free one like cloudflare and point the name server from the registrar to the cloudflare it may take 2 hours then you can create your own MX records and A record. This way you have full control over your DNS and the changes happening in 5 minutes or less instead of days. I use it for years to manage all my customers DNS and it's so much easier.
I been thinking of just changing from action host to move my hosting to go daddy but my concerns is the domain is with safenames and to download their basic html website then to upload it to go daddy then point the MX records from go daddy is this something can happen over the weekend or should I look in to that managing my own DNS using what infedonetwork suggested like clodflare ?
No matter where you change if I will be you I will prefer to manage my own DNS.
Let's say in the future  you want to change again the mx records or just add a new A record or any records you are just minutes away from have those replicate over the internet. I do this at less once a month for customers that request a new record. Log in to cloud flare then chose the account you want to modify go to DNS tab and change or add any records. less than 5 minutes later it work.
I know the pain of depending on a third party to made the changed for me and that's why I do my own stuff now.
I looked into managing the DNS and there are a cost associated with doing it that way, we really wasn't trying to pick up a monthly charge so I really think I may have to leave action host but my concerns are can all of this be done over the weekend with minimal downtime .... Any suggestions
I use the free one and work fine for me for years. I have a bunch of free websites under the account
Give it a try. If you start now and you update your name server to point to cloud flare you are good to go in a few hours.
@infedonework
So I point the domain to the DNS server then manage it to point hosting part to the action host for website and mx records to google for email.... Also this is not a personal site this is a companies site is that a concern...
Have you change the name server to point to cloudflare? Are the records active now?
All you will use the cloudflare for is to managed you dns. There is lots of free dns like that but I recommend the one I have my records on so it's easy to guide you.
If you want more features than the dns then you have to pay but on your case you don't
no I haven't done it yet, wasn't sure this is something that should be done over the weekend and I wanted a bit more info before doing this.  And really don't want to leave them worst than they are right now in regards to the poor service of action host ....
Hello, I today changed to Cloudfare and everything is back up and working but under MX records it only shows my google records it doesn't show the Action Host records in CloudFlare so mail is still to both servers
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infedonetwork

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Cloudflare did work it just took a few hours but all of the mail is going to google server thanks!!