How Does Switching Web Hosts Affect My Email Server?

[mickeyj2]

Hi,

In the next week or so, I will be switching my web host.

Here's my scenario. I have my domain name registered at a REGISTRAR COMPANY, but my pages are currently hosted by COMPANY A. I am switching my hosting to COMPANY B.
My registrar warned me that switching name servers could impact/halt my email service.

I talked with COMPANY B and they said they will "setup the appropriate MX zones".

However, I like to stay in the know. I need to find out what I don't know. Could someone give me a little background on the mail delivery process?

What do I need to ask my internal Network people about how our mail is hosted? Will my email really be compromised if I switch, those types of things?

Thanks a bunch in advance for your help.

mickeyj2

 

[imeldesign]

I am assuming that your email is not hosted internally. If that is so, then do the switch and leave the old site up and old email service until a week or so after the new site is up. The reason is DNS cache. This will give those who have cached your old email server address time to flush their DNS and get the new ip address. If the new mx records are set up correctly on the new site you should see no problems. Make sure they do a reverse DNS record as well or there will be hell to pay with AOL. You will need to change some DNS records internally to point to the new email server on your new website.


If you host your own email server then it is slightly more complicated.

 

[mickeyj2]

Thanks for your help and advice. I talked with our Network person and he did say that we host our own email. He told me that when I'm ready to switch, Do Not Change the Email Pointer. What does that mean? Thanks.

 

[Foamcow]

The DNS entry for your domain name will contain information as to where different types of traffic are to be routed.

You will have an MX record that says where mail should go. This will be set to something like mail.mydomain.com (I don't know the exact name).

Within the DNS entry there will be something saying where mail.mydomain.com actually is, ie. its IP address.

Don't change the MX record OR the bit that says where your mail server is.


If you are in any doubt over any of this you should get someone who understands DNS to handle it otherwise it'll be a right mess and take time to fix.

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