Just a theoretical questions really, if a mail server fails (crashes, goes offline, becomes isolated from the internet, etc) and someone is trying to send an email to a user of that server does the message keep queuing and trying again if there is no alternative server specified ? or does it just fail and return to sender?

David

 

Depends on the configuration for the domain.

If only a single MX record exists, the sending server should re-try every x minutes for y hours (depends on the mail server config).

If a second MX record is present, the sending server will try to kick to that.

Then a third, fourth etc etc

Chris.

 

your isp can usually set up a "catchall" account.

i have one for a client, and it costs them about 50 quid a month i think, bundled with domain, management and dns record hosting.

better then getting bounced mail to your clients.

BB

 

Catchall useless if the entire domain goes down though Beemer.

Most will try every 4 hours for a total of 24. That has certainly been my experience.