Windows Exchange server for mail?

vito · Post #1 (**permalink**) 02-04-2005, 07:59 AM

This stuff always confuses me.

I am getting ready to design a site for a local hospital. In the meantime, my contact emailed me with a question. I need your help here before I can reply to her.

They currently have a domain registered. It's parked at the registrar and they are using the registrar's email services for now. They want to move the domain over to their own server (they have 2 inhouse servers, one of them is an Exchange server).

The I.T. guy there is saying that the site itself can reside on the main server as www.theirsite.com , but email has to be routed through their Exchange server, and so mail is going to be address@home.theirserver.com .

Huh? I'm trying to figure out why they can't have address@theirsite.com . Does it have to do with how they have set up their servers?

Thanks for your help.

Vito

Exon · Post #2 (**permalink**) 02-04-2005, 08:47 AM

I believe you need to modify the MX settings to point to their IPs.

vito · Post #3 (**permalink**) 02-04-2005, 09:09 AM

Thanks, John, but I'm not sure I understand. If they only process their mail through the exchange server, and the site resides on their main server, what settings are you referring to? Are these MX setting changes done on the main server?

Vito

Exon · Post #4 (**permalink**) 02-04-2005, 02:22 PM

They should be able to be done through cPanel or WHM on the web server (your part) I believe. I'll have to check with mine and see where they're at. This is assuming you have that access/ability.

vito · Post #5 (**permalink**) 02-04-2005, 02:27 PM

Thanks John.

I think I have it figured out. They need to create an MX record on their main server with mail.theirsite.com pointing to the IP of the exchange server.

Vito

Exon · Post #6 (**permalink**) 02-04-2005, 03:11 PM

Si. Let us know if that works or not.

TRau · Post #7 (**permalink**) 02-05-2005, 07:45 PM

If they want to have their own exchange server and email is important to them they really need to have a backup plan in place if their exchange server goes down. They should have multiple MX records with one pointing to a "store and forward" server. That way if the exchange goes down email will go to an alternate rather than getting bounced back. When exchange goes back online the stored email gets delivered.
If this is a hospital I hope their IT people are planning on setting up a proper DMZ. Also if the email will have patient info, HIPAA comes into play. Meaning a secured setup will be needed with the actual exchange box inside the secured network and an mail forwarder in the actual DMZ.