How do DNS and DNS Servers relate to email?
SMTP requires the use of the DNS to convert the Domain Name portion of an Email Address into the real location of the machine that is actually running the Mail Server that administers the Email functions for that particular Domain. Special entries in the DNS Server called MX (Mail eXchanger) Records are used to accommodate Email communication. A typical MX Record is shown below: Domain Name The Domain Name is the name that an entity has registered for their exclusive use on the Internet. In the above example VInfo had registered TekGuard.com as the Domain Name for their own use on the Internet. Priority When there are multiple MX Records, Email Server and Email Clients will use the Priority designation to determine which record is accessed. The lower the Priority number the higher the actual priority placed on that specific Record. The Priority is a relative value. The actual number is of no real significance since priority is established by the relative rank of the MX Record compared
