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Configure SmarterMail as a Backup MX Server

Issue

To setup SmarterMail as backup MX server

Symptoms

You have 2 Cloud Server setup and wish to configure one of the servers to perform as backup MX server

Cause

None

Workaround

SmarterMail is powerful enough to be used as a complete mail system that performs multiple roles from a single server, including the role of backup MX server.

In the event that the primary mail server goes down, system administrators can set up SmarterMail to function as a backup MX server to ensure users continue to receive incoming email messages. When the primary mail server cannot be contacted, email servers on the Web will attempt delivery to the backup MX server. When the primary server comes back online, the backup MX server will deliver all held email.

Before configuring SmarterMail as a backup MX server, you must ensure that the server is listening on the appropriate IP address(es):

STEP 1: Log in to SmarterMail as the system administrator

STEP 2: Click the settings icon.

STEP 3: Expand the Bindings folder in the navigation pane.

STEP 4: Click Ports. A list of ports will load in the content pane. By default, ports 110, 143 and 25 are already set up. If necessary, add any alternative ports you may need SmarterMail to listen on.

STEP 5: Click IP Addresses. A list of IP addresses will load in the content pane.

STEP 6: Select each IP address you wish to listen on and click Edit. NOTE: You can only edit one IP address at a time.

STEP 7: Select the port(s) you would like the IP address to listen on and click Save.

STEP 8: Your server is now set up to listen on the selected ports for the IPs they have been added to.

Follow these steps to configure SmarterMail as a backup MX server:

STEP 1: Log in to SmarterMail as the system administrator.

STEP 2: Click the settings icon.

STEP 3: Expand the Routing folder in the navigation pane.

STEP 4: Click Incoming Gateways.

STEP 5: Click New in the content pane toolbar.

STEP 6: Click the Options tab.

STEP 7: In the Gateway Mode field, select Backup MX from the list.

STEP 8: Type the IP address or IP range in the appropriate field(s).

STEP 9: Click the Spam tab and modify the spam action settings, if necessary.

STEP 10: Click Save.

STEP 11: Click General Settings in the navigation pane.

STEP 12: Click the Spool tab.

STEP 13: Change the Retry Intervals field to 10, 10, 10, 1440.

STEP 14: Click Save.

In DNS, add secondary MX records that point to the new servers IP address. Be sure to set the preference value higher than the main MX record.

Updated on March 15, 2019

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