Domain Transfer - Email on Exchange Server

[RFH Customer: Fruitbat]

Hi

I am about to transfer a domain into Red Fox for a client who is already using several very busy and important email accounts on it, via another hosting company. I have set up the same email accounts on Red Fox in preparation for the transfer and went to set up the new POP3 settings alongside the current ones on the clients PC's. When I was there I discovered that they are using MS Exchange for their email (which is not something I am up with) and couldn't update the settings myself.

As the company is totally reliant on email and does not want any hold up or missing email during the transfer, what is the order to do things? I thought that putting the new settings in place alongside the current ones would mean a smooth secure changeover without risk. The firm who implement the Exchange Server have told me that I should request the domain transfer on a Friday and then they will change the settings on the following Tuesday. I think that this would lead to a possible halt to the email delivery if the transfer completes on the Monday. Is there any reason why the Exchange cannot have both current and future settings in it to safeguard a smooth transition, with the older ones being deleted when the transfer has successfully completed?

Apologies for the length of the request but my Client is PC illiterate and his paranoia is catching.

Thanks for any help

Nigel

[Staff: Warren Ashcroft]

I think the best way to handle this would be to update the DNS our end for the domain to point to the Exchange server, then one night change the DNS back to our mail servers?

By DNS I mean the DNS records found in the Helm DNS Zone Editor, which take effect when the domain is on our nameservers.

[RFH Customer: Fruitbat]

Ultra quick answer

Thanks Warren

Let me get this straight.

I go into the domain I have set up for my client on Red Fox and alter the DNS records in the Helm DNS Zone Editor. I obviously get the address for the exchange server from the company that is providing support for that. I then put the address in the DNS record. In the Helm DNS Zone Editor I see several fields would it be the mail field I update with the Exchange Server address or the @ MX Exchange record field?

Once updated (correctly) I request the transfer and the email will continue going to the exchange server even when the transfer completes.

I can then, one evening, (when I am sure the other company has updated the Exchange server settings) revert the DNS to the original settings.

As a point of interest, what would be the benefit of then changing back to the original red fox default DNS settings?

Thanks again Warren

Nigel

[Staff: Warren Ashcroft]

Hello Nigel,
Yes - that is all correct.

> As a point of interest, what would be the benefit of then changing back to the original red fox default DNS settings?

You would need to do this in order to use our mail services as oppsed to the old Exchange services (which you stated you wish to do). If you do not, incoming mail will always go to the Exchange server.

[RFH Customer: Fruitbat]

Thanks again Warren

And finally which entry in the DNS record needs changing to the Exchange Server address. I see 13 Fields in the DNS record via the Helm Editor.

Thanks again

Nigel

[Staff: Warren Ashcroft]

Just the MX one, store its current value somewhere before you change it

[RFH Customer: cswd]

Also, make sure you know the CURRENT host name of the exchange box and add that to RFH DNS, then set the MX to that host name or any internal lookups in exchange may shat or the SMTP server won't resolve.

I've screwed that up too many times to get it wrong now.