MX Records
The MX records tell DNS servers on the internet which server incoming mail should be directed to. Without proper MX records, mail will be delivered to a previously known mail server prior to migration, or will either simply remain ignored without being delivered, or be returned with a failure notification as the current valid mail address/server cannot be found.
In your clients’ DNS settings set up the following MX records:
inboundcluster1.giacomcp.com pref/priority 10
inboundcluster2.giacomcp.com pref/priority 10
inboundcluster3.giacomcp.com pref/priority 20
inboundcluster4.giacomcp.com pref/priority 20
PLEASE NOTE: Ensure that these are the only MX records applied to the domain name.
CNAME Autodiscover Record
The CNAME Autodiscover entry is needed in order for Exchange 2016 and Outlook 2013/2016 to function properly.
Please note: Using Outlook 2007 is not recommended with the Exchange 2016 environment and may not function correctly
This would especially relate to:
- Free/Busy information in your calendar
- Out of office messages setup in Outlook.
- IMPORTANT – Proper syncing of Offline Address Book – which is what your exchange environment uses instead of the Global Address Book (GAL)
- For externally connected clients (roaming users) the SSL certificate must include the CNAME Autodiscover record.
- IMPORTANT – Outlook Anywhere – required for devices and mobiles etc.
- IMPORTANT – Exchange ActiveSync
- Unified Messaging
The Autodiscover service uses a user’s e-mail address and password to automatically configure a user’s profile. Using the e-mail address, the Autodiscover service provides the following information to the mail client:
- The user’s display name.
- Separate connection settings for internal and external connectivity.
- The location of the user’s Mailbox server.
- The URLs for various Outlook features that manage functionality such as OOF, free/busy information, Unified Messaging, and the offline address book.
- Outlook Anywhere server settings.
In your client’s DNS settings set up the following CNAME record:
autodiscover.yourdomain pointing to autodiscover.giacomcp.com
OWA white labelling
In order to whitelabel OWA access for the 2016 Environment please add a CNAME as follows
webmail.yourdomainname.com pointing to webmailrd.giacomcp.com
SPF Record
The SPF record is necessary due to the fact that a significant majority of spam comes from forged addresses. A Sender Policy Framework (SPF) standard is being implemented by a number of ISPs and mail hosts, including several major providers (Hotmail, Yahoo, AOL and cloud-based hosting providers etc). Those providers require SPF to be used in order to allow mail through their networks. Mail systems need SPF records for their domains if they want their mail to be accepted by those providers. If no SPF record is in place your domain emails will be flagged and scored as high probability spam items and will not get delivered to the intended recipients.
In your clients DNS settings set up the following SPF record: include:spf.giacomcp.com
The SPF record should resolve to: v=spf1 include:spf.giacomcp.com -all
Important:
- If an existing SPF record exists, then you need to add include:spf.giacomcp.com into the current record before the “-all” part of the syntax.
- For instance v=spf1 ip:xx.xx.xx.xx include:spf.giacomcp.com -all
- Any other servers that are allowed to send for the domain will have to be included this way as well.