Using current VPS as mail server for new Dedicated server

[Kamalkk]

Hi,

I have now bought a new dedicated server. Already I am holding a VPS server.
Now, I have migrated the contents, databases etc to dedicated, but yet to change nameservers.

My requirement is to continue using VPS as mail server but accounts should be managed from new cPanel of dedicated. Is this as simple as editing MX entry on dedicated server's cPanel ? Or is there any other set up that should be done for this ?

Looking forward to your replies...

Thanks,
Kamalkk

[GatorEAnderson]

You will need two types of DNS entries in order to keep mail flowing to your VPS. First, you need A records for mail.domain.tld (replace with your actual domains) that have the VPS's IP address, and you need MX records identifying mail.domain.tld as the mail server.

On your Dedicated server, you also have to ensure that, on the MX Entry tab in cPanel, Remove Mail Exchanger is selected. Otherwise, mail may start bouncing.

If you want access to webmail too, you'll need to change the DNS entry for webmail.domain.tld from a CNAME to an A record and point that at your VPS as well.

Personally, though, I'd find all that difficult to manage, especially if you have to add additional user accounts in the future (each user account must exist on both servers).

Your Dedicated server is perfectly capable of handling mail as well. What is the reason you want to keep mail on your VPS?

[Kamalkk]

Hi,

Actually, we have a very good email sender reputation tied to the IP address of our VPS (as per senderscore.org) gathered over past 2 years of best mailing practices. We initially had requested to migrate this IP to dedicated. However, support replied it is not possible.

For a site with over 100,000 registered students who receive daily newsletters, IP reputation is very crucial for mail deliverability. Hence, just to maintain the mail server at same IP we are going for this kind of setting.

Please can you let me know your views on this.

Thanks,
Kamalkk

[GatorEAnderson]

Judging by the criteria listed on the site:

volume, complaint rates, unknown user rates, infrastructure, spam trap hits and content

If you continue your email best practices with your Dedicated server, it too will have an excellent score.

Have you checked it's IP address(es) on sendscore, or to see if it is on any blacklists?

[Kamalkk]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

New dedicated IP is neither in blacklist nor has a senderscore. It could take at least 3 months to get senderscore.

Meanwhile, If we are going to migrate the mail server to this new IP given the volume of mails we send to registered users, there are chances that ISPs can become too very cautious. I found a post at http://www.gettingemaildelivered.com...new-ip-address which describes the problems faced by legitimate mailers when migrating IPs. Even google has posted in its guidelines asking mass mailers to use consistent IP.

Only on this context, we are desperate to get our VPS IP to our dedicated so that our newsletters don't get affected. Isn't there a one off solution to extreme cases like this as this is pushing us to some kind of deadlock which has never been a case with super flexible providers like hostgator. Is there some senior policy makers of hostgator whom I should contact regarding this...

Thanks
Kamalkk

[GatorEAnderson]

It's not a policy question at all, but a physical limitation in the routing equipment.

The IP address cannot be moved because it would create an inconsistent routing table in the datacenter.

You can't have all IP addresses in a subnet, except one, on one router and that one on a different router. The packets would go nowhere fast.