Backup Mail Server
E-mail is a wonderful thing. Not only are people keeping in touch on a routine basis by frequently sending each other messages, but businesses have also enjoyed a rise in productivity resulting from the smart use of electronic mail. In fact, many companies use their own e-mail servers to facilitate reliability and security when sending e-mail. If your company uses a dedicated email server, it should consider a backup mail server that protect against the loss of valuable communications.
E-mail Servers
How does an email server work? At its most basic, a mail server (also called a mail exchange server and a mail transfer agent, or MTA) is a computer program that transfers electronic mail messages from one computer to another. It is the muscle behind the process that moves the sender's e-mail to the designated recipient. E-mail servers are the virtual equivalent of the postal system, but they work a good deal faster.
How an E-mail Server Works
When an end user finishes an email message and clicks “send,"" the e-mail client attempts to send the e-mail. It looks-up the domain DNS, and discovers what the mail exchangers (MX) are for the destination. Each MX has a preference number, the lowest of which is the primary mail server; mail delivery is attempted at the lowest MX. If refused because of technical problems, it tries the next lowest MX, and so on. If it cannot be delivered, it is bounced back to the sender with a message indicating what happened.
The Benefit of Backup
When a company is using a backup mail server service -- typically a third party service -- it should have security measures setup for the event of technical problems. If a server goes down, incoming mail will be sent to the backup mail server rather than bouncing back to the sender. Once in the backup server, the mail will sit in queue and wait to be sent to its intended destination. The third party software continuously checks your mail server for its status, and sends your mail once it is back online.
If your company relies on a constant stream of information and communication via electronic mail, a backup mail server should be an integral part of your IT strategy
E-mail is a wonderful thing. Not only are people keeping in touch on a routine basis by frequently sending each other messages, but businesses have also enjoyed a rise in productivity resulting from the smart use of electronic mail. In fact, many companies use their own e-mail servers to facilitate reliability and security when sending e-mail. If your company uses a dedicated email server, it should consider a backup mail server that protect against the loss of valuable communications.
E-mail Servers
How does an email server work? At its most basic, a mail server (also called a mail exchange server and a mail transfer agent, or MTA) is a computer program that transfers electronic mail messages from one computer to another. It is the muscle behind the process that moves the sender's e-mail to the designated recipient. E-mail servers are the virtual equivalent of the postal system, but they work a good deal faster.
How an E-mail Server Works
When an end user finishes an email message and clicks “send,"" the e-mail client attempts to send the e-mail. It looks-up the domain DNS, and discovers what the mail exchangers (MX) are for the destination. Each MX has a preference number, the lowest of which is the primary mail server; mail delivery is attempted at the lowest MX. If refused because of technical problems, it tries the next lowest MX, and so on. If it cannot be delivered, it is bounced back to the sender with a message indicating what happened.
The Benefit of Backup
When a company is using a backup mail server service -- typically a third party service -- it should have security measures setup for the event of technical problems. If a server goes down, incoming mail will be sent to the backup mail server rather than bouncing back to the sender. Once in the backup server, the mail will sit in queue and wait to be sent to its intended destination. The third party software continuously checks your mail server for its status, and sends your mail once it is back online.
If your company relies on a constant stream of information and communication via electronic mail, a backup mail server should be an integral part of your IT strategy