up vote 0 down vote favorite
share [g+] share [fb]

We have mail hosted on Google Apps for example.com, with domain.example set up as an alias. We want to delete the domain.example alias in Google Apps and setup domain.example as a "real" domain in Google Apps. This will cause some downtime between the deletion and the recreation.

To avoid losing mail, I want to (1) switch domain.example's MX to point to a mail forwarding server, (2) delete the alias in Google Apps, (3) setup the domain in Google Apps, and (4) switch the MX back to Google. But I'm not sure how to set up the mail forwarding and make sure that Google will take it. I have access to commercially hosted Linux VPSes to do this on.

For example, any mail addressed to user@domain.example needs to be forwarded to user@example.com.

link|improve this question
You seriously want two downtimes to avoid one downtime? Create the domain in Google Apps, switch the A record to Google Apps, configure everything needed. When finished transfer the MX record. No downtime, no mail lost. And not wasting time to setup a useless mail forwarder. – mailq Sep 23 '11 at 12:25
I don't think you understood the question. domain.example's MX is pointing to Google at the moment. But there will be a downtime while the Google Apps settings are being changed. The mail forwarder is to have zero mail lost. – erjiang Sep 23 '11 at 14:58
I don't think you understood RFC 5321. If there is no server accepting your mail (in these few minutes) then there is no mail lost. The sender is informed and can retry later. And normal servers should always fall-back to deliver to the A record (described in section 5.1 paragraph 2 of RFC 5321). – mailq Sep 23 '11 at 15:45
Sure, but that's downtime when we're not receiving mail. It's the difference between losing mail, getting mail day(s) late, or getting mail on time. And I would like to get my mail on time. – erjiang Sep 23 '11 at 16:38
According your argumentation you don't want the downtime introduced by switching the MX. Your requested way is to switch the MX two times. Meaning two downtimes. So where is the benefit? – mailq Sep 23 '11 at 16:52
show 1 more comment
feedback

Know someone who can answer? Share a link to this question via email, Google+, Twitter, or Facebook.

Your Answer

 
or
required, but never shown
discard

Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.