How to Use Nslookup to Verify MX record configuration

As I have been installing, configuring, and testing our Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 I have had to test the DNS system to ensure our domain is registared and working properly. This is something that all system administrators should know how to do, but the exact syntax is often forgotten.

1. Open a Command Prompt (Start, Run, cmd, [Enter])
2. Type nslookup.
3. Server (The DNS server that you want to use. This is optional.)
4. Set q=mx (This sets the query type to "MX" {Mail Exchanger}.)
5. (The domain name you want to lookup the mail exchanger to.)

This operation can be done on Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Vista. There are similar options if you are doing this from Linux.

1. Open up a terminal (Differs by distribution)
2. Type nslookup.
3. Set type=mx (This sets the query type to "MX" {Mail Exchanger}.)
4. (The domain name you want to lookup the mail exchanger to.)