setting up a secondary mail server

[irvinact]

Hi,

Wondering any one out there could help by guiding on the steps for setting up a secondary mail server for an existing cpanel server.

The secondary mail server is a plain linux box.

Thanks.

[salmonella]

1. You can't really set up secondary mail services for a server (there's a twist I mention below). You have to set up additional MXs on each domain requiring secondary mail service.

2. Depends on which MTA you choose to run on the secondary. You'll usually be able to set up secondary for a specific list of domains (this would be a pain as you have to update the configuration with new domains), any domain which you are listed as an MX (means that someone can use you for free as a backup mail server, which isn't necessarily a bad thing)... Some MTAs may allow you to act as secondary for any domain you are listed as an MX for which a primary server lies within an IP range.

Why don't you get an agreement with another hosting service to be backup for each other? Preferably one hosted in a different IDC.