DOCUMENT:Q198551 10-AUG-2001 [winnt] TITLE :NSLOOKUP Returns Time-out Error When Query for an MX Record PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER:winnt:4.0,4.0a OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 - Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server versions 4.0, 4.0a ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== If you use Nslookup.exe to query for a Mail Exchanger record (MX), it may fail with the following error: *** Request to timed-out NOTE: is the host name of the DNS server you are querying. CAUSE ===== If the DNS server that you are querying has an MX record in the DNS zone similar to domainname.example.microsoft.com. MX 10 192.168.1.1 you may see the error mentioned above. RESOLUTION ========== Change the MX record to point to a host name that will then, in turn, resolve to the same IP address. For example, in the domainname.com zone, make the following change: domainname.example.microsoft.com. MX 10 host1.domainname.example.microsoft.com host1 A 192.168.1.1 STATUS ====== This behavior is by design. According to RFC 974: Each MX matches a domain name with two pieces of data, a preference value (an unsigned 16-bit integer), and the name of a host. ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTSEntSearch kbWinNTSEnt400 kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbAudDeveloper kbSBServSearch kbSBServ400 kbSBServ400a Version : winnt:4.0,4.0a Issue type : kbprb ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.