[Info-vax] Are MX records mandatory to send mail from VMS to an SMTP server?

[glen herrmannsfeldt]

DTL <didier.morandi at gmail.com> wrote:

> There is, as you know, a discussion in this list on trouble 
> sending mail from VMS, and with all your help we are moving 
> to a solution.

> But I do have another question.

> Are MX records mandatory to send mail from VMS to an SMTP server?

> I understand MX records allow me to handle my mail by myself 
> on my box or on my server on an ISP site.

> Today, I do NOT wish to do so.

> My VMS box has no domain published on the Internet and I do 
> NOT wish to receive mail on it. My gmail account is fine.

There are many things being done to reduce spam, and I wouldn't
be sure that MX checks weren't part of them. 

But really, it should only check that an MX for the return 
(or reply-to) address exists. If you don't want mail sent back
to the system, then the return address should be to another server.

> The question is: Is it possible to separate send and receive? 
> I mean, be allowed to send mail from the box to an smtp server 
> on the Internet and configure nothing to be able to receive mail?

Yes it should be possible. 

-- glen