200-901 Network Fundamentals Practice Question
A network administrator is configuring DNS for a corporate domain. An MX record is required to specify the mail server responsible for handling email. Which of the following is a correct example of an MX record?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between record types by presenting an A or CNAME record as a distractor, exploiting the common misconception that any record pointing to a mail server is sufficient for email routing.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
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example.com. MX 10 mail.example.com.
An MX record specifies the mail server responsible for handling email for a domain, using the format: domain. MX priority mailserver. The priority value (10) indicates preference, with lower values being higher priority. This record directs email delivery to mail.example.com for the example.com domain.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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mail.example.com. A 192.0.2.1
Why it's wrong here
An A record maps a hostname to an IPv4 address, providing the mail server's address rather than declaring which host handles mail for the domain. It is tempting because mail delivery ultimately needs that address. The MX record itself must name the mail exchanger, for example 'example.com. MX 10 mail.example.com.'.
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example.com. MX 10 mail.example.com.
Why this is correct
The record maps the domain to mail.example.com with preference 10, the standard MX syntax of priority followed by mail exchanger. This satisfies the requirement to name the mail server handling email for the corporate domain, since MX records exist solely to direct SMTP delivery.
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example.com. CNAME mail.example.com.
Why it's wrong here
A CNAME aliases one hostname to another and cannot coexist with other records at the same owner name; MX records must point to a mail exchanger hostname, not be replaced by an alias. CNAME is tempting because it redirects names generally. Correct MX syntax is 'example.com. MX 10 mail.example.com.'.
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example.com. TXT "v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all"
Why it's wrong here
This is a TXT record for SPF.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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