Accepted Domain-
An Accepted Domain is a term used primarily in Microsoft Exchange Server (on-premises or Exchange Online in Microsoft 365), and it refers to any domain for which the Exchange organization is responsible for receiving and delivering email.
In Simple Terms:
An Accepted Domain is a domain that your email system (like Microsoft Exchange) accepts email for.
Types of Accepted Domains:
- Authoritative Domain:
- Your organization fully manages all email addresses in this domain.
- Emails for users in this domain are delivered directly to your Exchange server.
- Example: You have full control over
example.com
and host all mailboxes for that domain.
- Internal Relay Domain:
- Your Exchange server accepts email, but forwards it to another mail server within your organization.
- Useful in hybrid environments or multiple email systems.
- Example: Email to
branch.example.com
is accepted, but routed to a different system for final delivery.
- External Relay Domain:
- Your Exchange server accepts mail and relays it to an external system that’s not part of your Exchange organization.
- Example: Used when transitioning to another mail provider or relaying emails for a partner organization.
Why It Matters:
- If a domain is not an accepted domain, Exchange will reject email sent to it.
- It’s critical for organizations with multiple domains or during email migrations.