Question

A domain name that we have is using google mail as its backend, but its not hosted anywhere (no website). How can I, through the registrar interface (I’m using 1&1), redirect ppl who type in http://mail.example.com to http://mail.google.com/a/example.com ?

I can create a subdomain and set its DNS/CNAME, but what do I put where? Also, if I make this change will it affect the existing mail delivery (for which everything is running fine presently).

Answer 1

It turns out it wasn’t that tough… and the instructions are part of Google itself:
Dashboard -> Service settings: Email -> General:Web address -> Change URL

https://www.google.com/a/cpanel/example.com/CustomUrl?s=mail

Changing CNAME record

To use the custom URL mail.example.com, you must change the CNAME record with your domain host.

1. Sign in to oneandone.
2. Navigate to your DNS Management page. The location and name
   of this page will vary by host, but
   can generally be found in Domain
   Management or Advanced Settings.

3. Find the CNAME settings and enter the following as the CNAME value
   or alias:

   mail

4. Set the CNAME destination to the following address:

   ghs.googlehosted.com

5. Save changes with your domain host and click “I’ve completed
   these steps” below.