No, it is not possible to test an email forwarder using the same source and destination email address. Here’s why:
Why Doesn’t This Work?
1.Loop Prevention Mechanisms:
- Mail servers are configured to detect and block “loopback forwarding,” where an email would attempt to send back to itself repeatedly.
- This prevents infinite email loops that could overload servers and disrupt mail delivery.
2.Common Error Messages:
- If you attempt to set up or test a forwarder with the same source and destination email, you might encounter errors such as: “Loop detected” or“Recipient address rejected: policy loop detected”
3.Not a Real-World Scenario:
- Using the same source and destination email address for forwarding doesn’t reflect normal email usage and therefore isn’t supported by most systems.
How to Test an Email Forwarder Properly
1.Use a Separate Email Address:
- Send a test email from a different email address (e.g., test@example.com) to the source email address that has the forwarder configured.
2.Verify Forwarding:
- Check the destination email inbox to confirm the test email has been forwarded successfully.
3.Monitor for Issues:
- If the forwarded email doesn’t arrive, troubleshoot by verifying the forwarder setup in cPanel, checking email logs, and ensuring the destination inbox isn’t full or blocking the email.
Tip for Advanced Testing
- Use tools like Track Delivery in cPanel to view email logs and confirm that forwarding rules are being processed correctly.
