Checklist
- SPF Record
- Local server mail delivery is disabled if your email is not hosted with the website.
SPF record
Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is an email authentication method designed to check that the origin sending server has permission to send emails for the domain. Functionally this appears as a DNS record on your domain, it is a TXT record the follows the below format.
mydomain.co.nz. 300 IN TXT "v=spf1 a mx include:_spf.hostvine.co.nz ~all"
This record tells emails servers that only permitted servers can send email for the domain 'mydomain.co.nz'. There are several components.
- a, allow send from webserver (optional)
- mx, allow send from email server (optional)
- include:_spf.hostvine.co.nz, allow servers from a secondary record to send email (optional)
- ~all, tells mails servers to soft fail emails as they may be spam
The important component to include for sending from hostvine servers is include:_spf.hostvine.co.nz and if this record is not present then your email will most likely be marked as spam.
Checking SPF Record
This is usually performed with a dig command. Google has an online tool for checking DNS records.
https://toolbox.googleapps.com/apps/dig/#TXT/
Enter the domain, and select TXT if not already selected, as this is a DNS TXT record. It may output several TXT records (which is normal), but the record important in this case begins with v=spf1
The record may look like this, so for your hostvine website to send we need to add the correct record.
"v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all"
Adjust it to add the include:_spf.hostvine.co.nz component.
"v=spf1 include:_spf.hostvine.co.nz include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all"
Updating the SPF Record
If your domain is with hostvine then you can lodge a support ticket with us and we can take care of it for you.
If you domain is hosted elsewhere you will need to contact the technical support for where your domain is hosted.
If the spf1 record looks correct, then you'll need to lodge a support ticket with us.
Local Mail Server
If email is hosted on a different server than the website, then ensure that the Mail service has been deactivated on the webserver. As the server will try to locally delivery before sending externally. Often this is overlooked when mail DNS is updated to a 3rd party and the website still has local mail activated.
To change this, log into Plesk (hosting control panel), find your domain, under mail and mail settings, uncheck "Activate mail service on this domain"
