Implementing SPF for the MailRoute Outbound/SmartHost Service

Setting Your SPF Record

If you use the MailRoute Outbound/SmartHost Service, you need to be sure you have an proper SPF record for your domains.

What's an SPF record?

SPF defines a list of the servers, services, and IP addresses that are allowed to be relaying or sending email from your domain. It's a DNS TXT record for domain itself. If it's missing, many email providers will penalize or even reject your email. Its presence helps them to know that an email is coming from an approved source. Along with DKIM signing of messages, it's a key part of DMARC authentication as well.

You can read all about SPF Records here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sender_Policy_Framework

So you need to have one, and it needs to be correct.

Here's what we need you to do:

The SPF records for any MailRoute Outbound/SmartHost Service customer must include the following in their SPF record:

 include:spf.mailroute.net

But I don't have an SPF record!

Then add one! If MailRoute is the sole outbound relay for your email, your SPF record can be as simple as

v=spf1 include:spf.mailroute.net -all

I have an SPF record. What do I need to change?

Simply add "include:spf.mailroute.net" to your SPF record.

If your record looks like this:

    "v=spf1 ip4:192.168.0/27 -all"   < this IP range is ONLY an example

Add our spf record to it so that it looks like this:

    "v=spf1 ip4:192.168.0/27 include:spf.mailroute.net -all"

That's all there is to it!

How do I add or change my SPF record?

Well, that all depends on your DNS host - what you need to do is "add a TXT record to the domain's primary record". In some systems, it might look something like this, using "domain.com" as an example:

domain.com  IN TXT "v=spf1 include:spf.mailroute.net ~all"

In some systems, "@" is used as a shortcut for domain name:

@  IN TXT "v=spf1 include:spf.mailroute.net ~all"

Every DNS provider has a different interface for their DNS. If you need assistance with yours, please feel free to reach out to us via an email to MailRoute Support

Email Authentication - An Explanation and Exploration

Implementing DKIM for the MailRoute Outbound/SmartHost Service

Implementing DMARC for the MailRoute Outbound SmartHost Service

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Contact sales@mailroute.net or support@mailroute.net for more information.

888.485.7726