How to set up your email DNS Records

The vast majority of our userbase makes use of the ability to utilize custom domains for use in your email. It is quite useful for businesses and people with a brand. This guide is designed to help you set yours up correctly so you can be ready to use it right on the go!

Here's how to do it:

1. Log In as an Admin
2. Create a new Domain Entry
3. Log into Domain Panel
4. Insert required entries

Creating a domain entry is a big part of our service, so we make it an easy and intuitive step for you to complete. Here's the steps to do this:

1. Log into the Admin: Head to the account login page (not Webmail). If you have any issues with this, or have forgotten what the admin account is, you can contact us at support@purelymail.com or create a ticket above.

2. Navigate to Domains: Once logged in, head to the navigation bar at the top and select the "Domains" option. This will provide you with the screen where you can manage existing domains, or create new ones like we are in this instance.

3. Create a new Domain Entry: You will need to set up all of the required fields, to then get the correct records set. In the "Name" field, you need to put in the base domain that you want to add. For the case of "example.com", this would be "example.com", and not something like "www.example.com".

Next you need to set the options for the domain. You can choose to allow account reset via your domain (which will use DNS records if you need to reset the account to prove ownership), or not. We have this turned on by default since it's a good choice as a backup in case you loose access to your admin account.

You can also choose where email is delivered to. There are three options:

• Purelymail: This is where email is delivered to us and we are the host for the storage of your emails. You can use our servers to connect to on your mobile device or email application to retrieve your emails.
• External Server (MX): This option allows you to ignore the MX record DNS entry we provide, to allow you to set your own. Wherever this is set, is where your email gets delivered to. To ensure that your emails are delivered properly, please check that this is the correct MX server before continuing.
• Relay: This option allows for your emails to be sent to us, where we then relay them to your MX server. This is the best option if you would prefer our reliability ontop of your external server. This option enables two extra entry fields:
  • Hostname of relay server: This is the server to send the mail to. Like the MX option, ensure that this is a valid option before setting it.
  • Retry attempts within 1 hour: You can set how many retry attempts to deliver mail to the server within the hour. If we are unable to send it in this time, due to connectivity issues or otherwise, we will then reattempt once ever hour. We default to 5 since this typically allows you 6 minutes before each attempt, optimizing bandwidth and time.

4. Log into Domain Panel: Now that you have decided the method for your domain entry, you will need to log into your Domain Panel to create the settings required to allow us to send (and receive) your email. Ensure you are logged in and on the DNS page so that you can create the entries.

5. Insert the required entries: Our domain setup page lists all of the DNS records that are required to set up the required records. However, we will go through them here, and an explanation on what these records do. As a note, some DNS providers use blank(leave the entry blank) for their host. Others use @. Check with the FAQ's for your Domain Registrar to see which one you need to use.

    1. MX Record: The MX record is where the email gets delivered to. If you have chosen the Purelymail or Relay option from step 3, then you will need to use the record we provide.

If you are wanting to use your own server to receive email (External MX), then this should be set to the IP or FQDN that you are using for this.

   2. SPF Record: The SPF (Sender Policy Framework) record is used to tell others who is authorized to send email as your domain, so that you can have the security for your emails. This needs to be set to the record provided to allow Purelymail to send emails for you. 

   3. Domain ownership proof: This record is set to allow us to verify that you own the domain. This is a security measure to ensure that you own the domain so we don't attempt to allow you to send email as others, but also to protect you from other people attempting to do the same. 

   4. DKIM Records: DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) records are used to improve the deliverability of your emails. This works by allowing us to sign your emails going out, and the receiving server will check this signature to ensure that it was actually sent by us. Some receiving mail servers don't allow you to send email without these, or will silently send the email to spam.

   5. DMARC Records: DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance) records are used to improve the effectiveness of the SPF and DKIM records. It is used for reporting the status of your domain from other mailservers, and what issues they might have with emails being sent. We can then use this information to inform you of any changes that needs to be made to improve deliverability.

And that's it! Save all of the changes to your Domain Panel, verify the DNS records with Purelymail and then save the changes on the page, and your domain should be all set up! You can now create accounts for the domain, send emails and utilize the functionality to its full.

If you have any issues with these steps, don't hesitate to contact us at support@purelymail.com or create a ticket above!