plane/apps/email

Required DNS Records for Receiving Mail Server

1. A Record

HOST-DOMAIN points to the server running the email service (e.g plane.example.com).
This can also be replaced with CNAME record of cloud load balancer.

Type: A
Host: <host-domain>
Value: <public-ip-address>
TTL: Auto | 3600

2. MX Record

MAIL-DOMAIN refers to incoming email domain e.g. intake.example.com

Type: MX
Host: <mail-domain>
Value: <host-domain>
Priority: 10
TTL: Auto | 3600

3. SPF Record

Type: TXT
Host: <mail-domain>
Value: "v=spf1 ip4:<A-record-ip-host-domain> -all"
TTL: Auto | 3600

4. DMARC Record

Type: TXT
Host: _dmarc.<mail-domain>
Value: "v=DMARC1; p=reject; rua=mailto:<valid-email-addr>"
TTL: Auto | 3600

Verification Commands

# Verify A record
dig A <mail-domain>

# Verify MX record
dig MX <mail-domain>

# Verify SPF record
dig TXT <mail-domain>

# Verify DMARC record
dig TXT _dmarc.<mail-domain>

You can also visit https://mxtoolbox.com/ to know the issues with your DNS records configuration.

Common Issues and Solutions

1. MX Record Issues:

   • Ensure proper dot at end of domain
   • Check priority number (lower = higher priority)
   • Allow 24-48 hours for propagation

2. A Record Issues:

   • Verify IP address is correct
   • Ensure mail subdomain matches MX record

Testing Mail Server Setup:

# Test SMTP connection
telnet <host-domain> 25
telnet <host-domain> 465
telnet <host-domain> 587