DNS Configuration Overview
Learn how to configure DNS records to enable email delivery for your domain.
What is DNS?
DNS (Domain Name System) is like the internet's phone book. It translates human-readable domain names (like yourcompany.com) into IP addresses that computers use to communicate.
For email to work properly, you need to add specific DNS records that tell other email servers how to route emails to and from your domain.
Required DNS Records
MoovMail requires four types of DNS records:
1. MX Records (Mail Exchange)
MX records tell other email servers where to deliver emails sent to your domain.
- Purpose: Route incoming emails to MoovMail servers
- Priority: Lower numbers = higher priority
- Example: mail.moovmail.com (priority 10)
2. SPF Record (Sender Policy Framework)
SPF records specify which mail servers are authorized to send email on behalf of your domain.
- Purpose: Prevent email spoofing and spam
- Type: TXT record
- Example: v=spf1 include:_spf.moovmail.com ~all
3. DKIM Record (DomainKeys Identified Mail)
DKIM adds a digital signature to outgoing emails, verifying they haven't been tampered with.
- Purpose: Email authentication and integrity
- Type: TXT record
- Location: moovmail._domainkey.yourcompany.com
4. DMARC Record (Domain-based Message Authentication)
DMARC tells receiving servers what to do if an email fails SPF or DKIM checks.
- Purpose: Email authentication policy
- Type: TXT record
- Location: _dmarc.yourcompany.com
Step-by-Step Setup Process
Step 1: Access Your DNS Settings
Log in to your domain provider's control panel. Popular providers include:
- GoDaddy: Go to Domain Settings → Manage DNS
- Namecheap: Go to Domain List → Manage → Advanced DNS
- Cloudflare: Go to DNS Management
- Google Domains: Go to DNS Settings
Step 2: Get Your DNS Records
After registering with MoovMail, you'll see a DNS configuration page with all the records you need. Each record will have:
- Type: MX, TXT, or CNAME
- Name/Host: @ (root domain) or subdomain
- Value: The server address or text value
- Priority: For MX records only
- TTL: Usually 3600 (1 hour)
Step 3: Add Each Record
Copy and paste each record from the MoovMail dashboard to your DNS provider:
- Click "Add Record" or similar button
- Select record type (MX, TXT, etc.)
- Enter the Name/Host
- Enter the Value
- Set Priority (for MX records)
- Save the record
Step 4: Verify DNS Records
After adding all records, return to the MoovMail dashboard and click "Check DNS Records". The system will verify that your records are configured correctly.
⏱️ DNS Propagation Time:
DNS changes can take up to 24-48 hours to propagate worldwide. Most providers propagate within 1-2 hours, but it varies by provider and record type.
Common DNS Providers
GoDaddy
- Log in to GoDaddy account
- Go to "My Products"
- Find your domain and click "DNS"
- Click "Add" to add new records
Cloudflare
- Log in to Cloudflare dashboard
- Select your domain
- Go to "DNS" tab
- Click "Add record"
Namecheap
- Log in to Namecheap account
- Go to "Domain List"
- Click "Manage" next to your domain
- Go to "Advanced DNS" tab
- Click "Add New Record"
Troubleshooting DNS Issues
Records Not Verifying
If your DNS records aren't verifying after 24 hours:
- Check for typos in record values
- Ensure you're adding records to the correct domain
- Some providers require a trailing dot (.) at the end of values
- Check if your provider has specific formatting requirements
- Try flushing your DNS cache
Conflicting Records
If you already have MX or SPF records for other email services, you may need to:
- Remove old MX records when switching to MoovMail
- Merge SPF records (only one SPF record allowed per domain)
- Keep DKIM records separate with different selectors
Need Help?
If you're having trouble with DNS configuration:
Next Steps
Once your DNS is configured: