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How to Set Up DNS Records for Your Webmail in DirectAdmin (Enhanced Skin)

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Introduction

Proper DNS configuration is essential for reliable email delivery and maintaining a good sender reputation. Email servers require specific DNS records to function correctly and avoid being flagged as spam by recipient mail servers. The DirectAdmin control panel provides a user-friendly interface to manage these critical DNS settings without requiring advanced technical knowledge.

This guide explains how to configure essential DNS records for email services using the DNS Management section in DirectAdmin. Proper setup of A, MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records ensures your emails are delivered successfully while protecting your domain from spoofing and phishing attacks. These records work together to authenticate your mail server and establish trust with receiving email systems.

Before beginning, ensure your domain is pointing to DirectAdmin’s nameservers and that you have the necessary permissions to modify DNS records. The configuration process typically takes a few minutes, though DNS propagation may require up to 48 hours for full effect.

Prerequisites

  • Access to DirectAdmin with permissions to modify DNS records.
  • Make sure your domain is pointing to DirectAdmin’s nameservers.
  • A public IP address of the server hosting the mail services

 

Step-by-step Guide

Step 1: Access DNS Records

Navigate to your DirectAdmin control panel and log in. Go to the Your Account section and click on DNS Management. You will see the DNS records that have been set up. Normally, an A record, an MX record, and a TXT (SPF) record for the email have been set up by default, then you can skip to step 4, starting from DKIM record. However, in the case that the three records were not listed, you may begin from step 2.

Step 2: Set Up A Record for mail.yourdomain.com

Scroll down to the bottom of the DNS management page. In the row with A, enter the following:

  • Name/Host: mail

  • Value: IP address of your mail server

Click Add on the right side of the row where you entered the name and IP address.

Note: You can replace mail with webmail throughout this guide if you are using webmail.yourdomain.com.

Step 3: Set Up MX Record for yourdomain.com

In the row with MX, enter the following:

  • Name/Host: @ or yourdomain.com

  • Value: domain of your mail server (e.g, mail.yourdomain.com, webmail.yourdomain.com)

Click Add on the right side of the row where you entered the name and value.

 

Step 4: Set Up TXT Records

For mail servers, TXT records are essential for verifying your domain and preventing email spoofing. You’ll need to set up three key TXT records to ensure your emails are delivered correctly and securely: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.

1. SPF Record:

In the row with TXT, enter the following:

  • Name/Host: @ or your domain name.

  • Value (example):

v=spf1 a mx ip4:ip-address -all
Click Add on the right side of the row where you entered the name and value.
🖊️ Tip: Use -all for strict rejection or ~all for soft fail, depending on your policy preferences.

2. DKIM Record:

Go to your domain homepage. Go to the E-Mail Management section and click on E-Mail Accounts. At the bottom of the page, click on Enable DKIM.

You can verify that the DKIM record has been generated in DNS Management.

3. DMARC Record:

Go back to DNS Management. In the row with TXT, enter the following:

  • Name/Host: _dmarc

  • Value (example): v=DMARC1; p=none;

v=DMARC1; p=reject; sp=reject; pct=100; adkim=s; aspf=s;
Click Add on the right side of the row where you entered the name and value.

⚠️ Important Note: You can start with p=none as the minimum requirement. For further customization, you may refer to this website.

 

Step 5: Verify DNS Records

After setting the records, use websites such as:

Example dig command:

dig txt _dmarc.yourdomain.com

Check for correct propagation and syntax. It may take up to 48 hours for DNS changes to take effect.

 

Step 6: Verify Email Sending and Receiving

After few hours, kindly try sending and receiving emails from your account to confirm that your webmail system is working correctly.

If the DNS changes do not take effect, or if there are issues in sending and receiving, please contact us at support@ipserverone.com for further assistance.

 

Conclusion

Configuring DNS records for email services through DirectAdmin is a straightforward process that significantly improves email deliverability and security. By properly setting up A, MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records, you establish proper email authentication and protect your domain reputation. These configurations ensure your emails reach their intended recipients while maintaining security best practices.

Remember that DNS changes may take up to 48 hours to fully propagate across all DNS servers. Regular monitoring using tools like MXToolbox can help verify that your records are functioning correctly and your email system maintains optimal performance.

Should you have any inquiries about the guidelines, please feel free to open a ticket through your portal account or contact us at support@ipserverone.com. We’ll be happy to assist you further.

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