Sending mail from domain's dedicated IP instead of Plesk server default IP

[ajack]

I have read that with Plesk 10.4 and Postfix 2.8, emails from a domain with dedicated IP should go out from that IP rather than the default IP.

I cannot make it happen on my server, mail goes out from the Plesk server's default IP even though the domain has a dedicated (not shared) IP.

I am using PHP to send mail if that makes any difference, we have tried both:
-mail($recipient,$title,$message,$headers );
-mail($recipient,$title,$message,$headers, '-f [email protected]');
they produce the same result.


Are there settings that I might need to tweak or reset to enable that feature?


Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Ajack

---------------------------------------------------------------
PRODUCT, VERSION, OPERATING SYSTEM, ARCHITECTURE
Parallels Plesk Panel: v10.4.4_build1013111102.18 os_CentOS 6
Postfix: 2.8.4-11100615

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
Outgoing mail from domain with dedicated IP is going out via the Plesk server's default IP

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
-mail($recipient,$title,$message,$headers );
-mail($recipient,$title,$message,$headers, '-f [email protected]');

ACTUAL RESULT
Outgoing mail from domain with dedicated IP is going out via the Plesk server's default IP

EXPECTED RESULT
Outgoing mail should go out via the domain's dedicated IP

ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
None so far
--------------------------------------------------------------

 

[ajack]

I figured out how it works, it is not obvious, and certainly not documented, so maybe this will be helpful to others.

Let's say you have a Plesk Server with the following configuration:

Server hostname: mypleskserver.com
Server main IP: 11.22.33.44

and a domain with an exclusive IP:

Domain: mydomain.com
Domain IP: 1.2.3.4

Then this is the behavior:

1) If you send mail using the -f paramater like this:

mail($recipient,$title,$message,$headers, '-f [email protected]');

Then it will send the mail from the dedicated IP associated with mydomain.com BUT the header will still show the hostname of the server, so it will look like this:

Return-Path: <[email protected]>
Received: from mypleskserver.com (www.mydomain.com. [1.2.3.4])

2) If you send mail WITHOUT using the -f paramater like this:

mail($recipient,$title,$message,$headers);

Then it will send the mail from the Plesk server's main IP, so it will look like this:

Return-Path: <[email protected]>
Received: from mypleskserver.com (www.mypleskserver.com. [11.22.33.44])

From the standpoint of email deliverability, #1 is obviously better, however is not ideal because the Plesk server hostname is still in the headers, and it is possible that some ESPs will apply a penalty for that.

If anyone knows how to override that value (I think it's the SMTP HELO), please let me know!

Thanks

Ajack