SPF Problem

[sparkybarkalot]

dnsstuff.com shows only one odd thing for my domain, and that is: "Your domain does not have an SPF record". I have set up a TXT record for my domain in Plesk which reads:

v=spf1 ip4:0.0.0.0 a mx mx:mail.mydomainname.com ~all

The 0.0.0.0 is actually my server's IP, and mydomainname is actually my domain name (names have been changed to protect the innocent).

I've added a bogus CNAME record and deleted it afterwards to make sure my TXT record is being read.

I've restarted Plesk in case that was necessary.

I am certain that my IP address and domain name are correct.

Any suggestions as to why my SPF record isn't being seen by the outside world?

 

[sparkybarkalot]

Anyone?

Any thoughts at all would be a great help... anyone?

 

[michaellunsford]

I don't think the IP and full domain are required. Mine works fine as such:

v=spf1 a mx ~all

PS> I set this under the domain's DNS, not the server's.

 

[sparkybarkalot]

Not working either...

Thanks for the reply, Michael. I tried that as well (in fact, I changed it to that very same thing since my original post) and it hasn't changed anything. The outside world still doesn't seem to be recognizing that I've got an SPF record set for that domain. Any other ideas?

 

[michaellunsford]

did you leave the subdomain blank?

 

[sparkybarkalot]

Michael, I'm not sure if I understand the question. I don't have any SPF records set up for any subdomains under that domain, if that's what you mean.

 

[michaellunsford]

there are three fields:

Record Type : TXT
Enter Domain Name : [leave blank]
Enter TXT Record : v=spf1 a mx ~all

Somewhere I saw quotes around the TXT record's value -- but mine does not include quotes and works fine. DNSstuff seems to like it, too.

 

[sparkybarkalot]

Thanks for clarifying and working with me on this. I did indeed leave the subdomain blank, so that's all good. Plesk adds the double quotes around TXT records automagically, so I can't leave them out (unless I suppose I edit the psa database manually). But folks on other forums have said that Plesk will add double quotes like that and not cause any problems. This is a real stumper, huh.

 

[michaellunsford]

odd. Maybe it's because I'm in 8.1 -- which doesn't show the quotes (but I'm sure they're probably there in whatever file plesk is changing).

one note. Make sure you're in the domain control panel's DNS settings and not the server's.

 

[sparkybarkalot]

Yeah, I definitely added it within the domain's DNS area, rather than the server's. As far as I can tell, everything is right but it's just not being seen. I am mystified!

 

[michaellunsford]

if your plesk server is not the name server, you might need to modify the dns records on the name server.

 

[sparkybarkalot]

Good thought. Maybe I'll give 1and1 a call... they're the people who I lease my server from. dnsstuff.com says I have no SPF or TXT records for that domain, and maybe 1and1 does something weird with TXT records or something.

 

[nickpick]

Check out the spf website to understand and create a correct spf:

http://www.openspf.org/

 

[sparkybarkalot]

Good suggestion, but been there a handful times and as far as I can see, the problem isn't with how I'm declaring my SPF in Plesk, but simply that the outside world doesn't seem to see that TXT record. I'm guessing the problem is that, since I'm not running my own name server, the SPF records aren't being seen by the outside world. Has anyone else successfully set up SPF records when using Plesk with a 1&1 root server not running your own name server?

 

[michaellunsford]

Just do a whois on the domain in question to find out the nameserver. That's where the changes need to be applied.

If the interface doesn't allow you to add TXT records, you will need to submit a support ticket to the company who handles that name server. Typically, they will know exactly what you're talking about, so be sure to send them the entire record you want added.

Once the support people have added the TXT record, you will very likely be unable to modify any DNS settings without the GUI destroying the record. So, be sure everything is the way you want it for a long time.