This topic describes how to set up DNS records for an Alibaba Cloud (Wanwang) domain name to use Alibaba Mail. If your domain name and DNS service are not provided by Alibaba Cloud, refer to Set up DNS records for a non-Alibaba Cloud (Wanwang) domain name to use Alibaba Mail or contact your domain name service provider for assistance.
Resolution process: Register a domain name (if you do not have one) -> Log on to the domain name platform -> Complete identity verification -> Perform email migration (if needed) -> Add or switch DNS records
Starting from 8:00 on July 18, 2016, you must complete identity verification for all registered .com and .net domain names. Otherwise, the domain names are placed in a locked state (Serverhold) and cannot be used. After a .com or .net domain name is registered, it is automatically submitted for a naming review. After the review is approved, which takes one to two business days, the domain name is temporarily unlocked and its status changes to OK. If you do not submit your identity verification information and pass the review within five days of registration, the domain name will be locked again by the registry.
DNS records cannot be added to or take effect for a locked domain. You must complete identity verification to unlock the domain before you can use it.
1. What is domain name resolution?
Domain name resolution for email translates the domain name in an email address into a corresponding IP address. This allows servers to correctly send and receive emails. In your email settings, you must configure the domain's mail exchanger (MX) record. This allows the mail server to find the correct IP address through the MX record and send emails to the email service provider for that domain.
Email domain name resolution includes the following types of records:
1. MX record: This is a mail exchange record for an email server. It specifies the mail server that receives emails for the domain. A domain can have multiple MX records. The lower the priority number, the higher the priority.
2. CNAME record: This record maps a domain name to another domain name. It is used to create an alias for a domain.
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mail: Allows you to open the webmail logon page using a URL in the format "mail.domainname". For more information, see Customize the email logon address.
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smtp: Allows you to configure an outgoing mail server address in the format "smtp.domainname" in your email client to send emails.
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imap: Allows you to configure an incoming mail server address in the format "imap.domainname" in your email client to receive emails.
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pop3: Allows you to configure an incoming mail server address in the format "pop3.domainname" in your email client to receive emails.
3. TXT record: This is a Sender Policy Framework (SPF) record. It is a technology that authenticates the identity of an email sender using an IP address and is a highly effective solution for preventing spam. The receiving mail server checks the domain's SPF record to determine if the sender's IP address is included in the SPF record. If it is, the email is considered legitimate. Otherwise, it is considered a forged email and is rejected.
Specific records for Alibaba Mail
1) MX records are mandatory. If they are not added, you cannot send or receive emails.
2) We recommend that you add all other records, especially the TXT/SPF record. For more information about this record, see Add an SPF record for an email domain.
3) Add one of the following two sets of DNS records. Group Mail customers must use Record Set 2.
| Record Set 1: |
|||
| Operations on Resolved Domain Names |
Record Type |
Priority |
Record Value |
| @ |
MX |
5 |
mx1.qiye.aliyun.com |
| @ |
MX |
10 |
mx2.qiye.aliyun.com |
| @ |
MX |
15 |
mx3.qiye.aliyun.com |
| imap |
CNAME |
imap.qiye.aliyun.com |
|
| pop3 |
CNAME |
pop.qiye.aliyun.com |
|
| smtp |
CNAME |
smtp.qiye.aliyun.com |
|
| |
CNAME |
qiye.aliyun.com |
|
| @ |
TXT |
v=spf1 include the following:spf.qiye.aliyun.com -all |
|
| Record Set 2: |
|||
| Managing resolved domain names |
Record Type |
Priority |
Record Value |
| @ |
MX |
5 |
mxn.mxhichina.com |
| @ |
MX |
10 |
mxw.mxhichina.com |
| imap |
CNAME |
imap.mxhichina.com |
|
| pop3 |
CNAME |
pop3.mxhichina.com |
|
| smtp |
CNAME |
smtp.mxhichina.com |
|
| |
CNAME |
mail.mxhichina.com |
|
| @ |
TXT |
v=spf1 include the following:spf.qiye.aliyun.com -all |
|
How to parse
Method 1: Use the one-click setup
Prerequisite: Your domain name and Alibaba Mail product must be under the same Alibaba Cloud account.
1. Log on to the Alibaba Mail console. On the email management page, find the email domain for which you want to set up DNS records and click Manage in the Actions column.
2. On the details page, click Set Resolution -> One-click Email Resolution Setup.
If the message "Failed to add. Please retry." appears:
This message indicates that you need to check your DNS records. If a CNAME record already exists for the host that is an at sign (@), you cannot add an MX record for the same host because the records conflict. For more information, see DNS record conflict rules. You must decide whether to delete the CNAME record before you add the Alibaba Mail DNS records.
If you have added the DNS records but the status is still "Resolution not effective", click "Refresh Status" or "Check Domain Resolution".
3. After the DNS records are added, the records are automatically generated. You can go to the Domain Names console and click DNS Settings to view them.
Method 2: Use the quick setup in the Domain Names console
Prerequisite: This method works regardless of whether your domain name and Alibaba Mail product are under the same Alibaba Cloud account.
1. Log on to the Domain Names console. In the domain name list, find the domain for which you want to set up DNS records. Click DNS Settings to go to the DNS Settings page.
2. Click Quick Email Resolution Setup, select Alibaba Mail, and then click OK to quickly set up the DNS records.
3. The DNS records are set up.
Method 3: Manually add DNS records
Prerequisite: This method works regardless of whether your domain name and Alibaba Mail product are under the same Alibaba Cloud account.
1. Log on to the Domain Names console. In the domain name list, find the domain for which you want to set up DNS records and click DNS Settings to go to the DNS Settings page.
2. Click Add Record and add the DNS records as described in Specific records for Alibaba Mail.
1) DNS records typically take about 10 minutes to take effect. After you add the records, wait for them to propagate.
2) If you have added the DNS records but the status is still "Resolution not effective", click "Refresh Status" or "Check Domain Resolution".
3) If your local test shows that the MX record has taken effect and you can send and receive emails normally, you can ignore the error message "The MX record of the email domain in use does not point to the enterprise mail service. You will not be able to successfully receive emails sent or replied to from external domains." This message in the Alibaba Mail console does not affect your ability to send and receive emails.