This topic

SPF

bluejak — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 14:14:18 GMT

I have a problem over the last few weeks. I have two domain names and post from them using BTInternet. This has worked for many years.

Now emails are failing specifically to gmail accounts and it says I need verification. Apparently this means I need to attach an SPF to my BTInternet account. (I checked whether I needed it with the domain name providers but the say no, it must be with the email provider).

So I have to attach an SPF to my account xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@btinternet.com

What is an SPF?

What should it look like?

How do I attach it?

Re: SPF

JonUK — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 14:17:39 GMT

You need to remove the email address in your post for security reasons.

JonUK

UPDATE

JohnC2 has edited as I posted

Many Thanks

Re: SPF

licquorice — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 14:39:36 GMT

If you are sending a domain email address using BT SMTP server, you need to authenticate using your btinternet address. You can't configure SPF credentials on the BT server.

Which client are you using?

Re: SPF

licquorice — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 15:00:16 GMT

Try adding

v=spf1 mx a ip4:213.120.69.0/24 a:btinternet.com ~all

To your domain host DNS record.

Have a look at https://flowmailer.com/en/resource/dissecting-the-spf-record

Re: SPF

bluejak — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 12:30:08 GMT

Having spoken to BT help they say they are unable to add an SPF record and do not really know what this means.

Re: SPF

licquorice — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 13:24:21 GMT

It is not BT that need to add the SPF record, it is your domain provider.

Re: SPF

jac_95 — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 16:51:13 GMT

@bluejak,

You need to add the SPF record to your own DSN records for the domain containing the MX servers and third party mail services you use to send mail on behalf of your domain - see https://dmarcian.com/create-spf-record/

Don't use BT Consumers mx records to send emails for your own domain, I'm surprised that's working as I thought they blocked it.

Re: SPF

bluejak — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 21:09:18 GMT

The domain provider made it quite clear that it was BT. BT did not know what I was talking about.

Re: SPF

bluejak — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 21:11:42 GMT

This is great for the technically minded. I do not know what the following are, what they mean, or what to do about them:

DSN records
MX servers
Third party mail servers
BT Consmers max records

Re: SPF

licquorice — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 21:15:37 GMT

The domain provider doesn't know what they are talking about.

They need to add the details I provided to your DNS record

Alternatively, why not send via your domain provider's email server if they offer that facility.

Re: SPF

licquorice — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 21:16:57 GMT

Are you actually a BT broadband customer?

Re: SPF

bluejak — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 19:43:21 GMT

I do not understand “send via your domain provider’s email server”. As a very long term customer of BT I am quite happy with them and I have no idea what other problems might arrive if I switch for no obvious gain.

Re: SPF

bluejak — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 19:44:19 GMT

Yes, BT provide email, broadband, landline.

Re: SPF

licquorice — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 20:08:15 GMT

It's quite simple, instead of sending your domain name email via the BT email servers, simply send them via your domain host's email servers. Otherwise just add the the SPF information to your domain DNS record as posted previously.

Re: SPF

bluejak — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 22:53:37 GMT

I think th etime has come to give up. What is simple to you completely incomprehensibloe to someone like myself with no technical knowledge whatever. I have no idea what a DNS record is or how to add anything to it. I have no idea whow to send BT email except via BT.

I think gmail people will just have accept some of my emails will not reach them.

Re: SPF

licquorice — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 06:54:24 GMT

You just need to ask your domain provider to add the SPF details

Re: SPF

bluejak — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 13:09:27 GMT

As previously explained the domain provider says it is not for them but for the email people.

However, BT have now passed it to their technical people.

Re: SPF

licquorice — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 13:32:52 GMT

If the problem is the lack of SPF details, it is nothing to do with BT, it is your host that should be implementing the details I posted regardless of what they say.

Who is your domain provider?

Did you actually read the links I posted explaining how SPF works and it's purpose?

Re: SPF

licquorice — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 13:35:33 GMT

As asked previously, what client (app) are you using to send the emails and how exactly do you have it configured? Are you authenticating the mails with a btinternet email address?

Re: SPF

Les-Gibson — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 14:10:58 GMT

This article may help your understanding

Prevent mail to Gmail users from being blocked or sent to spam - Gmail Help (google.com)