Creating TXT/SPF Zone Records

By using TXT or SPF records, the owner of a domain name is able to specify which machines are allowed to send emails using their domain. Receivers can then validate the SPF and therefore reject messages from unauthorised senders before they receive the body of the message. This helps fight spam as it restricts which email servers are allowed to send emails using your domain name. Below are instructions on how to add SPF records on your account.

Cloud Hosting

To create a text record:

Log into the Console
Click on the domain you want to edit
Click Zone Manager
Click 'Add a zone record' and select TXT
Leave the name field blank
Type the text record in the TXT field in quotation marks

eg. "v=spf1 mx ip4:202.124.241.204 ~all"

Click [Add Record]

Note: Melbourne IT does not validate SPF syntax on request. If your email stops working altogether - please remove this record and confirm the TXT record string before retrying to enter this record again.

cPanel Hosting

To create a text record:

Log into the Console
Manage the domain
Click cPanel
Click Advanced DNS Zone Editor
Use the Add a Record form on this page to create the record as follows:
- Name - the hostname you wish to create the record for
- TTL - 14400
- Type - TXT
- TXT Data - enter the TXT string as available to you

v=spf1 +a +mx +include:_spf.server-cpanel.com +include:relay.mailchannels.net ~all

Click [Add Record] to save the configuration
If you wish to add an SPF record specifically for your cPanel hosting account, we recommend using "include:_spf.server-cpanel.com" instead of using the cPanel hostname or IP address

Note: Melbourne IT does not validate SPF syntax on request. If your email stops working altogether - please remove this record and confirm the TXT Data string before retrying to enter this record again.

For further assistance with SPF records, you may refer to the below 3rd party URLs: