Custom Domains

Mailsac lets you configure a custom domain to receive email at any address within the domain, while keeping mail private. Mail can be fetched via API and by logged-in API users, if your plan supports it.

Custom domains have the advantage higher inbound message throttling limits, greater storage limits, and a Catch-All address. Optionally, Custom domains can be set to public.

Custom domains are included with paid subscriptions. Additional domains may be added to paid subscriptions.

Zero-Setup Subdomain

The Zero-Setup Subdomain automatically creates a subdomain under msdc.co (eg test123.msdc.co).

It is ready to receive and send email with no additional setup.

This is the ideal option if you do not already own a domain - or do not have access to change the DNS records for a domain.

Zero-Setup Subdomain Configuration

BYODomain

BYODomain (Bring Your Own Domain) allows you to easily receive email with a domain or subdomain you already own.

If you do not already own a domain you can use our Zero-Setup Subdomain. Alternatively, you can purchase a domain from a registrar (Namecheap or GoDaddy are popular) and configure it for use with Mailsac.

The exact method for adding DNS records will depend on your DNS hosting provider. Your IT department may be able to assist with this. Links to configuring DNS records for popular DNS solutions are found at the bottom of this page.

BYODomain Configuration

Zero-Setup Subdomain Configuration

Adding a Zero-Setup domain only takes a few seconds.

  1. From the Dashboard, select Custom Domains.

    ../../_images/dashboard_domains.png

  2. Select “Setup a Custom Domain”

    ../../_images/setup_custom_domain.png

  3. Enter a subdomain name and select continue

    ../../_images/enter_domain_name.png

  4. Send a test email to any address at in the custom domain. There is no need to configure individual addresses. Sending an email to the address creates the address.

  5. Enter the email address you sent the email to.

    ../../_images/check_mail.png

  6. Verify the email was received.

    ../../_images/verified_mail.png

BYODomain Configuration

BYODomain configuration requires you to have access to modify DNS records on your domain.

Domain verification requires the addition of a TXT record to validate domain ownership.

Receiving mail requires configuring MX records. Sending mail requires configuring DKIM and SPF records.

The following sections will show how to:

  • Add a custom domain to Mailsac

  • Verify ownership of a custom domain using a TXT record

  • Configure a custom domain to receive mail by adding an MX record

  • Configure a custom domain to send mail by adding DKIM and SPF records

Adding a Custom Domain

  1. From the Dashboard, select Custom Domains.

    ../../_images/dashboard_domains.png

  2. Select “Setup a Custom Domain”

    ../../_images/setup_custom_domain.png

  3. Enter the fully qualified domain name of your domain

    ../../_images/byod_enter_fqdn.png

  4. Select the DNS Setup tab to verify DNS

    “Not Verified - Action Required” indicates DNS is not properly configured. The next section explains how to verify domain ownership.

    ../../_images/byod_select_dns.png

Verify Custom Domain Ownership

  1. Create a TXT record with the hostname and value found on the DNS Setup page under Custom Domains.

    See DNS Provider TXT Record Links for DNS provider specific instructions.

    ../../_images/byod_txt_verification.png

  2. Select “Query My DNS Settings Now”

    Mailsac will attempt to verify domain ownership by querying DNS records for the custom domain.

    ../../_images/byod_query_dns.png

  3. Confirm domain ownership.

    If the TXT record is correct, an “OK” image will appear in the “DNS Records” section.

    ../../_images/byod_txt_verified.png

    Note

    DNS can take up to 24 hours to propagate

Configure Custom Domain for Receiving Mail

  1. Create two MX (“Mail eXchange”) records to receive mail with the hostname and value found on the DNS Setup page under the Custom Domains page.

    ../../_images/byod_mx.png

    See Multiple TXT Records Using AWS Route53 for DNS provider specific instructions

  2. Select “Query My DNS Settings Now”

    Mailsac will attempt to verify the MX records for the custom domain.

    ../../_images/byod_query_dns.png

  3. Confirm MX records.

    If the MX records are correct, an “OK” image will appear next to the “MX Record Type” section of “DNS Records”

    ../../_images/byod_mx_verified.png

Configure Custom Domain for Sending Mail

Warning

Sending outbound SMTP email has been deprecated.

  1. Create a TXT record for DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) with the hostname and value found on the DNS Setup page under the Custom Domains page.

    See DNS Provider TXT Record Links and DNS provider specific instructions

    ../../_images/byod_dkim.png

  2. Create a TXT record for SPF (Sender Policy Framework) with the hostname and value found on the DNS Setup page on the Custom Domains page.

    See DNS Provider SPF Record Links for DNS provider specific instructions

    ../../_images/byod_spf.png

  3. Confirm DKIM and SPF records.

    If the DKIM and SPF records are correct, an “OK” image will appear next to the “DKIM Public Key” and “SPF” section of “DNS Records”

    ../../_images/byod_dkim_spf_verified.png

Public Custom Domains

Custom domains can be set as public. API calls for the domain, its addresses, or messages will be tracked on the domain owner’s account. Viewing message via the website do not count as an Op.

See Ops (Operations) Usage for additional details about Ops usage.

Multiple TXT Records Using AWS Route53

The TXT records to Verify Custom Domain Ownership and SPF both use top level domain as the record name. In the AWS Route53 console each value will need to be quoted and placed on a separate line.

The code sample shows how the record values should be formatted.

"mailsac_0rlzMqMyDo2wDF6FuE0x54U5"
"v=spf1 include:relays.mailsac.com ~all"`
Example of TXT records in AWS Route53 console

Example of formatted values in Route53 AWS Console