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Set up DNS records for Cloud Office email

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This article describes how to initially configure your domain's Domain Name System (DNS) to start receiving email through Rackspace Cloud Office. If you don't require instructions, see the table in step two of Configure DNS to send and receive email for the required DNS entry values.

Prerequisites

  • Applies to: Administrators
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Time needed: Approximately 30 minutes to configure and an additional 24-48 hours to propagate
  • Tools required: DNS host administrator access

You also need access to update DNS entries for your domain. If you don't know where your DNS is hosted, see Find your DNS host.

For more information on prerequisite terminology, see Cloud Office support terminology.

Types of DNS entries

The following DNS entries are required to use email services at Rackspace properly:

  • MX records tell other email providers where to send email. Your MX records should point to Rackspace. More about MX records.

  • SPF records reduce unwanted SPAM and spoofing from your domain and ensure that outgoing emails are delivered More about SPF records.

  • Autodiscover records allow for full functionality of calendar features (free/busy information) and easier email client setups. More about Autodiscover records.

Configure DNS to send and receive email

Use the following steps to ensure your domain properly routes incoming and outgoing email.

Warning: If you host your email through our Office 365 solution, please see Office 365 domain setup for instructions.

  1. Log in to the control panel for your domain DNS host. If you host your DNS with Rackspace Cloud Office, see Edit DNS in the Cloud Office Control Panel.

  2. Set the DNS entries to the values shown in the following table. Ensure that no other MX record entries exist, or you will experience complications with your email. For more information, see Add or edit entries for your DNS host.

TypeHostnameDestinationPriorityTTL
MX@ or left blankmx1.emailsrvr.com103600 seconds or lowest allowed
MX@ or left blankmx2.emailsrvr.com203600 seconds or lowest allowed
TXT@ or left blankv=spf1 include:emailsrvr.com ~allNA3600 seconds or lowest allowed
CNAMEautodiscoverautodiscover.emailsrvr.comNA3600 seconds or lowest allowed
**Note:** Your new settings take 24 to 48 hours to propagate to the world. For more information on propagation, see [DNS propagation](/support/how-to/dns-record-definitions#dns-propagation).
  1. Save your changes.

You have successfully set up your DNS for your domain.

Warning: If you change DNS settings for a domain that was hosting email elsewhere, you must reconfigure user email clients and device to point to Rackspace. Send your users to https://emailhelp.rackspace.com to assist them with new settings.

If you prefer to watch a video tutorial with more information about DNS, see Rackspace Email - Domain Name System: Introduction & Setup.

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Updated 12 months ago