Domains and DNS
Domains are the foundation of deliverability. PING8 verifies DNS so you can confirm a sending domain is authorized before real mail leaves the system.
What the Domains screen is for
Use Sending > Domain to:
- Add sending domains.
- Open DNS record instructions.
- Verify MX, A, SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and PTR status.
- Edit quotas, mailbox count, dedicated IP, hostname, and catch-all behavior.
- Request or inspect SSL status.
- Set a default sending domain.
- Review blacklist status and check logs.
Domain setup flow
- Add the domain.
- Copy DNS records from the DNS Records modal.
- Add records at your DNS provider.
- Configure PTR/rDNS with your server or IP provider.
- Verify DNS in PING8.
- Create a mailbox or sender.
- Send one test email.
Before you start
Decide what role this domain will play:
- Marketing sender: campaigns, newsletters, launches, and lifecycle mail.
- Transactional sender: product notifications, invites, receipts, password resets.
- Mailbox domain: user mailboxes and webmail access.
- Client brand: an isolated brand or tenant in a managed setup.
Also confirm who controls:
- Authoritative DNS records.
- The public outbound IP.
- PTR/rDNS for the outbound IP.
- Any existing MX records for inbound mail.
DNS record types
| Record | Purpose |
|---|---|
| A | Points mail.yourdomain.com to the mail server IP. |
| MX | Tells receivers where inbound mail for the domain should go. |
| SPF | Authorizes the servers allowed to send for the domain. |
| DKIM | Publishes the public key used to verify PING8 signatures. |
| DMARC | Tells receivers how to handle SPF/DKIM alignment failures. |
| PTR | Reverse DNS for the outbound IP, configured at the IP provider. |
Success criteria
The DNS Records modal should show OK for MX, A record, SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and PTR before you use the domain for production sending.
Common mistakes
- Editing DNS at the registrar while the domain actually uses another DNS provider.
- Keeping duplicate SPF records at the same hostname.
- Leaving multiple DMARC records at
_dmarc. - Proxing mail records through Cloudflare.
- Forgetting PTR/rDNS because it is configured at the server or IP provider, not the domain DNS panel.
- Using a strict DMARC policy before test sends prove alignment.