Skip to main content

Mail DNS Setup Guide

Overview​

To use Clearbox with a custom domain, your DNS (Domain Name System) must be configured to recognize our mail servers. This process handles two critical tasks:

  1. Incoming Mail: Directing messages sent to you into your Clearbox inbox (MX records).
  2. Outgoing Security: Proving to the world that emails sent from your domain are legitimate and not spam (SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records).

1. Choose Your Path​

If your domain is registered through or managed by Alfrolia DotSync, setup is Zero-Configuration.

  • Automation: When you connect your domain to Clearbox in the dashboard, DotSync automatically publishes all required MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records for you.
  • Smart Merging: If you already have an SPF record for another service (like a CRM or newsletter tool), DotSync will intelligently append our records rather than overwriting them.
  • Action Required: None. Your email infrastructure is handled entirely behind the scenes.

Path B: Your Domain is Managed Elsewhere​

If you use an external registrar (e.g., Cloudflare, GoDaddy, Namecheap), you must manually add the records listed below to their DNS management panel.

2. Manual Configuration Reference​

Only follow this section if you are not using DotSync-managed DNS.

MX Records (Incoming Delivery)​

MX records tell the internet where to deliver your mail. You must have both for redundancy.

PriorityHostValue
10@{server-name}.alfrolia.com.
20@{server-name}-relay.alfrolia.com.

Server Name: Clearbox Suites are hosted on our distributed cloud. A dedicated server will be automatically allocated to your account upon suite creation."

Security & Identity Records (Outgoing Protection)​

These records ensure your emails reach the recipient's primary inbox instead of the spam folder.

TypeHostValue
TXT (SPF)@v=spf1 include:clearbox.alfrolia.com ~all
TXT (DKIM)default._domainkeyv=DKIM1; k=rsa; p=[Your-Unique-Public-Key]
TXT (DMARC)_dmarcv=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:admin@yourdomain.com
  • DKIM: Your unique public key is generated in your Clearbox Admin Console.
  • DMARC: Use p=quarantine initially. This tells other providers to send suspicious mail to spam rather than outright rejecting it while you test your setup.

3. Step-by-Step Manual Setup​

  1. Log in to your domain registrar's control panel.
  2. Locate the DNS Management, DNS Records, or Zone Editor section.
  3. Add the MX records first to ensure you can receive mail.
  4. Add the TXT records for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to ensure you can send mail securely.
  5. Save and wait for propagation (typically 15 minutes to 48 hours).

4. Verification & Troubleshooting​

How to Check Your Status​

You can verify your records are live using the Clearbox Admin Console. A green "Verified" badge will appear once our system detects the correct records on the global internet.

Common Issues​

  • Conflicting SPF Records: Ensure you only have one TXT record starting with v=spf1. If you have multiple, combine them into one line.
  • DKIM "Host" Variations: Some registrars automatically add your domain name to the host field. If so, you may only need to enter default._domainkey instead of default._domainkey.yourdomain.com.
  • Propagation Latency: DNS changes move through the world's servers at different speeds. Use a tool like MXToolbox to see if your records are visible globally.

Next Steps​

Once your domain is verified:

  1. Create Users in the Clearbox Console.
  2. Configure Mobile Sync for your iPhone or Android device.
  3. Set up Desktop Clients like Outlook or Apple Mail.