Set up a domain without any email service in production (e.g. new domain)
Before you can start using the professional email service you need to configure the domain to point the domain name server (DNS) pointers/records to Sooma. Typically this configuration will take place at the provider where you registered/maintained your domain.
For advanced users the necessary records are briefly listed:
[DOMAIN]. 3600 IN MX 10 smtpin1.smail.eu. [DOMAIN]. 3600 IN MX 20 smtpin2.smail.eu. [DOMAIN]. 3600 IN TXT "v=spf1 include:_spfi.smail.eu -all" _autodiscover._tcp.[domain]. 3600 IN 10 100 443 mail.sooma.com mail.[DOMAIN]. 3600 CNAME mail.smail.eu
The detailed description follows:
MX (Email) Pointers
The MX pointers of a domain are the way a domain communicates to the Internet (in this context, to all mail servers around the world) which infrastructure is responsible for managing the mail service.
[DOMAIN]. 3600 IN MX 10 smtpin1.smail.eu. [DOMAIN]. 3600 IN MX 20 smtpin2.smail.eu.
replace [DOMINIO] with the domain you want to configure
TXT Pointer (SPF)
This pointer allows you to broadcast the IP ranges of systems that are allowed to send legitimate messages with sender in the managed domain. You can find more information about this system in“SPF, DKIM and DMARC – Anti-phishing protection systems“.
[DOMAIN]. 3600 IN TXT "v=spf1 a mx include:_spfi.smail.eu -all"
SRV Pointer (Autodiscover)
The SRV pointer makes it easy to configure email from email management applications (Outlook, Thunderbird, apple mail, etc.) and is especially useful for minimizing the data entry that is required when configuring mobile devices (Android and iPhone).
_autodiscover._tcp.[domain]. 3600 IN 10 100 443 mail.sooma.com
That is, a pointer of type SRV, with service name “_autodiscover”, protocol “_tcp”, high priority, high relative weight, target port “443” and target host “mail.sooma.com”.
Some DNS managers assume underscore so it may be sufficient to indicate the service name and protocol without underscore (autodiscover and tcp). A low priority value means higher priority. A high value in relative weight means preferred.
CNAME Pointer (Webmail)
The CNAME record allows you to refer to the web interface on a domain that is easier to remember.
mail[DOMAIN]. 3600 CNAME mail.smail.eu
Advanced Pointers (DKIM and DMARC)
To protect our customers from phishing attacks we use encryption techniques to allow third-party mail servers that receive messages identifying themselves as coming from one of our customers to confirm the authenticity of those messages.
You can configure these pointers later by referring to the instructions and the public cryptographic key that is available in the administration interface of the service (information available only to users with administration privileges).
Setting up a domain associated with a mail service already in production (i.e. a domain where you need to migrate the mail service)
Since DNS-level changes are potentially disruptive to the services associated with the domain (email, website, etc.) which are very sensitive to changes in the pointers, we strongly suggest that you involve the support line ( Contact ) whenever you need to change pointers related to email services.
To ensure that there is never an interruption of email service when migrating from a competing service (SmartCloud PT Empresas, Google Suite, Microsoft Office 365, etc.) to Sooma, it is critical that DNS record changes are made in coordination with the support line.
Special use cases
Some Sooma partners use their own pointer templates. Typically these pointers follow a fixed pattern so the above is valid by replacing the ending of the “smail.eu” pointers with “[partner brand].smail.eu”.
As an example, the primary MX pointer argument would be something like “smtpin1.nos.smail.eu” for a NOS client and “smtpin1.portugalmail.smail.eu” for a Portugalmail client. To obtain the pointers we ask that you consult the support line of the company you contracted the professional cloud email service from or contact the Sooma support line.