CatchMailNot Blog

Adding DNS Entries

Fred Kennel -

Cloudflare

When using your own domain with CatchMailNot email services, you'll need to add specific DNS records in your Cloudflare account. This section walks you through the process of configuring your Cloudflare-managed domain to work properly with CatchMailNot.

Required DNS Record Types for CatchMailNot

For your domain to function correctly with CatchMailNot, you'll need to add the following types of DNS records in your Cloudflare account:

  • A Record - Points the mail subdomain to CatchMailNot's mail server IP address
  • CNAME Record - Creates an alias for the SMTP service
  • TXT Record (SPF) - Specifies authorized mail servers for your domain
  • MX Record - Directs email delivery to the correct mail server
  • TXT Record (DKIM) - Enables email authentication to prevent spoofing

Steps to Add These Records in Cloudflare

  1. Log in to your Cloudflare account Navigate to dash.cloudflare.com and sign in.
  2. Select your domain Click on the domain you want to configure for CatchMailNot.
  3. Go to DNS management Click on the "DNS" tab in the top navigation menu.
  4. Add each required record Click "Add record" for each of the required record types mentioned above. You'll need to obtain the specific values for each record from your CatchMailNot domain's DNS settings.
  5. Important Note on Proxy Status For email-related records (especially MX, TXT, and the mail A record), it's recommended to set the proxy status to "DNS only" (gray cloud) rather than "Proxied" (orange cloud) to ensure proper email delivery.

Verifying Your Configuration

After adding all required records and allowing time for DNS propagation (typically 5-30 minutes with Cloudflare, though it can take up to 24-48 hours globally):

  1. Visit the CatchMailNot website and use their domain verification tool
  2. Check your domain's DNS configuration using a tool like MXToolbox or DNSChecker

If you encounter any issues with your email service after configuration, ensure all records are correctly entered and that you've allowed sufficient time for DNS propagation.

DNS Propagation Time

After setting up your DNS records in Cloudflare, changes typically propagate quickly within their network, but complete global propagation may take some time:

  • Within Cloudflare's network: Usually 5-30 minutes
  • Global propagation: Up to 24-48 hours (though typically much faster)