SPF(supported) / (dedicated subdomain) DKIM(recommended)
This article covers the SPF and DKIM authentication processes for Vanilla and how they are managed in Valimail Enforce. Because this service leverages Sendgrid's email infrastructure, it requires additions to your DNS records outside of the Valimail platform. Adding Vanilla as an authorized sender in the Valimail Enforce usually requires a dedicated subdomain to be pointed to the Sendgrid infrastructure and typically the DKIM keys will be added in the Valimail platform.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Configuring DKIM authentication for your Vanilla emails
- Add a Vanilla DKIM key in Enforce
- Configuring SPF authentication for your Vanilla emails
Configuring DKIM authentication for your Vanilla emails
To set up sender authentication:
1. Navigate to the Outgoing Email page and configure the email address and sender name fields; these are described above in Outgoing Email settings.
2. Contact Vanilla Support, support@vanillaforums.com, and have them confirm your Outgoing Email settings.
3. A Vanilla Support agent will coordinate with Vanilla Ops to provide you with the DNS records to update.
4. Have your technical team implement the DNS records.
Note: If you manage DKIM for your domain in Valimail, you will need to add the 2 CNAME DKIM key records in your domain's Configuration page in Valimail Enforce and the 3rd CNAME record needs to be added in your DNS.
5. Contact Vanilla Support, support@vanillaforums.com, and have them confirm that the DNS records are in place.
6. A Vanilla Support agent will coordinate with Vanilla Ops to ensure that sender authentication is in place, and will contact you to confirm.
These DNS records associate your sending domain with SendGrid. After this is done, when an inbox provider processes your email message, they will see your domain instead of via vanillaforums.com, as shown in the images below.
Default delivery
Delivery with sender authentication
You can also find the instructions on how to set up DKIM and SPF for Vanilla, here.
Add a Vanilla DKIM key in Enforce
1. Go to your domain's Configuration page in Valimail Enforce and publish the newly created DKIM key.
a. Scroll down and add the two DKIM keys in your configuration, by clicking on Add a DKIM key.
b. Enter the selector name, CNAME target value, associate the key/s with Vanilla and then click Add.
You can find more detailed information on how to add a DKIM key in Valimail Enforce here.
Configuring SPF authentication for your Vanilla emails
Once you establish that Vanilla is an authorized sender for your domain, you will need to add the service in your Enabled Senders list in Enforce.
1. Please go to your domain's Configuration page in Enforce.
2. Click on the + sign from the Enabled Senders section:
3. Choose Vanilla from the list of configurable senders and then click Enable:
We encourage you to use the comment section for any useful information about your sending service, such as the name of the service owner, change request ticket numbers, etc.
As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to submit a ticket.