Emails going to Spam/Bulk Folder

[renandecarlo]

Hello. I've a VPS running Postfix as a mail server.

The problem is that all emails I send from the server get to the Gmail/Hotmail spam/bulk folder.

The domain is and the IP is 66.151.244.199

I think rDNS is set properly, and I've also read something about SPF records, but I don't know what it mean.


Can somebody help me?

[Edge100x]

Setting up your own email server can be difficult because of spam filters. There are a lot of ways that things can go wrong.

You should definitely check the forward and reverse DNS entries first (which should be mail.yourdomain.net), and make sure that postfix is sending from the correct IP address (which should be used for nothing else). Make certain that it identifies itself as the same name, as well.

[renandecarlo]

My rDNS are set correctly, DNSs are also. I'm using a MX entry to mail.exampledomain.com.

Sometimes postfix send from IP 66.151.244.199 and sometimes from 66.151.244.205, don't know why this is happening.


Here is a full header of a message received from Gmail, sent by my server:

Code: Select all

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
Delivered-To: dyego.mkt@gmail.com
Received: by 10.68.57.2 with SMTP id e2cs176601pbq;
        Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:00:10 -0700 (PDT)
Received: by 10.236.77.233 with SMTP id d69mr49963863yhe.84.1317150010090;
        Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:00:10 -0700 (PDT)
Return-Path: <support@exampledomain.com>
Received: from mail.exampledomain.com (exampledomain.com. [66.151.244.199])
        by mx.google.com with ESMTP id j69si19114857yhn.135.2011.09.27.12.00.09;
        Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:00:10 -0700 (PDT)
Received-SPF: pass (google.com: domain of support@exampledomain.com designates 66.151.244.199 as permitted sender) client-ip=66.151.244.199;
Authentication-Results: mx.google.com; spf=pass (google.com: domain of support@exampledomain.com designates 66.151.244.199 as permitted sender) smtp.mail=support@exampledomain.com
Received: by mail.exampledomain.com (Postfix, from userid 33)
	id 17012609C8; Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:00:06 -0300 (BRT)
To: dyego.mkt@gmail.com
Subject: OpenBux - Invitation
MIME-Version: 1.1
X-Priority: 3
X-Mailer: PHP/5.3.8-1~dotdeb.2
Content-type: text/html; charset=iso-8859-1
From: OpenBux <support@exampledomain.com>
Reply-To: OpenBux <support@exampledomain.com>
Message-Id: <20110927190006.17012609C8@mail.exampledomain.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:00:06 -0300 (BRT)

Hello. You are receiving this message because <b>dicarli</b> has invited you to join us at OpenBux.<br><br>
				
				You may register on the website through the registration link below:<br>
				<a href="http://www.exampledomain.com/register" target="_blank">http://www.exampledomain.com/register</a><br><br>
				
				Note that OpenBux is currently available to invited members only and you have been one of the few that have been invited.<br><br><br>
				
				
				We wish you good luck!<br><br>
				
				Regards,<br>
				OpenBux Staff.

[Edge100x]

You don't have the reverse DNS for either of those set up to be mail.openbux.com. 66.151.244.199 is "openbux.com" and 66.151.244.205 is "ns2.openbux.com".

Set smtp_bind_address in /etc/postfix/main.cf to define the correct IP for it to bind.

[renandecarlo]

I have one rDNS set to exampledomain.com and other to ns2.exampledomain.com. These are the only two I can put with NFO Panel. I've also added a rDNS entry in the bind just to make sure. What do I need to put?

I've tried to use the domain as the postfix host, as the main domain has the rDNS set, but it didn't work aswell.

[Edge100x]

Mail servers are picky. You need to set the RDNS to match the mail server (mail.whatever.com). I would generally recommend running a mail server on its own IP, but you could probably share the ns2 IP. Just make sure that it's set up to be the correct reverse DNS, and not ns2.yourdomain.com.

[renandecarlo]

Okay, I've changed the reverse DNS on NFO Panel to exampledomain.com (66.151.244.199) and the second to mail.exampledomain.com (66.151.244.205).

Also added the smtp_bind_address.


Now let's wait the DNS to propagate and see if it works.

[renandecarlo]

Okay, emails sent to Gmail through Squirrelmail and Outlook are going to Inbox Folder.

Emails sent through php script are getting to the spam/bulk folder.


Emails to hotmail are all to spam folder.

[renandecarlo]

Okay, I've got it to work with Gmail with PHPMailer. It's getting to the Inbox folder on Gmail now.

Next problem is Hotmail.

[Edge100x]

Hotmail is a rough one that we still have some problems with. And AOL is even worse, usually requiring whitelisting.

[renandecarlo]

Yahoo is also getting to Inbox.

I've read a bit about Hotmail, and it seems that it is really difficult to bypass the spam filter.

I added DKIM and SPF (Sender ID) to DNS/Postfix settings, as Hotmail says it will improve the chance to get to Inbox.

It is still getting to spam folder though.

It seems that hotmail has some trouble with new domains and IPs sending emails.



I registered to the Microsoft SNDS (Smart Network Data Services) and sent the domain to the Sender ID Program, let's see what happens in a few months, for now it's "okay".

Do you know if somebody hosting here gets to get emails into Hotmail Inbox?

[Edge100x]

I haven't heard feedback on that before, so I don't know. I know it's a crapshoot for us.

[renandecarlo]

I received an email from their support:

Hi,



This is Brad of Sender ID Support Team.



I have successfully added your domain(s) to our Sender ID queue. However, please take note that this does not guarantee that your emails will de delivered to your recipients' inbox. Publishing your SPF records and enrolling in our Junk Mail Reporting Program (JMRP) are the two policy requirements of Windows Live Hotmail.



If you are still unable to send emails to Windows Live Hotmail users, please confirm that your emails comply with our technical standards. Additional information on common deliverability issues and best practices can be found on the Windows Live Hotmail Postmaster Site at http://postmaster.live.com/Guidelines.aspx



To enroll in our Junk Mail Reporting program, please visit https://support.msn.com/eform.aspx?prod ... ct=eformts



Regards,



Brad

Sender ID Support Team

Emails still going to Junk Folder/Spam