Purpose
This post activates and validates outbound and inbound email for the account domain by creating the required mailbox identity, enabling DKIM, and running live mail tests.
The steps in this post must be completed in the order shown. Certain actions are not possible until earlier steps are finished.
This post ends only when live mail tests succeed or when provider‑level intervention has been correctly initiated.
Scope and Applicability
- Applies to the Account Domain
- Uses an existing default mailbox that already exists in DirectAdmin
- Activates mailbox identity so the domain can send and receive mail
- DMARC configuration is intentionally excluded
Prerequisites
- SSL is configured and validated for the account domain
- DNS and nameserver prerequisites are complete
- Redis and supporting services are confirmed running
- No live email testing has been performed yet
Create the Domain Admin Mailbox Identity
A default mailbox exists for the domain, but it cannot be used until an identity is created.
Create the domain administrator mailbox identity using the canonical appendix:
This step enables authentication, sending, and receiving for the domain.
Do not attempt to enable DKIM until this step is complete.
Enable DKIM for the Domain
DKIM cannot be enabled until the mailbox identity exists.
Enable DKIM using the canonical procedure:
After enabling DKIM, allow any required DNS propagation time.
Account Domain Only: Add Reverse DNS (rDNS)
rDNS is used for several aspects such as support for a trace header for SMTP emails and for usage in email anti-spam techniques.
For an account domain only, follow the steps located here:
- How to Add rDNS onto Account Domain Server. It has sections included on how to submit a support ticket to request it from your host provider.
Run Live Email Tests
Mail configuration must be validated using real sending and receiving tests.
Testing must be performed using a major provider such as Gmail, due to its strict SMTP and authentication requirements.
Follow the canonical testing appendix:
Both outbound and inbound mail must be tested.
Evaluate Test Results
If live email tests succeed, mail is functional for the account domain.
If tests fail, do not attempt random fixes or repeated retries.
Request Mail Port Access from the VPS Provider (If Required)
If live testing indicates blocked ports or delivery failures, provider‑level intervention may be required.
Use the canonical appendix to submit a support request:
This step is conditional and only performed if testing identifies the need.
Mail port permissions are controlled at the provider network level and persist across server rebuilds. Once this support request has been processed for the server and ports are opened, this domain and all future added domains will be able to process mail.
Verification
Before proceeding, confirm one of the following is true:
- Live email tests succeed for sending and receiving, or
- A provider support request has been correctly submitted and is pending
Stop Point
Do not perform any of the following yet:
- Configure DMARC
- Adjust mail policies
- Add additional mail identities
Proceed to the next post to authenticate domain mail using DMARC once mail flow is confirmed functional.