Setting up SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and configuring the hostname in WHM (Web Host Manager) are important steps to ensure your emails are properly authenticated and reduce the chances of your emails being marked as spam.

Setting Up SPF in WHM

SPF records help prevent spammers from sending emails on behalf of your domain. Here’s how you can set up SPF in WHM:

1. Log in to WHM

• Access WHM by navigating to http://yourdomain.com/whm and logging in with your credentials.

2. Access the Email Authentication Section

• In the WHM dashboard, navigate to Email > Email Deliverability.

3. Select the Domain

• Choose the domain for which you want to configure SPF records.

4. Configure SPF Settings

• In the SPF section, you can generate an SPF record automatically.
• You can also manually configure the SPF settings. A basic SPF record might look like this:

  v=spf1 +a +mx +ip4:your_server_ip ~all

• +a: Allow the domain’s A record.
• +mx: Allow the domain’s MX records.
• +ip4:your_server_ip: Allow the specific IP address of your server.
• ~all: Soft fail for all other IPs.

5. Save the SPF Record

• After configuring the SPF record, save the changes.
• WHM will update the DNS zone for your domain with the new SPF record.

Configuring the Hostname in WHM

A properly configured hostname is crucial for your server’s identity and for email deliverability. Here’s how to set the hostname in WHM:

1. Log in to WHM

• Access WHM by navigating to http://yourdomain.com/whm and logging in with your credentials.

2. Access the Hostname Configuration

• In the WHM dashboard, navigate to Networking Setup > Change Hostname.

3. Set the Hostname

• Enter a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) for your hostname. It should be a subdomain of a domain you own, such as server.yourdomain.com.

4. Update the Hostname

• Click on Change to apply the new hostname.

5. Verify DNS and Reverse DNS (rDNS)

• Ensure that the new hostname has an A record in your DNS settings pointing to your server’s IP address.
• Also, configure reverse DNS (rDNS) for the server’s IP to match the hostname. This is often done through your hosting provider.

Example of SPF Record for WHM Hostname

Assume your server IP is 192.0.2.1 and your hostname is server.yourdomain.com. Your SPF record might look like this:

v=spf1 a mx ip4:192.0.2.1 ~all

To add this to your DNS zone file:

1. Go to DNS Functions > Edit DNS Zone.
2. Select your domain and find the SPF record section.
3. Add or update the SPF record with the above configuration.
4. Save the changes.

Summary

By setting up SPF records and configuring your hostname in WHM, you enhance email deliverability and ensure your server is properly identified. This setup helps in reducing the chances of your emails being marked as spam and ensures that your server’s identity is correctly presented to email recipients.