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MailChannels Inbound DNS Architecture
Two records must be configured for mail to flow through MailChannels:
  • Downstream record — tells MailChannels where to deliver filtered mail (your mail server)
  • MX records — tells the internet to send mail for your domain to MailChannels first
Configure your downstream record before updating your MX records. Once your MX records go live, mail starts routing through MailChannels immediately. If the downstream record is not in place, MailChannels will have nowhere to forward filtered mail and messages will not be delivered.

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Configure your downstream record

1

Open the downstream records settings

Go to the Settings page in your Domain Console and expand the Configure Downstream Records panel.
2

Add your mail server hostname

Configure Downstream Records panel
Enter your mail server hostname — this is the same hostname currently used in your domain’s MX records. Click Add Record for each hostname, then click Update to save and validate.If you are unsure about Port and Weight, leave the default values.
Validation checks that postmaster@ exists at the downstream hostname you provide. This is a required reserved account per RFC 5321. If validation fails, ensure your mail server has a valid postmaster user and try again.

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Update your MX records

Only proceed once your downstream record is saved and validated. Update your domain’s MX records to route inbound mail through MailChannels by replacing your existing records with:
PriorityMail server
10mx1.mailchannels.net
20mx2.mailchannels.net
Configure MX Records panel
DNS changes can take several minutes to propagate. Once the records are live, click Check in the Configure MX Records panel to confirm they are set up correctly.
MX records validation success