Setup DirectAdmin

This guide walks you through configuring Exim on a DirectAdmin server to relay all outbound mail through MailChannels Outbound Filtering.

Prerequisites

Root or sudo access to your DirectAdmin server
Your MailChannels SMTP username and password

Exim 4.5.7 and later

Create the router configuration

Create /etc/exim.routers.pre.conf with the following content:

/etc/exim.routers.pre.conf

smart_route:
  driver = manualroute
  domains = ! +local_domains
  ignore_target_hosts = 127.0.0.0/8
  condition = "${perl{check_limits}}"
  transport = auth_relay
  route_list = * smtp.mailchannels.net::25
  no_more

Create the transport configuration

Create /etc/exim.transports.pre.conf with the following content:

/etc/exim.transports.pre.conf

auth_relay:
  driver = smtp
  headers_add = X-AuthUser: $authenticated_id
  hosts_require_auth = $host_address
  hosts_require_tls = $host_address

The X-AuthUser header identifies the authenticated sender. MailChannels uses it to track per-sender reputation. Messages without this header are treated as forwarded mail and subject to different policies.

Create the authenticator configuration

Create /etc/exim.authenticators.post.conf with the following content, replacing the placeholders with your actual MailChannels SMTP credentials:

/etc/exim.authenticators.post.conf

auth_login:
  driver = plaintext
  public_name = LOGIN
  hide client_send = : smtpusername : smtppassword

Restart Exim

service exim restart

Exim prior to 4.5.7

Exim versions prior to the current major release are considered obsolete by the Exim development team. Upgrading to a current release is strongly recommended.

With older DirectAdmin installations, Exim configuration is stored in a single file at /etc/exim.conf. Make the following changes to that file.

Add the authenticator

In the begin authenticators section, add the following block, replacing the placeholders with your actual MailChannels SMTP credentials:

/etc/exim.conf

auth_login:
  driver = plaintext
  public_name = LOGIN
  hide client_send = : smtpusername : smtppassword

Add the router

At the top of the begin routers section, add the following block:

/etc/exim.conf

send_via_mailchannels:
  driver = manualroute
  domains = ! +local_domains
  senders = !*@domain1.to.exclude.com : !*@domain2.to.exclude.com
  ignore_target_hosts = 127.0.0.0/8
  condition = "${perl{check_limits}}"
  transport = auth_relay
  route_list = * smtp.mailchannels.net
  no_more

If you do not need to exclude any senders or domains from the relay, leave the senders = line blank or remove it entirely.

Do not remove or comment out the lookuphost: router. It handles delivery for any domains excluded from the MailChannels relay and routes them directly from the DirectAdmin server.

Add the transport

In the begin transports section, add the following block:

/etc/exim.conf

auth_relay:
  driver = smtp
  port = 25
  headers_add = X-AuthUser: $authenticated_id
  hosts_require_auth = $host_address
  hosts_require_tls = $host_address

Restart Exim

service exim restart

Get Started

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Prerequisites

Exim 4.5.7 and later

Exim prior to 4.5.7

​Prerequisites

​Exim 4.5.7 and later

​Exim prior to 4.5.7

Prerequisites

Exim 4.5.7 and later

Exim prior to 4.5.7