This is in response to Scott Kitterman's request (dated Nov 21,
2006)that I write up my experiences implementing SPF as a total
newbie. I might add I have only a fundamental understanding
of e-mail flows.
Since Scott's request, along with six days away for Thanksgiving,
I have spent time trying to get information on a number of
topics I believe are related to SPF. Wikipedia is a large help
in this regard. The topics I found of value are:
e-mail
bounce message
spf
and assorted links from those topics including (but not limited to):
http://www.openspf.org/mailflows.pdf (quite complex for me)
http://www.openspf.org/for-mit-spam-conference.html
The source I found most helpful was wiki e-mail. In particular
the numbered flow diagram. If that flow could be modified with
numbered additions that showed how the SPF TXT was read
and used, it would help me immensely.
It took me a (long) while to understand that if the receiving MTA
doesn't check the TXT line, the concept falls apart. I guess that
most domains are using their own MTA and therefore have this
item under their control. In my case, I am relying on someone
else's MTA (Comcast OR GMail) and I am at their mercy whether
they check the TXT line or not. I have asked both if they do check
or can check and have met with resounding silence (not surprisingly).
Answers to questions from newbies, I think, need to be clear
whether or not they apply to a 3rd party MTA. (if I have this
all wrong, forgive me !)
I am still trying to figure out how the SPF tester works .. both
from "it should pass" and "it should fail" sets of data.
If I put in my domain hitz.org and the IP of my SMTP service,
66.253.48.181 (outbound.mailhop.org) the bottom line of
the results says "result: FAIL". Why is that? My TXT line is
"v=spf1 include:outbound.mailhop.org -all"
Of course, any comments and answers would be much
appreciated.
George
____________________
George Hitz
Sudbury Masschusetts
hitz(_at_)hitz(_dot_)org
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