Email Delivery Issues from Cloud or Dedicated Servers

If emails leaving your server are not delivering well (either because they're filtered as spam or bounce back), your server may be affected by a poor email reputation score.

Here are some measures that can be taken:

1- Your server might be actively sending spam; check your logs!

It's important to ensure that your server is not actively sending spam before taking any further steps. While such a verification can be quite complex, here are some tips:

  • For cPanel servers, in WHM check your View Sent Summary to see which account is sending the most emails and to spot a high number of failed or deferred sends.
    If you have SSH access (advanced users only!), consult the email log for detailed information on who is sending, and when: /var/log/exim_mainlog
  • For Plesk servers, you'll find the logs here: /usr/local/psa/var/log/maillog

In most cases, there is an infected malware script sending massive amounts of emails. If you find one such script, your account has been hacked and an immediate SiteSafe cleanup is highly recommended.

If you are unable to find the spamming script, please contact support.



2- Check your Reverse DNS (also called PTR) Record


A Reverse DNS (also called RDNS or PTR record) maps an IP address to a hostname. Check your server's Reverse DNS here: http://mxtoolbox.com/ReverseLookup.aspx

If the RDNS does not point to your server's primary hostname, please contact support requesting that this be corrected.


3- Your server's mail IP may be blacklisted

If your IP has been used to send out spam, it may be listed on a blacklist. Check your IP against known blacklists here: http://mxtoolbox.com/blacklists.aspx

If listed and you are sure your server is not actively sending spam, you may request a delist by following the on-page instructions for the blacklist in question, or contact our support team requesting assistance.


4- Your server's mail IP may have a poor reputation

Several vendors now track IP reputation, in addition to blacklists. The following are the most important:

5- Reputation issue with Hotmail or Bell/Sympatico.

These providers use Microsoft's proprietary system, so you'll need to request a reputation delist via this form.


6- Nothing works? Try changing the sending IP


In certain extreme circumstances, it may be useful to change the sending IP of your server. This is only possible if you have multiple IPs bound to your server.

With cPanel, here is a procedure to do this: https://docs.cpanel.net/knowledge-base/email/how-to-configure-the-exim-outgoing-ip-address

Careful: don't change sending IPs unless you are sure that you are not sending SPAM out anymore, otherwise these new IPs might also quickly suffer from a poor reputation.


Article ID#: HC6016


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