Note: For DirectAdmin hosting email only. Hosted Email service uses different settings.
SMTP Settings
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Server | mail.yourdomain.com or server hostname |
| Port | 587 (TLS) or 465 (SSL) |
| Username | Full email address |
| Password | Email password |
| Authentication | Required |
Using mail.yourdomain.com
If using mail.yourdomain.com instead of server hostname:
- DirectAdmin → Domain Setup
- Create subdomain: mail
- SSL Certificates → mail.yourdomain.com → Let's Encrypt
This ensures SSL certificate for secure email.
IMAP Settings
For receiving email:
- Server: mail.yourdomain.com (or server hostname)
- Port: 993 (SSL/TLS)
- Username: Full email address
- Password: Email password
SPF and DKIM
SPF: Add TXT record to prevent email spoofing:
v=spf1 a mx ip4:YOUR_SERVER_IP ~all
DKIM:
- DirectAdmin → Email → DKIM → Enable
- Copy the generated record
- Add to DNS via ArkHost DNS Manager (not DirectAdmin DNS)
Troubleshooting
- Authentication failed: Use full email as username
- Connection refused: Try alternate port
- Certificate error: Complete mail subdomain setup
- Can't send: Check firewall blocking ports
Common Clients
- Outlook: Account Settings → More Settings → Outgoing Server
- Thunderbird: Account Settings → Server Settings → SMTP
- Phone: Mail settings → Outgoing server
