Adding MX records to Gandi

These instructions are for users who purchased their domain on Gandi and would like to change their mail records (MX) so they can send and receive mail with Fastmail.

Changing your MX records is the best option for users who have a website on their domain hosted with another service. For users who do not have a website hosted at their domain, switching nameservers to Fastmail is usually a better option.

This guide covers three steps to setting up your domain:

• Step 1: Add your domain to Fastmail
• Step 2: Edit your MX records in Gandi
• Step 3: Signing your domain

Step 1: Add your domain to Fastmail

We have a setup guide to help you get your domain working as quickly and easily as possible.

After you have purchased your domain from Gandi, log in to Fastmail and go to the Settings → Domains screen.

Add your domain(s) (e.g. mydomain.com). Using the Add Domain button brings up the new domain screen. Type your domain into the text box.

If your domain has been purchased from Gandi, we will display this on the next screen. You can also choose Gandi from our list of supported registrars.

Follow the wizard to add your email addresses to Fastmail. To have the wizard provide you with steps to update your MX records by default, choose Yes when you are asked if you have a website.

Please note: If you are on a legacy plan, the domain setup wizard can only set up email addresses, not users. You will need to add users manually in order to create additional user accounts at your custom domain.

Step 2: Edit your MX records in Gandi

Note: We recommend making these changes at a time that you do not expect much mail to be sent to your domain.

1. Log in to your account at Gandi.

2. Click Domain in the left hand panel, then click on the domain you would like to use with Fastmail.

3. Click on the DNS Records tab.

4. Click Add record, then select MX and enter the following:

You should see this on your screen:

6. Click Create. 

7. Click Add record again, then select MX and enter the following:

You should see this on your screen:

8. Click Create. 

You should now have two MX records, in1-smtp.messagingengine.com and in2-smtp.messagingengine.com. Please be sure to delete any other MX records that may have previously existed for this domain.

Step 3: Signing your domain

Your domain should now be ready to receive messages. In order to make sure your sent messages reach your recipients, there are a couple more records to add in your Gandi account.

1. Return to the DNS Records screen in your Gandi domain panel and click Add record again, then select CNAME and enter the following records one at a time (make sure to replace {mydomain.com} with your actual domain name):

When you are finished, your domain control panel should look like this, with your domain name in the blank space:

2. Once the CNAME records have been created, return to the DNS Records screen in your Gandi domain panel and click Add record again, then select TXT and enter the following record:

When you are finished, it should look like this:

3.  Once the SPF record has been created, return to the DNS Records screen in your Gandi domain panel and click Add record again, then select TXT and enter the following record:

Once you have finished this step, your domain should be ready to use with Fastmail.

To check that all of your settings are correct, log in to your Fastmail account and go to the Settings → Domains screen. Click Recheck DNS. Your domain should now say Active. MX records set.

Gandi has further instructions for using their DNS configuration panel available here.