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DigitalOcean DNS Setup Guide

Configure MX and SPF records for domains managed through DigitalOcean.

Note: DigitalOcean provides free DNS hosting with all domains.

Screenshot: DigitalOcean control panel showing Networking section

Goal

Add MX records pointing to mx1.kachaw.com (priority 10) and mx2.kachaw.com (priority 20), plus an SPF TXT record.

Step 1: Access DNS Management

  1. Log in to your DigitalOcean account
  2. Navigate to "Networking" in the left sidebar
  3. Select "Domains" from the dropdown
  4. Click your domain name

Screenshot: DigitalOcean DNS management interface

Step 2: Add MX Records

Primary MX Record:

  1. Click "Create Record"
  2. Select "MX" from the type dropdown
  3. Enter these values:
    • Hostname: @ (for root domain)
    • Mail Server: mx1.kachaw.com
    • Priority: 10
    • TTL: 3600 (default)
  4. Click "Create Record"

Screenshot: DigitalOcean MX record creation form

Secondary MX Record:

  1. Click "Create Record" again
  2. Select "MX"
  3. Enter:
    • Hostname: @
    • Mail Server: mx2.kachaw.com
    • Priority: 20
  4. Click "Create Record"

Step 3: Add SPF TXT Record

  1. Click "Create Record"
  2. Select "TXT" from the type dropdown
  3. Enter:
    • Hostname: @
    • Text: v=spf1 a:spf.kachaw.com ~all
    • TTL: 3600
  4. Click "Create Record"

Important: DigitalOcean automatically adds quotes around TXT values - don't include them manually.

Screenshot: DigitalOcean TXT record form with SPF value

Step 4: Verify Changes

Screenshot: DigitalOcean DNS query results

DigitalOcean-Specific Features

  • API Access: Full DNS management through DigitalOcean API
  • Droplet Integration: Automatically create records for Droplets
  • Load Balancers: DNS integration with DigitalOcean Load Balancers

Troubleshooting

  • Records not saving? Check for duplicate records
  • Propagation delays? Try DigitalOcean's DNS Checker
  • API issues? Verify your API token permissions
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