SMTP Delivery is an advanced feature
Your email can stop working if you get these settings wrong, please be careful.
- What is SMTP delivery and who is it suitable for?
- Static IP addresses
- Setting up SMTP delivery
- Spam Protection
- I'm having problems with my mail server
1. What is SMTP delivery and who is it suitable for?
SMTP stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol and is a means by which mail is transferred from one mail server to another. Usually SMTP is used in combination with other mail protocols such as POP3 or IMAP; these other protocols running on the local server from which you collect your mail.
With SMTP delivery all mail to your Plusnet email address is routed directly to a mail server of your choosing.
2. Static IP addresses
To use SMTP delivery on your account, you'll need a static IP address.
- Business accounts use static IP addresses
- Residential accounts offer dynamic IP addresses (with some exceptions, see Understanding your IP address)
If you're using a residential account and need to switch to a static IP, go to Control Your Broadband and follow the on-screen instructions. You'll find it within Connection Settings in the Member Centre.
3. Setting up SMTP delivery
Here we'll show you how to set up SMTP delivery for
Once you've followed the instructions below, mail addressed to the domain you've set up will be directed to your SMTP server within 12-24 hours.
Your Plusnet email domain
- Go to Manage My Mail - you'll find this under Email Settings in the Member Centre
- Click the Mail Delivery Options link at the top of the page
- Select the Static IP option
- Enter your static IP address and click Submit
Hosted domains
To configure a hosted domain for SMTP delivery to your Static IP address follow the instructions below.
1. Go to Domain Names in the and click Configure for the hosted domain you want to use.
2. Under Email Settings choose SMTP and press Submit.
If you want to use an alternate IP address, choose Other. Doing this means that you'll need to add DNS records manually. See our Manage DNS Records guide for help with this.
4. Spam protection
Our Spam Protection system is not available for domains configured to use SMTP delivery. This is because mail is delivered directly to your server and does not pass through our systems.
5. I'm having problems with my mail server
Our Support Team can only offer basic help in regards to SMTP delivery.
You may find help on our Community Site Forums or on one of the following newsgroups:
- plus.net.tech.general
- plus.net.service.customer-feedback newsgroups
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