Custom MX and SPF Records

[AndrewJohnson]

If I sign up for a shared hosting plan and use Host Gator's nameservers can I specify custom MX records and can I also create an SPF record for my domains? Will I have control over my DNS records such as CNAME and A records with a shared hosting plan?

[striddy]

Originally Posted by AndrewJohnson

If I sign up for a shared hosting plan and use Host Gator's nameservers can I specify custom MX records and can I also create an SPF record for my domains? Will I have control over my DNS records such as CNAME and A records with a shared hosting plan?

Yes you can edit MX records and SPF via cpanel.

Cpanel doesn't allow editing of A or CNAME records however HG can make such changes for you via a support ticket.

[AndrewJohnson]

Okay so I played with the CP demo and found the Email Authentication section where you can configure the SPF record but it doesn't seem that you have complete control of it. For instance, my current domain has the following SPF record for use with Google Apps:

v=spf1 include:aspmx.googlemail.com ~all

And in using the HostGator CP demo I could only reduce it to this:

v=spf1 a mx ip4:74.52.116.98 include:aspmx.googlemail.com -all

It doesn't seem that I can eliminate the A record, MX record or IPv4 address... and you can't configure the all as ?all or ~all, only -all. Does anyone know if there is another way where you can fully configure the SPF record? I only ask because my current web host was recently bought out and now they don't even allow for SPF record additions/changes and I'm thinking of switching if that's the case.

[striddy]

Originally Posted by AndrewJohnson

Does anyone know if there is another way where you can fully configure the SPF record?

If you will be getting a shared account, simply submit a ticket to HG and they can create whatever SPF you want.

If you will be getting a reseller, VPS or dedicated server, you can fully edit all DNS records yourself.