How to Enable SPF

If you want to know what SPF is in general, look here.

SPF feature is implemented in Merak Mail Server as a part of the SpamAssassin feature in Merak Instant Anti Spam. If you enable the SPF feature it will modify SpamAssassin score for each message.

There are three ways how the message can be evaluated against a SPF record:

  • pass - it means that SPF record fits an IP address or hostname of sending server
  • fail - it means that SPF record does not fit an IP address or hostname of sending server
  • softfail - it means that SPF record of sending server does not exist at all so Merak Server was not able to check it

SpamAssassin score modification also depends on the sending server location (either local address or address from Internet) and if Include Bayesian probability in SpamAssassin score (bayesian in table below) option is enabled.

 

local

Internet

local + bayesian

Internet + bayesian

pass

- 0.001

- 0.001

- 0.001

- 0.001

fail

+ 5

+ 5

+ 5

+ 5.875

softfail

+ 0.5

+ 0.842

+ 0.5

+ 0.5

To enable SPF feature:

  • go to Anti-Spam menu node in Merak Administration Console
  • choose SpamAssassin tab sheet
  • enable Use SPF (Sender Policy Framework) option

    SpamAssassin Tab - General Section