Overview
This guide demonstrates how to add a root domain or subdomain to DigitalOcean and configure the (sub)domain with each Tenon DNS record. This guide assumes that you have already created your DigitalOcean Account.
While this guide is intended to be as helpful and comprehensive as possible, there is a small possibility that you will encounter an error or issue of some kind while configuring your DNS records within DigitalOcean. If that is the case, we recommend contacting DigitalOcean's support team as they will be able to most quickly identify and resolve the issue (or, at minimum, provide next steps).
Deciding Between a Root Domain and a Sub Domain
Deciding which domain to use - especially whether to use your root domain or a subdomain of that root domain - is key before proceeding any further. As this can be a challenging decision to make, we recommend reviewing the following informational articles if needed:
- Choosing a domain name
- The basics of email subdomains
- Can I use the same domain name for Tenon and my personal email account?
Let's briefly review two key terms: root domains and subdomains.
Examples of root domains include Service-Now.com, mydnsexample.com, or google.com. Examples of subdomains include Tenon.Service-Now.com, mg.mydnsexample.com, or mail.google.com. Notice the pattern: subdomains have an extra prefix (or sometimes multiple prefixes) before the primary domain name itself. In most cases using a subdomain with Tenon is preferred, but we cover this topic more comprehensively in the above articles.
Once a decision has been reached, add the (sub)domain to your Tenon account, and our system will generate the various DNS records needed.
Adding and Configuring the Domain
Adding a (sub)domain within the DigitalOcean Control Panel only takes 3 steps, and the steps to access an existing domain are virtually identical (except for the last step where instead of creating a new domain you'll click the existing domain). We will list those steps below, but if desired, you can also reference DigitalOcean's Add A Domain and Add A Subdomain To Your Domain articles.
This guide does not cover creating and managing DigitalOcean projects, but you can find more information in DigitalOcean's Project documentation, if needed.
Step 1: Login to your DigitalOcean Account
Step 2: Click the Networking option on the left-hand navigation pane.
Step 3: Type a domain name in the text field and choose a project from the drop-down. Finally, click the Add Domain button.
Configuring SPF
SPF records help protect your domain against spoofed emails and decrease** the likelihood your emails will be flagged as spam. (* Exceptions apply: e.g. actual spam/phishing emails will still be considered as such by mailbox providers even with the presence of an SPF record.)
To understand how to configure SPF records, please reference one or both of the following general DigitalOcean Tutorials:
Configuring DKIM
DKIM records help authenticate your domain against forged emails and decrease** the likelihood your emails will be flagged as spam. (* Exceptions apply: e.g. actual spam/phishing emails will still be considered as such by mailbox providers even with the presence of an DKIM record.) To understand how to configure DKIM records, please reference the following general DigitalOcean Tutorial:
Configuring MX
MX records describe where emails intended for your domain should be sent. To understand how to configure MX records, please reference the following DigitalOcean Tutorial:
Configuring CNAME
CNAME records alias (point or direct) one domain name to another domain name, which in this case effectively associates your emails with Tenon and allows tracking of opens and clicks. To understand how to configure CNAME records, please reference the following DigitalOcean Tutorial:
