Sender Domain Evaluation

The system evaluates both:

  • The SMTP envelope sender (MAIL FROM)

  • The parsed From header

Note:

These two domains must belong to the same configured parent domain.

Behavior

  • The SMTP envelope sender is rewritten to match the configured sending domain.

  • The visible From header is preserved as received.

In practice:

  • The SMTP envelope sender is changed to a managed bounce/return-path domain under the configured domain.

  • The From header retains the original sender identity.

  • The system selects the deepest configured domain that matches the message.

Examples

1. Only the parent domain is configured

Customer configured domain: example.com

Original sender: marketing.example.com

Customer > Relay

  • MAIL FROM: example.com

  • From: example.com

Relay > Internet

  • MAIL FROM: example.com

  • From: example.com

Explanation

Since only example.com is configured, the relay uses the parent domain for the rewritten envelope sender.

2. Parent domain and subdomain are configured

Customer configured domain: marketing.example.com

Original sender: marketing.example.com

Customer > Relay

  • MAIL FROM: example.com

  • From: example.com

Relay > Internet

  • MAIL FROM: marketing.example.com

  • From: example.com

Explanation

Because marketing.example.com is configured and is the deepest matching configured domain, the system uses it for the rewritten envelope sender.

3. Both parent and subdomain are configured, the envelope uses another subdomain under the same parent domain

Customer configured domain: example.com and marketing.example.com

Original sender:

  • MAIL FROM: example.com

  • From: example.com

Customer > Relay

  • MAIL FROM: example.com

  • From: example.com

Relay > Internet

  • MAIL FROM: example.com

  • From: example.com

  • DKIM: d=marketing.example.com

Explanation

  • The SMTP envelope sender and the From header are under the same parent domain, so the system allows the message.

  • The visible From header remains marketing.example.com.

  • The SMTP envelope sender is rewritten to the configured sending domain.

  • DKIM is signed using marketing.example.com.

4. Only the parent domain is configured; the visible sender is a subdomain

Customer configured domain: example.com

Original sender:

  • MAIL FROM: example.com

  • From: example.com

Customer > Relay

  • MAIL FROM: example.com

  • From: example.com

Relay > Internet

  • MAIL FROM: example.com

  • From: example.com

  • DKIM: d=example.com

  • SPF: example.com

Explanation

  • Since only the parent domain is configured, the system rewrites the SMTP envelope sender to example.com.

  • The visible From header remains marketing.example.com.

  • DKIM is signed with the configured parent domain, example.com.