On Jun 05, 2025, Peter Duffy wrote:
> Sorry, this is a bit off topic: I'm looking for advice on a particular
> problem, and am hoping that someone in the group has faced it
> themselves.
>
> I need to move the domain on which my principal email address is
> defined (pwduffy.org.uk) to a new provider. The reason is that my
> current provider's email server is constantly getting blacklisted by
> antispam agencies (another of the provider's customers is apparently an
> incorrigible spammer) - and this is apparently resulting in my outgoing
> emails often ending up in recipients' spam folders, or not arriving at
> all. (I've just discovered that a really important email that I sent a
> few weeks ago didn't arrive, and it's resulted in massive problems: I
> should have followed it up when the recipient didn't reply, but
> unfortunately failed to do so.)
>
> The main thing that I'm worried about is the disruption whilst the
> domain is in the process of being transferred, and particularly of
> incoming emails bouncing, and the senders flagging up my address as
> non-existent (for example - I'm anticipating having to resign
> temporarily from this list, and from others to which I've subscribed,
> and then rejoin when the email's working via the new provider). It's a
> massive faff, and I've been literally putting it off for years - but
> after the latest incident, I really need to bite the bullet.
>
> Has anyone been through the experience of having to move a domain on
> which an important email address is defined? It would be useful to know
> the process which was followed, and any particular pitfalls and
> workarounds.

Shouldn't need to do all the "unsub, wait, resub" stuff. I run my own
email service, rather than relying on my registrar; but I did recently
(within the last 5 years) swap everything over to Linode.

Process was pretty much

1. Sign up with the new provider (Linode for me)
2. Add their details to your DNS as a SECONDARY MX
3. Verify outgoing (SPF, DKIM, etc.)
4. Swap the MX hosts so the new provider is the primary
5. Verify incoming goes there now
6. Remove other MX entry / cancel service with first host.

NOTE: Obviously don't cancel the *DOMAIN*, just the "extra" email
account service they're providing.

Granted, if your registrar doesn't let you configure DNS entries, things
get a little more "fun"



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