Sender Authentication Package

Subdomain Delegation
Subdomain Delegation Example
Subdomain delegation (also referred to as zone delegation) refers to configuring DNS so that only part of your existing
domain is transferred over to ExactTarget. Only that zone, or subdomain, will be used for ExactTarget.
In a subdomain delegation scenario, you are pointing (delegating) a specific host name or zone name (subdomain) over
to ExactTargets DNS servers.

yourdomain.com
www.yourdomain.com
server.yourdomain.com
email.yourdomain.com

Your Domain Name

Your Current Website
Server(s) You Use
A subdomain for use by ExactTarget

In this example, you would be configuring email.yourdomain.com for use on ExactTarget. Your Domain Name, website,
and other servers are left untouched, and you can continue to use these names for other purposes.

Subdomain Delegation Frequently Asked Questions

How do I configure this in DNS?
Simply put in NS (name server) records (ns1.exacttarget.com. and ns2.exacttarget.com.) for email.yourdomain.com in DNS.
See the next page for an example of how to do this with the common Bind DNS server.
Does the subdomain name have to be email?
No, you can choose any name you want. Perhaps something like newsletters.yourdomain.com or alerts.yourdomain.com.
Whatever you think is appropriate. Note that it will show up in the from line you use in ExactTarget, so ensure that it is
something your recipients are likely to recognize.
I don't understand where to enter DNS records for a subdomain in my DNS control panel. Help?
Most people seem to host DNS through their domain registrar. Some registrars lack the ability to configure an NS (name
server) record at a zone, sub, or host level. Meaning, you can only point the entire domain at one set of DNS servers.
This means you can't point just part of a domain name (a subdomain) at us. Contact your DNS provider to confirm if this
is the case. If so, our recommendation would be to have us purchase a new domain for you, or perhaps you might want
to change DNS hosts. DynDNS at http://www.dyndns.com is a good DNS hosting company. They support NS (name
server) records that allow you to delegate a subdomain, and we have clients using them currently, happily.
What's betterbuying a new domain name or delegating an existing domain name or subdomain?
It depends on the situation, and this would be a good topic to discuss with an ExactTarget representative. If you're in any
kind of financial industry, or represent a heavily phished brand or industry, then we would recommend that you delegate a
subdomain to us. This ensures that every possible automated and manual check done by every recipient clearly points
back to your domain, as opposed to pointing to us as your service provider. It minimizes any possibility that a recipient is
going to think an email message is a phish or a spoof.
If you're not in such an industry, and/or you can't handle the technical requirements with regard to domain/subdomain
delegation, we'd recommend that you have us simply purchase and host a domain name for you. Emails will authenticate
properly, and you'll receive the full benefit of your sender authentication package.

2008 ExactTarget All Rights Reserved. | SAP Form 1.3 11/23/2009 BLC

www.ExactTarget.com

866.362.4538

Sender Authentication Package

Subdomain Delegation
Subdomain Delegation Example
Here is an example of a typical subdomain delegation configuration. The data below is what a DNS or IT administrator would
configure into their DNS server to enable the delegation. The data below is formatted for the common Bind DNS server.

The top section represents typical DNS

entires you are likely to
already have for your
domain.
The bottom section represents the entries you
must add to DNS to
enable subdomain
dele- gation.

This is a power user option, and should not be attempted without a solid understanding of how DNS works.
Not all DNS servers or DNS service/domain registrar control panels support subdomain delegation.

2008 ExactTarget All Rights Reserved. | SAP Form 1.3 11/23/2009 BLC

www.ExactTarget.com

866.362.4538