I'm seeing bounces, but I don't find my IP address in your list... help?
I'm seeing bounces, but I don't find my IP address in your list... help?
The most important question if an IP is found to be on any blocklist of any kind is: “Is this listing affecting delivery?”
- There are lots of DNSBLs, and many will have no any meaningful impact on email delivery in most cases.
- Check your mail server logs before taking any action! If there are no bounces, there is no problem.
The Spamhaus Blocklists are only some of the many public DNSBL systems. In addition to publicly-queriable lists, many networks maintain their own private blocking lists, and DNSBLs are only one of many reasons that could cause a Delivery Status Notication (DSN), also commonly referred to as a “bounce”. Here are some actions that can help make sense of the problem:
- Read the bounce (‘DSN’) messages carefully; they often contain valuable information regarding why email was rejected.
- Unfortunately, some of them are not accurate or helpful; sometimes they even indicate a Spamhaus list for no valid reason.
- Since each system that rejects email may give a different reason, it can be helpful to read several of the bounces. It should be possible to find some that make sense and help to track down the problem.
- Locate the IP address which was rejected, which is generally the IP address of your outbound mail server and is usually noted in the DSN message.
- Test it in the “IP Removal” form on the Spamhaus website. This form queries all the most current Spamhaus zones.
- If it does not show up when using this form, the address is not listed in any Spamhaus DNSBL.
A few websites which may track down issues with DNSBLs other than Spamhaus:
NOTE:
None of these sites runs a DNSBL itself. They cannot block any email. They are offered on a voluntary basis, are free of charge and do NOT offer support. Use their web services, but please don’t abuse them!