SPF problems with Google Apps

Question

I currently have an SPF record with a hostname of @ that is:

v=spf1 mx ip4:x.x.x.243/32 include:_spf.google.com include:amazonses.com ~all

I also have another record of"

spf2.0/pra mx ip4:x.x.x.243/32 include:_spf.google.com include:amazonses.com ~all

We have had a lot of email being bounced back because of spam and now when I go to http://www.kitterman.com/spf/validate.html? and check the "Does my domain already have an SPF record? What is it? Is it valid?" it says no spf record exists.

However, when I send an email using our Amazon SES script and check the headers it says it passes the SPF test.

Is there something I am missing? Do I need to place that text in quotes ""? Any help would be greatly apprecaited.

Answer 1

Do I need to place that text in quotes ""?

The missing quotes should be the problem indeed, as explained e.g. in Record Types Supported:

Unlike with most other record types, for TXT records the Data field is essentially free-form and may even include spaces. Please note: When entering a string that includes spaces, such as SPF records, you must enclose the string in double quotes; otherwise, individual words will be separately quoted and break up the record into multiple parts.

Here are the records we currently use successfully for Amazon SES as per Authenticating Your Email Address (it's indeed unfortunate that their documentation doesn't address the quoting needs):

"v=spf1 include:amazonses.com ~all"
"spf2.0/pra include:amazonses.com ~all"

Your records should simply look like so accordingly:

"v=spf1 mx ip4:x.x.x.243/32 include:_spf.google.com include:amazonses.com ~all"
"spf2.0/pra mx ip4:x.x.x.243/32 include:_spf.google.com include:amazonses.com ~all"