What are the considerations when purchasing a block of class C IP addresses for hosting mail servers?

Summary

Purchasing a block of Class C IP addresses for hosting mail servers is a multifaceted process that requires careful consideration of various technical, reputational, and procedural aspects. Before acquisition, thorough vetting of IP brokers and investigation of IP health using blocklists and WHOIS records is crucial to avoid inheriting a history of spam abuse. ARIN requires justification for IPv4 requests based on planned use, emphasizing the need for a clear strategy. Proactive monitoring of IP reputation, implementing authentication mechanisms like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, and adhering to SMTP standards (RFC 5321) are essential for maintaining deliverability. A proper IP warmup schedule, setting up a reverse DNS (rDNS), and considering the geographical location of the IP block also contribute to a successful email sending infrastructure. While historical reputation issues are often resolvable, rehabilitating damaged IPs can be time-consuming, and ongoing attention to neighboring IP reputation is necessary.

Key findings

  • IP Health & Reputation: Checking IP reputation via blocklists and monitoring services is paramount.
  • Broker Due Diligence: Thoroughly vet IP brokers to ensure legitimacy and avoid inheriting compromised IPs.
  • ARIN Requirements: Meet ARIN's IPv4 request justification requirements based on planned use.
  • Authentication Protocols: Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for enhanced email authentication and deliverability.
  • Standards Compliance: Adhere to SMTP standards (RFC 5321) for interoperability and to avoid spam filters.
  • IP Warmup Essential: A gradual IP warmup is crucial for establishing a positive sending reputation.
  • PTR record: Setup a PTR record matching the hostname.

Key considerations

  • Pre-Purchase Investigation: Investigate IP health, reputation, and broker legitimacy before committing to a purchase.
  • Justification Documentation: Prepare thorough documentation for ARIN justifying IPv4 request based on planned use and network infrastructure.
  • Continuous Monitoring: Continuously monitor IP reputation, bounce rates, and spam complaints.
  • Network Configuration: Set up reverse DNS (rDNS) records and ensure proper network configuration.
  • Warming Strategy: Develop and execute a gradual IP warmup strategy.
  • Proactive Management: Be prepared to actively manage IP reputation, address blacklistings, and maintain compliance with SMTP standards.
  • Neighbor Impact: Understand that neighbors within Class C block can impact your reputation.

What email marketers say
11Marketer opinions

Purchasing a block of Class C IP addresses for hosting mail servers requires careful consideration of several factors to ensure optimal email deliverability and sender reputation. Key aspects include checking IP reputation against blacklists and services like SenderScore, Spamhaus, and Talos. Monitoring the reputation of neighboring IPs within the same Class C block, implementing proper authentication mechanisms such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, and establishing a reverse DNS (rDNS) record. A proper IP warmup strategy, selecting a reputable IP broker, and considering the geographical location of the IP block are also crucial for success.

Key opinions

  • IP Reputation: Checking IP reputation is important, you can use services like SenderScore, Spamhaus, and Talos.
  • Neighbor Reputation: Be aware of the reputation of neighboring IPs within the same Class C block.
  • Authentication: Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to improve deliverability and protect against spoofing.
  • Reverse DNS: Set up a reverse DNS (rDNS) record to verify the legitimacy of your sending server.
  • IP Warmup: A gradual IP warmup strategy is essential for establishing a positive sending reputation.
  • PTR record: Ensure PTR record matches mail server.

Key considerations

  • IP Reputation Monitoring: Proactively monitor IP reputation metrics like sender score, bounce rates, and spam complaints.
  • Authentication Setup: Properly configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to authenticate your emails and prevent spoofing.
  • IP Warmup Schedule: Plan a gradual IP warmup schedule to avoid triggering spam filters and establish a good sending reputation.
  • Broker Vetting: Thoroughly research and vet IP brokers to ensure you are purchasing clean IPs with no prior spam history.
  • Geographical Relevance: Consider the geographical location of the IP block and its relevance to your target audience.
  • PTR Record: Setup your PTR record correctly to point to your mail server.
Marketer view

Email marketer from SocketLabs.com emphasizes that while dedicated IPs offer more control, you should still be aware of the reputation of neighboring IPs within the same Class C block. If other users on the same block engage in spammy behavior, it can negatively impact your sending reputation.

December 2024 - SocketLabs.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from EasyDMARC explains that setting up a Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance (DMARC) record helps protect your domain from email spoofing and phishing attacks. DMARC builds upon SPF and DKIM to provide a more robust authentication mechanism.

June 2022 - EasyDMARC.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from DigitalOcean explains that setting up a Sender Policy Framework (SPF) record helps prevent email spoofing and improves deliverability. An SPF record specifies which mail servers are authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain.

September 2021 - DigitalOcean.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit states that it is important to do your research when choosing an IP broker. Some brokers specialize in 'cleaning' IPs, while others may just be offloading blocks with existing reputation issues. Check reviews and ask for references.

July 2021 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendGrid.com highlights the importance of setting up a reverse DNS (rDNS) record for your IP addresses. An rDNS record maps an IP address back to a domain name, which helps ISPs verify the legitimacy of your sending server and improves deliverability.

March 2025 - SendGrid.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from GlockApps highlights the importance of DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) ensures that the emails you send haven’t been altered in transit and validates who sent the message. It's crucial for inbox placement.

August 2023 - GlockApps.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackExchange highlights ensuring that the PTR record resolves correctly to the hostname of your mail server is critical. Mismatched or missing PTR records are a red flag for many spam filters.

March 2023 - StackExchange
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet Blog emphasizes the importance of proactively monitoring the reputation of your IP addresses. This includes tracking metrics like sender score, bounce rates, and spam complaints. Early detection of reputation issues allows for timely intervention and prevents deliverability problems.

May 2021 - Mailjet Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Neil Patel's Blog explains that a proper IP warmup strategy is crucial when starting to send emails from a new IP block. Gradually increasing the sending volume over time helps establish a positive sending reputation with ISPs and prevents your emails from being flagged as spam.

May 2022 - Neil Patel's Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailDeliverability.com Forum notes to consider the geographical location of your IP block. Sending emails from an IP block located in a region different from your target audience can sometimes trigger spam filters.

February 2025 - EmailDeliverability.com Forum
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that IPs can be checked against SenderScore, SpamHaus, and Talos and their reputation will fade over time. Reputation can be affected by neighbors at the Class C level, but only when a large chunk is behaving poorly. He warns that achieving good results requires more than just getting a class C and an MTA.

October 2021 - Email Geeks

What the experts say
5Expert opinions

When purchasing a block of Class C IP addresses for hosting mail servers, several key considerations emerge from expert advice. Historical reputation issues are generally resolvable, but rehabilitating a damaged IP range can be time-consuming. While acquiring IPs from ARIN is typically straightforward and IPs are recoverable, carefully vetting brokers is crucial to avoid addresses with a history of spam. Checking IP health through blocklist lookups and WHOIS record examination is essential to ensure legitimacy and mitigate deliverability risks. Announcing routes and notifying bogon list maintainers is also advised.

Key opinions

  • Reputation Recovery: IP ranges can usually be recovered even with prior reputation issues.
  • ARIN Acquisition: Acquiring IP addresses from ARIN is typically a simple process.
  • Broker Vetting Critical: Carefully vet brokers to avoid purchasing IPs with a history of spam.
  • IP Health Check: Check IP health via blocklists and WHOIS records before purchase.

Key considerations

  • Rehabilitation Effort: Be prepared to invest time in rehabilitating IPs if they have been previously used for spam.
  • Broker Due Diligence: Thoroughly vet IP brokers to ensure the cleanliness and legitimacy of the IP addresses they are selling.
  • Initial IP Assessment: Conduct thorough checks of IP health using blocklists and WHOIS records to identify potential risks.
  • Network Configuration: Remember to announce routes and notify bogon list maintainers after acquiring the IP addresses.
  • Wrangling: Be prepared for a steep learning curve, managing your own IP block comes with challenges.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that historical reputation issues are rare and resolvable. He also seconds the point that wrangling it all after purchasing the IPs will be a challenge.

June 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares experience advising clients on buying IPs, stating it's generally easy to get them from ARIN. She reinforces that IP ranges can always be recovered, neighbors across /24 boundaries are unlikely to cause harm, and ARIN cannot reclaim IPs once registered. She advises to announce routes and notify the bogons list.

February 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that If a spammer has already damaged the IP range, you’ll have to spend more time rehabilitating the IP address, potentially through a warmup process, working with ISPs to delist the IPs, and monitoring reputation metrics.

July 2024 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise Staff advises to carefully vet brokers selling IP addresses to determine if the addresses are clean or have a history of being used for spam, as this can directly impact deliverability and sender reputation.

June 2024 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that it is important to check the IP health. Look up the IPs on various blocklists. If an IP has a history of abuse, be prepared to work at getting it removed. Look at the whois record for the IPs. Does the contact information look legitimate?

February 2024 - Spam Resource

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

When purchasing a block of Class C IP addresses for hosting mail servers, it's crucial to adhere to documented standards and guidelines. ARIN requires justification for IPv4 address requests based on current and planned use. Understanding and avoiding IP address blacklists, as detailed by Spamhaus, is essential for email deliverability. Ensuring the use of public IP addresses, as opposed to private ones defined in RFC1918, is a must. Finally, adhering to SMTP standards outlined in RFC 5321 is vital for email interoperability and to avoid spam filters.

Key findings

  • ARIN Justification: ARIN requires justification for IPv4 requests based on utilization and planned use.
  • Blacklist Avoidance: Understanding and avoiding IP blacklists is crucial for deliverability.
  • Public IP Addresses: You must use public IP addresses, not private ones defined in RFC1918.
  • SMTP Standards: Adhering to SMTP standards (RFC 5321) is vital for interoperability and avoiding spam filters.

Key considerations

  • Usage Planning: Accurately document and plan your IP address usage to meet ARIN's justification requirements.
  • Blacklist Monitoring: Implement continuous monitoring for IP address blacklisting to promptly address any issues.
  • IP Address Type: Verify that you are requesting and using public IP addresses, not private ones intended for internal networks.
  • SMTP Compliance: Ensure your mail servers and sending practices fully comply with SMTP standards outlined in RFC 5321.
Technical article

Documentation from Spamhaus.org details the importance of understanding and avoiding IP address blacklists. Being listed on a blacklist can severely impact email deliverability. Regular monitoring and adherence to best practices can help prevent blacklisting.

November 2024 - Spamhaus.org
Technical article

Documentation from RFC-Editor.org details that you ensure you are requesting Public IP addresses from ARIN. RFC1918 specifies the block of IP address which are private. You cannot send directly from private IP addresses.

December 2023 - RFC-Editor.org
Technical article

Documentation from ARIN.net explains that organizations requesting IPv4 address space must demonstrate a need based on current utilization and/or planned use within 12 months. Justification must include details about network infrastructure, services offered, and the number of IP addresses required.

February 2022 - ARIN.net
Technical article

Documentation from IETF.org highlights adherence to SMTP standards, as outlined in RFC 5321, which is essential for ensuring email interoperability and deliverability. Deviations from these standards can result in emails being flagged as spam.

July 2022 - IETF.org