What tools or scripts can fix common DKIM problems like formatting errors or length issues?
Summary
What email marketers say8Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Reddit user EmailGuru42 shares that online DKIM record generators can help avoid formatting errors when creating DKIM records. These tools automatically generate the correct syntax, reducing the risk of human error.
Email marketer from SparkPost explains that they use a tool to set up DKIM records, the tool makes the set up of the record easier.
Email marketer from dmarcian shares that they provide tools to test and check your DKIM key. They explain that the key has to be a certain size, and that their tool helps with checking that.
Email marketer from EmailDudes Forum user DKIMfixer recommends using online DKIM debugging tools to check the DKIM signature of sent emails. These tools analyze the email headers and DKIM signature to identify any issues that might be causing authentication failures.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares that common DKIM problems are variations on "errors in the value part of the published DKIM public key" and is unaware of any scripts to fix these, but there are ongoing conversations about preventing them. These conversations focus on the theory that having users copy and paste the DKIM public key is a recipe for human error and that removing the humans from the process might be a good thing.
Email marketer from MXToolbox shares that their DKIM record lookup tool can identify issues such as invalid syntax, incorrect key length, and other misconfigurations. They also share that it will allow you to quickly validate if the key is correctly set up in the DNS record.
Email marketer from Stack Overflow user CodingNewbie shares that when dealing with DKIM key length issues, particularly exceeding the 255-character limit for DNS records, using a shortened key is not advisable. Instead, he suggests ensuring that the DNS provider supports TXT records longer than 255 characters or splitting the DKIM record into multiple TXT records, concatenating them in the correct order. He also advises consulting the DNS provider's documentation for the specific method.
Email marketer from Email Geeks shares that common DKIM problems include DKIM keys being too long which causes minimum concatenation to get within 255, other formatting errors, base64 errors, line breaks or special characters to be stripped out, too many quotes.
What the experts say2Expert opinions
Expert from Spam Resource explains that one common issue is incorrect key syntax. He recommends using online DKIM validators, and ensuring that the copy and paste process for adding keys to DNS records doesn't introduce hidden characters or line breaks.
Expert from Word to the Wise emphasizes the importance of monitoring DKIM key usage and validity. They suggest using DMARC reporting tools to identify any DKIM-related issues and ensure keys are rotating as needed.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help responds to issues of DKIM failing due to formatting. It suggests using the `dig` command or Google Admin Toolbox's DNS record checker to verify the DKIM record's syntax and propagation. This helps identify any misconfigurations that might be causing authentication failures.
Documentation from RFC6376 shares that the standards are set in this RFC. It defines the syntax and semantics of DKIM signatures and records, providing a reference for developers creating or troubleshooting DKIM implementations.
Documentation from OpenDKIM explains that tools like `opendkim-testkey` can be used to verify DKIM keys and diagnose common issues. This command-line tool checks the key's validity and helps identify errors in the DKIM setup.
Documentation from DKIM.org explains that a common DKIM problem is incorrect syntax. Tools like online DKIM validators can help identify and pinpoint syntax errors in the DKIM record. These validators check for missing semicolons, incorrect attribute-value pairs, and other structural issues that can cause DKIM to fail.