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Why does my BIMI DNS record return an unexpected string instead of the correct value?

Summary

When your BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) DNS record returns an unexpected string like "73Gcymai" instead of the full, correct value, it indicates a fundamental misconfiguration within your DNS setup. This isn't a random occurrence; rather, it is often a symptom of underlying issues such as malformed TXT record syntax, the presence of conflicting DNS entries like wildcards, or CNAME records that violate DNS standards. Troubleshooting requires a methodical approach to inspect the entire DNS zone and verify adherence to both BIMI specifications and general DNS RFCs.

What email marketers say

Email marketers frequently encounter unexpected behaviors when setting up DNS records, particularly for newer authentication standards like BIMI. Their practical experiences often highlight challenges such as the precise interpretation of documentation examples, the difficulty of debugging DNS configurations without direct administrative access, and the impact of seemingly minor syntax errors. These real-world issues underscore the delicate nature of DNS management in achieving proper email authentication.

Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks observed that they were looking up some info on the BIMI record and thought the semicolon was part of it, but now realizes they might have been wrong. They still find it strange that it returns a random string, highlighting the confusion around unexpected DNS outputs.

06 Jun 2019 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks stated that they lacked access to their client's DNS tool, which prevented them from checking other configurations. This emphasizes a common barrier marketers face in diagnosing complex DNS issues.

06 Jun 2019 - Email Geeks

What the experts say

Email deliverability experts agree that unexpected strings appearing in BIMI DNS records are not random occurrences. Instead, they are predictable outcomes of fundamental DNS configuration errors. Experts routinely point to common culprits such as unintended DNS wildcards, conflicting CNAME records, and the critical need for precise interpretation and implementation of DNS record syntax. Their insights are invaluable for diagnosing and resolving these complex issues.

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks (steve589) suggested checking if the URL for the BIMI image looks broken and is pointing to the correct location. This highlights the importance of the SVG link's validity.

06 Jun 2019 - Email Geeks

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks clarified that the unexpected string returned by a BIMI query is not random. It is a specific DNS lookup result, often indicative of an underlying wildcard record overriding the intended entry.

06 Jun 2019 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says

Official documentation for BIMI and core DNS standards provides the authoritative rules for record creation and deployment. These documents clearly define that DNS TXT records must adhere to strict formatting guidelines. They also outline critical DNS behaviors, such as the impossibility of CNAME records coexisting with other record types and limitations on character length, all of which can lead to unexpected DNS responses when violated.

Technical article

Documentation from Brand Indicators suggests that BIMI records must be published as a TXT record at a very specific subdomain. This subdomain is typically formatted as `default._bimi` followed by your domain, ensuring precise location for resolvers.

08 May 2018 - Brand Indicators

Technical article

Documentation from RFC 1035 outlines a fundamental rule of DNS that a CNAME record cannot exist with any other resource record type at the same node. This strict rule is a common cause of unexpected behavior when other records, like TXT, are present.

Nov 1987 - RFC 1035

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