Configuring Amazon SES with AcelleMail

Prerequisites#

• AWS account with SES access
• Verified domain or email in SES
• SES moved out of sandbox (for production)
• AcelleMail installed and running

Step 1: Create IAM Credentials#

In AWS Console → IAM → Users → Create User:

{
    "Version": "2012-10-17",
    "Statement": [
        {
            "Effect": "Allow",
            "Action": [
                "ses:SendEmail",
                "ses:SendRawEmail"
            ],
            "Resource": "*"
        }
    ]
}

Save the Access Key ID and Secret Access Key.

Step 2: Generate SMTP Credentials#

In SES Console → SMTP Settings → Create SMTP Credentials. This generates a separate username/password specifically for SMTP.

Note: SMTP credentials are different from IAM access keys. You need SMTP credentials for AcelleMail.

Step 3: Configure in AcelleMail#

Navigate to Admin → Sending Servers → Add New:

Step 4: Verify Domain in SES#

Add these DNS records from the SES console:

; DKIM
abc123._domainkey.yourdomain.com CNAME abc123.dkim.amazonses.com
def456._domainkey.yourdomain.com CNAME def456.dkim.amazonses.com
ghi789._domainkey.yourdomain.com CNAME ghi789.dkim.amazonses.com

; MAIL FROM (optional but recommended)
mail.yourdomain.com  MX  10 feedback-smtp.us-east-1.amazonses.com
mail.yourdomain.com  TXT "v=spf1 include:amazonses.com ~all"

Step 5: Set Up Bounce Handling#

Configure SNS notifications in SES:

1. Create SNS topic for bounces
2. Create SNS topic for complaints
3. Subscribe AcelleMail's bounce webhook URL to both topics
4. AcelleMail auto-processes bounces and complaints

Cost#

Amazon SES costs approximately $0.10 per 1,000 emails sent. Sending 100,000 emails costs just $10.