Hello,
For 1and1 it appears that you first need to create a subdomain, then add the alias (in this case the address that you will be pointing to) from the subdomain.

For example, if I own the domain "mydomain.info" and then add it to O365 I will get instructions to create a CNAME record for ms85199829 (your exact string will be different, but it will contain "ms" plus 8 numbers). 

O365 tells you to:
1) Go to your registrar and select the domain that you are verifying,
2) choose the option to add a CNAME record for your domain,
3) "In the CNAME or Alias box for the domain, type or paste ms85199829".
4) In the Fully qualified domain name (FQDN) or Points to box, type or paste ps.microsoftonline.com.

For 1and1, the process is a little different.  You will first need to create a subdomain, then create a CNAME for that subdomain, then add the alias, which in this case is actually the point to address.

For our example case you would:
1) Go to 1and1 and  choose to admin mydomain.info,
2) Choose to add a subdomain, which will be ms85199829 so that you end up with the subdomain ms85199829.mydomain.info.
3) Click the box next to this newly created subdomain,
4) From the DNS menu, select Edit DNS Settings.
5) Click the radio button next to CNAME.
6) Next to alias, enter  ps.microsoftonline.com (the point to address).

The CNAME record is actually an alias for another  domain.  The CNAME record just says use the pointed to domain instead whenever someone asks for this domain.  This alias points to the canonical domain (the target domain to which we are pointing. 

1and1's process is probably more true to the actual definition to a CNAME record in that 1and 1 is adding a CNAME record to the ms85199829 subdomain that points to ps.microsoftonline.com. Most registrars have you add a CNAME or Alias to the parent domain (yourdomain.com) instead, and are actually “creating a subdomain for you” under the hood. 

Hope this helps,

Todd Douglass
MSFT Support Engineer

Thanks Todd for your response and inputs.

I following your instructions and am waiting for the changes to propogate so that I could verify the domain. Will let you know how that goes.

Thanks,

- Narayana

Todd,

Thanks a ton. Your instructions worked like charm. Appreciate the clear instructions provided by you.

You may want to consider updating the instructions with this set so that others could benefit while verify a domain with 1and1. The instructions provided by MS on the verfication process are slightly confusing.

Thanks,

- Narayana

I have done exactly this but it doesn't work for my domain(s). I have tried numerous times with buyhard2.co.uk, buyhard2.com and buyhard2.info and it still won't verify with oneandone.co.uk.

I am using small business/professional version of 365 and I'm wondering whether this version actually does support the domain import feature?

buyhard2.info has just verified. I did nothing different, I just tried it again and it worked. This is very strange, why would it suddenly work with the .info domain but not the .co.uk or the .com

Any ideas?

Paul

Worked for me. Thanks for your input.

This is incredibly useful information BUT it should be added to the instructions in the appropriate system menu!

Todd,

Just wanted to mention that I too followed your instructions. Worked like a charm, thanks. Took about 10-minutes for 1&1 to create the subdomain. And to then get Office 365 to verify the record.

Ditto on how this incredibly useful information SHOULD be added to the instructions in the administration section for 1&1 customers. I never would have figured it out otherwise.

Worked like a charm (took in less than 15 minutes). One more vote here for including this in the "easily accessible" instructions.

Hi Todd, I followed your instructions to a T, but it still doesn't verify. I even waited over 72 hours. Should it really be "ps.microsoftonline.com" or should the ps be replaced by my O365 indentifier? Also, would I verify "mydomain.info" or ms85199829.mydomain.info with O365?

Hi,

I just migrated from 1and1 and the following insturciotns worked seemlessly for me: www.ascarisolutions.com/.../78-office-365-on-1and1

Many thanks Todd, this worked perfectly. Which is rather more than can be said for 1&1 customer support!

Cheers,

Ady

Hi Todd,

    I have done exactly as you suggested. In nslook up the mx record has also changed. But when I try to click on Verify button it says it is verifying but does not return any response and does not get verified either. Please suggest me what to do now.

Thanks,

Chekri.

Narayana... did you change anything in the main domain settings?

Chekri78:

Here is what I have on 1and1 side:

From the control panel select your main domain and click edit DNS Settings;

General Settings: DNS

Basic DNS Settings:

Name Server: My name Server

Advanced DNS Settings:

ns1.bdm.microsoftonline.com

ns2.bdm.microsoftonline.com

Let me know if this works.

Thanks,

- Narayana