Linux Mail Server Ecosystem Overview
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Too Many Open Source Components
The Linux Email Server Ecosystem provides open source and free components for nearly all modules required by a complete Linux mail server (MTA, IMAP and POP3 servers, WebMail, WebAdmin, CalDAV and CardDAV). The internet also abounds in tutorials on how to mix and match these components.
For example, this tutorial provides a blueprint for installing and integrating Postfix (for SMTP), SpamAssassin, and Dovecot (for IMAP and POP3). It also instructs you on how to deploy Let's Encrypt certificates on your SMTP Postfix-based MTA. It stops here though. If you'd want to also install a WebMail interface (e.g. RoundCube or SquirrelMail), your internet search would have to continue.
There are also some already bundled packages that pre-integrate certain components (e.g. mailu, mailinabox, etc.). These clearly come with the convenience of shorter installation times and already available mail client management and access tools (WebAdmin and WebMail). However, you still have to do the work of finding all the components needed for your Linux email service.
Axigen as a Premium Linux Mail Server
Axigen does not mix and match any open sources components.
All services and functionalities are built and developed by Axigen and integrated into a single process. This has the following advantages:
- The tight integration greatly simplifies the installation, but also enhances the density of mailboxes supported on a certain "hardware unit".
- 24/7/365 single vendor support — Customers and Partners can directly access tech support by email at any time.
- Axigen is easy to setup and use, and we provide all the information you need, in a single place.
Axigen also features, as a WebMail-centric email platform, a single-page dynamic web interface for having access to your emails, calendars, contacts, tasks, notes, shared folders, shared calendars, shared contacts, or shared notes.
How to Install Axigen on Linux
A Full Step by Step Guide
Updated: March 25, 2024
Before installing Axigen on Linux, make sure all the following checklist items are true:
Pre-flight checklist
- You have your own domain
- You have access to making DNS changes (add MX records)
- You have a static IP address
- Check your IP address against DNSBL lists to see if it's listed
- If it's listed, don't use it — get another one
- You have already installed your OS — Axigen works on RedHat, CentOS, Ubuntu, SUSE, Debian, Oracle Linux.
You can kickstart your Axigen install through VMWare / VirtualBox or Docker by following the respective links.
Moving forward, our tutorial will focus on setting up the Axigen Mail Server kit on a minimal Linux install. All you need is to have all pre-flight requirements in check and to follow the following 6 steps:
1. Download Axigen Linux Mail Server
Axigen for Linux comes packaged as RPM or DEB.
Get the RPM package, for RedHat Enterprise Linux, CentOS Stream, Oracle Linux, Alma Linux, or Rocky Linux, by running the following command on your server:
wget https://www.axigen.com/mail-server/download/rpm/latest/axigen-10.5.19-1.x86_64.rpm
or, if you have a Debian-based system like Debian or Ubuntu Server, you can get the DEB package by running the following command:
wget https://www.axigen.com/mail-server/download/deb/latest/axigen_10.5.19-1_amd64.deb
2. Run the Installer
After downloading the installation kit, you can start to install it by running, as root:
dnf install <path>/axigen-10.5.19-1.x86_64.rpm
or, for Debian / Ubuntu:
apt install <path>/axigen_10.5.19-1_amd64.deb
For more details, here you can find the full installation instructions.
3. The Installation is Complete
This installation covered all components required for a fully functioning Linux mail server:
- Mail Transfer Agent (MTA)
- POP3 and IMAP
- WebMail
- WebAdmin
- CalDAV
- CardDAV
- Mobile devices Exchange ActiveSync
- Premium AntiVirus and AntiSpam engine
4. Initial Product Configuration and License Key
Once your Axigen Linux mail server install is up and running, go to your WebAdmin by accessing the following URL (you need to insert your server IP):
https://<IP_OF_YOUR_SERVER>:9443/
Next, you need to perform your initial Axigen product configuration. For this we’ve built a quick and simple wizard which will guide you through basic setup options including:
- Setting your admin password
- Adding your first domain
- Creating email accounts, groups, public folders etc.
The process will only take a few minutes. During the process, you can request and apply a free license key or apply an existing license, if you already have one. Here, you can also opt for a 60-day free trial that works for Businesses or Service Providers.
Here are the Axigen plans currently available:
- Starting from 3,000 mailboxes (1,500 Premium users + 1,500 Basic users)
- Personal organizer and Groupware
- Axigen AntiMalware & AntiSpam (powered by Bitdefender)
- Exchange ActiveSync Add-on for 100 Premium Users
- 24x7 technical support
- Starting from 150 mailboxes (50 Pro users / 50 Premium users / 50 Basic users)
- Multi-server license, up to 1024 servers
- Personal organizer and Groupware
- Axigen AntiMalware & AntiSpam (powered by Bitdefender)
- Exchange ActiveSync Add-on for 100 Premium Users
- 24x7 technical support
- Starting from 10 mailboxes or domains (10 Premium users)
- Personal organizer and Groupware
- Axigen AntiMalware & AntiSpam (powered by Bitdefender)
- Exchange ActiveSync
- 24x7 technical support
- 5 domains, 5 users, 5 groups
- Personal organizer and Groupware
- Basic Antivirus and AntiSpam
- Online Support
For a step-by-step guide to purchasing a custom Axigen license without ever interacting with sales, please visit our how to buy page.
5. Create Domains and Accounts
Now that you’ve configured your Linux mail server, your next task is to add more domains and create your email accounts. To do so:
- Navigate to WebAdmin → Domains & Accounts → Manage Domains. Here you will be able to add additional domains. Make sure to remember your Postmaster password.
- Navigate to WebAdmin → Domains & Accounts → Manage Accounts. Here you will be able to create email users.
How do accounts gain access?
Simple! Your fresh new Axigen email accounts can be accessed through the WebMail interface, which is available at https://<IP_OF_YOUR_SERVER>/
The only exception to this is if you’ve configured your WebMail Service to listen to a different port. If you’d like to do that, you can review our documentation on Managing Service Listeners here.
6. Linux Email Server Configurations Before Going into Production
Once domain and account setups are complete, depending on your use case, you might need to cover several additional aspects before being ready to use the Axigen Linux mail server in the real world:
- Configure DNS Records for correct email functionality — FQDN, MX record, PTR record, SPF, DKIM, DMARC
- Configure DNS Records for auto-discovery — IMAP, POP3, CalDAV, CardDAV
- Generate Let's Encrypt Certificate(s) to be used for SMTP, IMAP, POP3, WebMail, and WebAdmin listeners
- Secure your SMTP server — add non-25 port SMTP Listener on port 587 and create rules for strong authentication for SMTP
- Add SSL listeners for IMAP, POP3, WebMail, and WebAdmin
- Combat email spoofing by integrating openDMARC
- Configure HTTP to HTTPS redirects for WebMail and WebAdmin
- Configure auto-discovery for your email clients — Outlook, Thunderbird, eM Client, ActiveSync clients
- (Recommended) Strengthen your SSL settings
Trusted and reviewed by:
An innovative messaging solution [...] offering important premium features.
The Radicati GroupAxigen looks like a good, easy-to-use option if you want a full-featured email server.
SERVER WATCHA professional e-mail server with Web interfaces for both administration and user mail.
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