Linux Mail Server Install &amp; Configure in Only 10 Minutes

This article guides you through the steps of installing, performing basic configuration, and securing a Linux email server on own — physical or virtual — server. The single software package required is the full-featured Axigen all-in-one Linux email platform.

At the end of the article you will have a fully functioning Axigen installation which you can use to evaluate the product. Should you choose to deploy it in production, we've also included links to some articles and documentation pages with guidance on how to implement best practices when it comes to self hosting your email domains.

Linux Mail Server Ecosystem Overview

The Issue: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 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.

The Solution: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:

1The tight integration greatly simplifies the installation, but also enhances the density of mailboxes supported on a certain "hardware unit"
2Single vendor support 24/7/365 Support — Customers and Partners can directly access tech support by email at any time.
3Axigen 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

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.

If you want to kick start with VMWare / VirtualBox or Docker, then proceed to the respective links.

From now on, this tutorial will continue for the case of installing the Axigen Mail Server Kit on a minimal Linux install.

1. Download Axigen Linux Mail Server

In order to get the Axigen installation kit for RedHat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise, CentOS, Oracle Linux, or OpenSUSE, run the following command on your server:

wget https://www.axigen.com/mail-server/download/rpm/latest/axigen-10.4.0-1.x86_64.rpm

or, if you have a Debian-based system like Debian or Ubuntu Server, then run the following command:

wget https://www.axigen.com/mail-server/download/deb/latest/axigen_10.4.0-1_amd64.deb

2. Run the installer

After downloading the installation kit file, suffixed with the .run extension, you can start to install it by running, as root:

sh <file.run>

or by setting the executable bit and then running it directly:

chmod o+x <file.run>
./<file.run>

However, the installation instructions will further refer only to the first option presented above.

3. The installation is done

This installation covered all components required for a fully functioning Linux mail server:

MTA
IMAP and POP3
WebMail
WebAdmin
CalDAV
CardDAV
Mobile devices Exchange ActiveSync
Premium AntiVirus and AntiSpam engine

4. Initial product configuration and license key

Now that Axigen up and running, you can access WebAdmin at the following link: https://<IP_OF_YOUR_SERVER>:9443/

Go through the initial product configuration: a quick and simple wizard which will take you through the basic configuration of your product — including the creation of your admin account and first domain — in a few minutes.

During this process, you will be able to get a Free mail server license key or a 60-day trial one — for Businesses or Service Providers, all features included:

Businesses

100 mailboxes or domains (100 Premium users)
Personal organizer and Groupware
Axigen AntiVirus & AntiSpam powered by Cyren
Exchange ActiveSync
24x7 technical support

Service Providers

3000 mailboxes (1500 Premium users + 1500 Basic users)
Personal organizer and Groupware
Kaspersky AntiSpam and AntiVirus & Axigen AntiSpam and AntiVirus powered by Cyren
Exchange ActiveSync Add-on for 100 Premium Users
24x7 technical support

Free Mail Server

5 domains, 5 users, 5 groups
Personal organizer and Groupware
Basic Antivirus and AntiSpam
Online Support

5. Create domains and accounts

The next steps would be to add more domains and accounts.

Navigate in WebAdmin to Domains & Accounts → Manage Domains to create additional domains. Remember the postmaster password.

Then, navigate in WebAdmin to Domains & Accounts → Manage Accounts to create users.

Both the default postmaster account and the ones you've created can access the WebMail interface via https://<IP_OF_YOUR_SERVER>/ (unless you've reconfigured the WebMail Service to listen to a different port).