【 Create Mailserver on a Raspberry Pi 】 Step by Step Guide ▷ 2022

Although there are thousands of email providers, large companies prefer their own server and have a secure servicemore private, and fully customizable.

As this project requires a server on all year long, it’s better if I know , It consumes less energy and requires minimal maintenance.

In this article you will know everything you need to know to configure your first custom mail service on a Raspberry Pi. In addition, you will know the pros and cons of having this service.

What do I need to create and configure an email server on my Raspberry Pi?

In this section we will show you what is required to correctly install a mail server, using a Raspberry Pi computer:

Register a domain: It seems basic, but if you don’t have a registered domain, you definitely won’t be able to move forward with the installation of your mail server.
Raspberry Pi OS: It is important that you start the installation with the official operating system of the Raspberry Pi equipment, so you will avoid major headaches due to incompatibility in the configurations.
Stable internet connection: It is better if the connection is made with dedicated internet service and fiber optics, so there will be no gaps in data transmission.
Electricity supply: when you don’t have the official Raspberry feeder at hand, it is better to have a high quality feeder, you could even go for a new official feeder.
SSH client: so we can access the Raspberry computer externally, we cannot install an operating system that offers assistance through a desktop.

What should I take into account before deciding if it is profitable to create a private mail server?

There are two possible scenarios in which investing time and resources in your own server is profitable:

learning mode: If you are a technology enthusiast, and just starting to program, then the Raspberry team shows you an accessible path that is easier to master than paid alternatives. In the learning process, we can damage a computer and spoil the whole project, then you will see that replacing a Raspberry is cheaper.
Have full control: If data protection is a real problem for your business, then having your own mail server is the most accessible solution. This way you avoid investing resources in companies and developers that offer the same services for you, but at a high cost. In these cases, it is better to have a staff inside that is in charge of this work.

Pros and cons of a private email server Is it worth doing the project for personal use?

If you have doubts about when to create your own mail server, then you should review this list of advantages and disadvantages of having this service and using a Raspberry Pi computer:

Advantage

Only you and whom you authorize will have access to emails and data
Is a safer option.
It’s more simple secure ways of accessinside and outside the internal network.
you will have a 100% customizable service.
accounts with More programming options.
The size of the files it is no longer limiting.
You may configure any device to have access to emails.
You may create as many addresses and extensions as you want.

Disadvantages

From the beginning, a greater investment in hardware is required.
It is required of a greater investment in terms of qualified personnel.
It requires a Constant review and updating of equipment and programs.
If the job is not done right, commercial emails can classify your messages as “”.
It is required of development of an interface that is worthy for any type of end user.

Learn step by step how to create a private email server with a Raspberry Pi from scratch

To follow these steps, a permanent internet connection is required, preferably a dedicated internet service that allows constant revisions and updates of the different trays of your personalized mail.

Go for it:

IP adress

This address needs to be static and private, always on your local network to have constant access to your incoming and outgoing emails:

Known what is the momentary static address.
Select the internet symbol in Raspberry Pi OS and write down the direction you can see.
press the right button and select “Wifi Settings”.
Choose the option “eth0”.
Write the first three sequences of the IP address.
In the remaining field, write the rest of the sequence.
restart the device Raspberry Pi.

Install a mailserver suite

For this step by step, the Citadel/UX client is used as the mailserver program and continue with the following procedures:

Update the packages pre-installed.
Write the command line: sudo apt-get update.
Later, write: sudo apt-get upgrade.
The program will detect that IPv6 is not available, you must type: sudo modprobe ipv6.
Now, install Citadel with this command: sudo apt-get install citadel-suite.

Install a mail server

You can also use a Citadel server, so there will be no errors or crashes during the installation and general operation of the server:

Start with the command: sudo service citadel start.
Write in your browser the static and private address of your raspberry.
Before using IPv6, you must use IPv4: sudo /usr/lib/citadel-server/setup.
You must enter the Citadel configurationFor that, log in as administrator.
Keep username as citadel and place as address “0.0.0.0”.
Citadel I know will restart.

Connect Citadel Server with Raspberry Pi

You should now be able to see a panel to enter the admin username and password when you enter the IP address in the browser:

Search the option “Administration”.
In the section “Global configuration”check the box “Edit site-wide configuration”.
Brand on the menu “SMTP”.
You’ll see three ports that are used by Citadel.
Write down these three ports and then configure the router.

Connect a domain name

The first that you must have on a DNS server. You will place the name and you must connect it with Citadel.

Use as domain name DNS Host (A):

Enter the domain name in the browser.
Must open directly to server of mail Citadel.
In the section of AdministrationChoose “Domain names and Internet mail configuration”.
Place the domain name in “Local host aliases”.
Go back to Administration and in the section “Edit site-wide configuration” put the domain name as “Full qualified domain name”.
reboot Citadel.

Until this step, your email installed on this server can now operate without any problem.

We teach you how to set up your own mailserver with a Raspberry Pi using Courier from scratch

One time have a registered domainyou can start installing a mail service with Courier in you raspberry.

This is a simple client to configure, at least easier than most similar clients:

First steps

run this commandassuming that the operating system is based on Debian or Ubuntu: sudo apt-get install courier-mta courier-imap.
This it will install the server and the IMAP environment.
tell her “Yes” when it asks if you want to prepare the directories for the web interface.
Now, you already have a mail server with Courier.
Set the server name: echo mydomainname >> /etc/courier/locals.
Later, write the line makealiases.
I know requires superuser permission (root) the previous steps.
This will allow emails from other clients, such as Gmail, can enter the trays without being rejected.

SMTP authentication

The SMT servers also require authentication that you must configure with the following steps.

It is a way to prevent anyone with access to the server from sending emails:

Find and open the file: /etc/courier/esmtpd.
require superuser permissions to do it.
in variable “AUTH_REQUIRED”, the value should be “1”.
Y in variable “ESMTP_AUTH”, must be place the value “LOGIN”.
now you must restart the server.
Write sudo courier restart.

Configure the mail client

So far, We have only managed to make Courier receive emails only for the accounts that exist on the server.

It is required to do a final configuration and you need to know the server account:

Write the command “whoami” to know the server account.
Should be set some parameters.
IMAP: with the port 143, without SSL and with an unencrypted password.
SMTP: with the port 25, without ssl, the password must also not be encrypted.
So much the username and password are the same as the server.

When you do the above steps, You can now send and receive emails from your computertablet or smartphone when you join a mail client that allows you to configure the account with the parameters of IMAP Y SMTP.

more settings

Up to this level, we managed to create a mail serverBut only with an account. Also, the security level is minimal.

We leave a list of the following you should do:

Improve security: A spam filter and SLL connections are required to achieve greater password protection.
Achieve your own interface: Although there are hundreds of free clients that you can use, you can only guarantee a good security of the service when you develop even the user interface that the mail will use.
More email accounts: Later, you can create new email accounts for more users. You can also manage more than one domain, when you want to differentiate the tasks in each area.