iRedMail

Full-featured, open source mail server solution for mainstream Linux/BSD distributions.

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Quick Overview

iRedMail is an open-source mail server solution that automates the installation and deployment of various components required for a fully-functional mail server. It integrates popular open-source applications like Postfix, Dovecot, Amavisd, SpamAssassin, and ClamAV to provide a comprehensive email infrastructure.

Pros

Easy installation process with automated setup scripts
Supports multiple operating systems (CentOS, Debian, Ubuntu, FreeBSD)
Includes built-in security features and spam protection
Regular updates and active community support

Cons

Limited customization options during initial installation
Requires technical knowledge for advanced configurations
May have compatibility issues with some third-party applications
Documentation can be overwhelming for beginners

Getting Started

To install iRedMail, follow these steps:

Download the latest stable release:

wget https://github.com/iredmail/iRedMail/archive/1.5.2.tar.gz

Extract the archive:
```
tar xvf 1.5.2.tar.gz
```
Change to the iRedMail directory:
```
cd iRedMail-1.5.2
```
Run the installation script as root:
```
bash iRedMail.sh
```
Follow the on-screen prompts to configure your mail server.
After installation, access the admin panel at https://your-server/iredadmin/ to manage your mail server.

Note: Make sure to review the official documentation for detailed system requirements and post-installation steps.

Competitor Comparisons

roundcubemail

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The Roundcube Webmail suite

Pros of Roundcubemail

User-friendly web-based email client with a modern interface
Extensive plugin system for customization and feature extension
Active development with frequent updates and improvements

Cons of Roundcubemail

Requires separate mail server setup and configuration
Limited built-in security features compared to iRedMail's comprehensive solution
May need additional plugins for advanced functionality

Code Comparison

iRedMail (shell script for server setup):

# Install required packages
apt-get install -y postfix dovecot-core dovecot-imapd dovecot-lmtpd

# Configure Postfix
postconf -e "inet_interfaces = all"
postconf -e "mydestination = $myhostname, localhost.$mydomain, localhost"

Roundcubemail (PHP code for webmail interface):

// Initialize the application
$RCMAIL = rcmail::get_instance();

// Load configuration
$RCMAIL->config->load_from_file('config/main.inc.php');

// Start the application
$RCMAIL->startup();

The code comparison shows that iRedMail focuses on server-side mail setup, while Roundcubemail is primarily a web-based email client. iRedMail provides a more comprehensive mail server solution, whereas Roundcubemail offers a user-friendly interface for accessing emails. Both projects serve different purposes in the email ecosystem, with iRedMail handling server configuration and Roundcubemail providing the front-end experience.

mailcow-dockerized

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Pros of mailcow-dockerized

Fully containerized solution using Docker, making deployment and updates easier
Includes a modern web-based administration interface
Supports more advanced features like DKIM, DMARC, and Sieve filters out-of-the-box

Cons of mailcow-dockerized

Higher system requirements due to Docker overhead
Steeper learning curve for users unfamiliar with Docker
Less flexible in terms of customization compared to iRedMail's modular approach

Code Comparison

mailcow-dockerized (docker-compose.yml):

version: '2.1'
services:
  dovecot:
    image: mailcow/dovecot:${MAILCOW_VERSION}
    volumes:
      - ./data/dkim:/var/lib/rspamd/dkim:ro

iRedMail (install.sh):

# Install Postfix, Dovecot, Amavisd, ClamAV, SpamAssassin
install_pkgs ${PKGS}

# Configure Postfix
postconf -e "inet_interfaces = all"
postconf -e "mydestination = ${HOSTNAME}, localhost"

The code snippets highlight the containerized approach of mailcow-dockerized versus the traditional installation method of iRedMail. mailcow-dockerized uses Docker images and volumes, while iRedMail directly installs and configures packages on the host system.

postfixadmin

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PostfixAdmin - web based virtual user administration interface for Postfix mail servers

Pros of PostfixAdmin

Lightweight and focused specifically on Postfix administration
Easier to integrate into existing mail server setups
More flexible for customization and extending functionality

Cons of PostfixAdmin

Limited features compared to iRedMail's all-in-one solution
Requires more manual configuration and setup
Less user-friendly for those new to mail server administration

Code Comparison

PostfixAdmin (config.local.php):

$CONF['database_type'] = 'mysqli';
$CONF['database_host'] = 'localhost';
$CONF['database_user'] = 'postfix';
$CONF['database_password'] = 'your_password';
$CONF['database_name'] = 'postfix';

iRedMail (iRedMail.sh):

export STORAGE_BASE_DIR="${STORAGE_BASE_DIR:=/var/vmail}"
export STORAGE_MAILBOX_DIR="${STORAGE_MAILBOX_DIR:=${STORAGE_BASE_DIR}}"
export SIEVE_DIR="${SIEVE_DIR:=${STORAGE_BASE_DIR}/sieve}"
export BACKUP_DIR="${BACKUP_DIR:=${STORAGE_BASE_DIR}/backup}"

The code snippets show configuration differences: PostfixAdmin focuses on database settings, while iRedMail configures storage directories. This reflects their different approaches, with PostfixAdmin being more database-centric and iRedMail providing a more comprehensive mail server setup.

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Pros of Modoboa

More modular architecture, allowing for easier customization and extension
Provides a modern, responsive web interface for both administrators and users
Offers built-in support for multiple domains and virtual aliases

Cons of Modoboa

Requires more manual configuration compared to iRedMail's automated setup
Less comprehensive documentation and smaller community support
May have a steeper learning curve for beginners

Code Comparison

Modoboa (Python):

from django.urls import path
from . import views

urlpatterns = [
    path('', views.index, name='index'),
    path('domains/', views.domain_list, name='domain_list'),
]

iRedMail (Shell script):

# Install required packages
install_pkg ${PKGNAMES}

# Create required directories
mkdir -p ${STORAGE_BASE_DIR}
chmod -R 0700 ${STORAGE_BASE_DIR}

# Configure Postfix
postconf -e "virtual_mailbox_domains = ${STORAGE_BASE_DIR}/domains"

Both projects use different approaches to mail server setup. Modoboa employs a Django-based web application for management, while iRedMail relies on shell scripts for configuration and installation. Modoboa's code structure allows for easier customization, but iRedMail's approach may be simpler for quick deployments.

Mailu

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Pros of Mailu

Docker-based architecture for easier deployment and scalability
More active community and frequent updates
Modular design allows for customization and flexibility

Cons of Mailu

Steeper learning curve for users unfamiliar with Docker
May require more resources due to containerization overhead
Less comprehensive documentation compared to iRedMail

Code Comparison

Mailu configuration example:

version: '2.2'
services:
  front:
    image: ${DOCKER_ORG:-mailu}/${DOCKER_PREFIX:-}nginx:${MAILU_VERSION:-2.0}
    restart: always
    env_file: .env

iRedMail configuration example:

export HOSTNAME='mail.example.com'
export FIRST_DOMAIN='example.com'
export STORAGE_BASE_DIR='/var/vmail'
export BACKEND='MYSQL'
export VMAIL_DB_BIND_PASSWD='password'

Both projects aim to simplify email server setup, but Mailu focuses on containerization while iRedMail uses a more traditional installation approach. Mailu's Docker-based architecture offers greater flexibility and easier scaling, but may be more complex for beginners. iRedMail provides a more straightforward setup process and comprehensive documentation, making it potentially easier for newcomers to self-hosted email solutions.

sovereign

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A set of Ansible playbooks to build and maintain your own private cloud: email, calendar, contacts, file sync, IRC bouncer, VPN, and more.

Pros of Sovereign

Broader scope: Offers a complete personal cloud solution including email, calendar, file sync, and more
Highly customizable: Allows users to choose which services to deploy
Active community: Regular updates and contributions from users

Cons of Sovereign

More complex setup: Requires more technical knowledge to deploy and maintain
Less focused: May include unnecessary services for users only interested in email
Potentially less stable: Wider range of services may lead to more frequent updates and potential conflicts

Code Comparison

Sovereign (Ansible playbook excerpt):

- name: Install Postfix
  apt:
    name: postfix
    state: present
  tags:
    - mail
    - postfix

iRedMail (Shell script excerpt):

install_postfix()
{
    ECHO_INFO "Installing Postfix (MTA)..."
    eval ${install_pkg} postfix
}

Both projects use different approaches for installation: Sovereign uses Ansible for configuration management, while iRedMail uses shell scripts. This reflects their different scopes and target audiences.

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README

iRedMail is a full-featured mail server solution: https://www.iredmail.org/

Don't forget to check out our lightweight email archiving software: https://spiderd.io/

It supports few mainstream Linux/BSD distributions:

CentOS Steam 8, 9
- Note: CentOS 7 and 8 are not supported, please use CentOS Stream or Rocky Linux instead.
Rocky Linux 8, 9
AlmaLinux 8, 9
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, 9
Debian 11
Ubuntu 22.04 (Recommend), 20.04
FreeBSD 13.x
OpenBSD 7.3

More info:

License: GPL v3
Authors: Zhang Huangbin (zhb at iredmail.org)
Check and download the latest stable release from website
Install iRedMail by following our installation guides strictly: Installation Guides
Community, bug report, feature requests: online support forum
We offer paid support services
Source packages patched or modified for RHEL/CentOS can be found here, other RPM packages are all installed from official yum repository and EPEL.

We recommend to deploy iRedMail server with the iRedMail Easy platform, it offers easy deployment, one-click upgrade, and tech support via the ticket system. Check our website for more details.

There's also an all-in-one Docker edition here: iredmail/dockerized.

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