# Install iRedMail on FreeBSD
[TOC]
> If you want to install iRedMail inside FreeBSD __Jail__, please use
> this installation guide instead:
> [Install iRedMail inside FreeBSD Jail (with ezjail)](./install.iredmail.on.freebsd.with.jail.html)
## System Requirements
!!! warning
* iRedMail is designed to be deployed on a __FRESH__ server system, which
means your server does __NOT__ have mail related components installed,
e.g. MySQL, OpenLDAP, Postfix, Dovecot, Amavisd, etc. iRedMail will install
and configure them for you automatically. Otherwise it may override your
existing files/configurations although it will backup files before
modifying, and it may not be working as expected.
* Many ISPs block port 25 by default, it's used for communication between
mail servers, it must be open, otherwise your server may be not able to
receive or / and send emails. Please contact your ISP to make sure it's
not blocked, or ask them to unblock.
- Amazon AWS EC2. Request to [remove the throttle on port 25](https://aws.amazon.com/premiumsupport/knowledge-center/ec2-port-25-throttle/).
- Google Cloud Platform.
- Microsoft Azure.
- Linode. Explained in the [blog post](https://www.linode.com/blog/linode/a-new-policy-to-help-fight-spam/),
you can open a support ticket to request the Linode team to open it.
- DigitalOcean.
To install iRedMail on FreeBSD, you need:
* A __FRESH__, minimal, working FreeBSD system, no additional ports or binary
packages were installed. Supported releases are listed on
[Download](https://www.iredmail.org/download.html) page.
* At least `2 GB` memory is required for a low traffic production mail server, but
`4 GB` is strongly recommended to prevent ClamAV eating too much memory for big virus
signature database.
* Make sure 3 UID/GID are not used by other user/group: 2000, 2001, 2002.
Note: All packages will be installed from ports tree.
## Preparations
### Set a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) hostname on your server
No matter your server is a testing machine or production server, it's strongly
recommended to set a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) hostname.
Enter command `hostname -f` to view the current hostname:
```shell
# hostname -f
mx.example.com
```
On FreeBSD, hostname is set in two files: `/etc/rc.conf`, `/etc/hosts`.
* `/etc/rc.conf`: set hostname.
```
# Part of File: /etc/rc.conf
hostname="mx.example.com"
```
* `/etc/hosts`: hostname <=> IP address mapping.
```
# Part of file: /etc/hosts
127.0.0.1 mx.example.com mx localhost localhost.localdomain
```
Verify the FQDN hostname. If it wasn't changed, please reboot server to make it work.
```
# hostname -f
mx.example.com
```
### Update ports tree via portsnap
```
# portsnap fetch extract update
```
### Install package `bash-static`, it's required by iRedMail
```bash
# pkg install bash-static
```
### Download the latest release of iRedMail
* Visit [Download page](https://www.iredmail.org/download.html) to get the
latest stable release of iRedMail.
* Upload iRedMail to your mail server via ftp or scp or whatever method you
can use, login to the server to install iRedMail. We assume you uploaded
it to `/root/iRedMail-x.y.z.tar.gz` (replace x.y.z by the real version number).
* Uncompress iRedMail tarball:
```
# cd /root/
# tar zxf iRedMail-x.y.z.tar.gz
```
## Start iRedMail installer
It's now ready to start iRedMail installer, it will ask you several simple
questions, that's all required to setup a full-featured mail server.
```
# cd /root/iRedMail-x.y.z/
# bash iRedMail.sh
```
## Screenshots of installation:
* Welcome and thanks for your use
![](./images/installation/welcome.png){: width="700px" }
* Specify location to store all mailboxes. Default is `/var/vmail/`.
![](./images/installation/mail_storage.png){: width="700px" }
* Choose backend used to store mail accounts. You can manage mail accounts
with iRedAdmin, our web-based iRedMail admin panel.
!!! note
There's no big difference between available backends, so
it's strongly recommended to choose the one you're familiar with for easier
management and maintenance after installation.
![](./images/installation/backends.png){: width="700px" }
* If you choose to store mail accounts in OpenLDAP, iRedMail installer will
ask to set the LDAP suffix.
![](./images/installation/ldap_suffix.png){: width="700px" }
!!! note "To MySQL/MariaDB/PostgreSQL users"
If you choose to store mail accounts in MySQL/MariaDB/PostgreSQL, iRedMail
installer will generate a random, strong password for you. You can find it
in file `iRedMail.tips`.
* Add your first mail domain name
![](./images/installation/first_domain.png){: width="700px" }
* Set password of admin account of your first mail domain.
__Note__: This account is an admin account and a mail user. That means you can
login to webmail and admin panel (iRedAdmin) with this account, login username
is full email address.
![](./images/installation/admin_pw.png){: width="700px" }
* Choose optional components
![](./images/installation/optional_components.png){: width="700px" }
After answered above questions, iRedMail installer will ask you to review and
confirm to start installation. It will install and configure required packages
automatically. Type `y` or `Y` and press `Enter` to start.
![](./images/installation/review.png){: width="700px" }
## Important things you __MUST__ know after installation
!!! warning
The weakest part of a mail server is user's weak password. Spammers don't
want to hack your server, they just want to send spam from your server.
Please __ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS__ force users to use a strong password.
* Read file `/root/iRedMail-x.y.z/iRedMail.tips` first, it contains:
* URLs, usernames and passwords of web-based applications
* Location of mail service related software configuration files. You can
also check this tutorial instead:
[Locations of configuration and log files of major components](./file.locations.html).
* Some other important and sensitive information
* [Setup DNS records for your mail server](./setup.dns.html)
* [How to configure your mail clients](./index.html#configure-mail-client-applications)
* [Locations of configuration and log files of major components](./file.locations.html)
* It's highly recommended to get a SSL cert to avoid annonying warning
message in web browser or mail clients when accessing mailbox via
HTTPS/IMAPS/POP3/SMTPS. [Let's Encrypt offers __FREE__ SSL certificate](https://letsencrypt.org).
We have a document for you to
[use a SSL certificate](./use.a.bought.ssl.certificate.html).
* If you need to bulk create mail users, check our document for
[OpenLDAP](./ldap.bulk.create.mail.users.html) and
[MySQL/MariaDB/PostgreSQL](./sql.bulk.create.mail.users.html).
* If you're running a busy mail server, we have [some suggestions for better
performance](./performance.tuning.html).
## Access webmail and other web applications
After installation successfully completed, you can access web-based programs
if you choose to install them. Replace `your_server` below by your real server
hostname or IP address.
* __Roundcube webmail__:
* __SOGo Groupware__:
* __Web admin panel (iRedAdmin)__:
## Get technical support
* You are welcome to post issues, feedbacks, feature requests, suggestions in
our [online support forum](https://forum.iredmail.org/), it's more
responsive than you expected.
* We offer paid professional support service too, check our web site for more
details: [Get Professional Support from iRedMail Team](https://www.iredmail.org/support.html).