How to set up a mailserver on Ubuntu 12.04 x86 1GB

June 29, 2013 9.7k views
george.semaan
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george.semaan
I have added a domain to my control panel and I wanna create a mailserver. Is 1GB ram enough or do I need something bigger? I don't mind using only pop or smtp, but a webmail would be a plus. I tried searching for the tutorial here but the search function is not working properly.
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12 Answers
kamaln7 MOD June 29, 2013
We have a couple of articles on installing iRedMail that might help:

https://www.digitalocean.com/community/articles/how-to-install-iredmail-on-ubuntu-12-10-x64
https://www.digitalocean.com/community/articles/how-to-install-iredmail-on-centos-6-3-x64
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george.semaan June 29, 2013
But they are both x64, my current droplet is x86. Would it matter?

Can I install the webmail on another droplet and use it with the same domain of the first droplet?
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kamaln7 MOD June 29, 2013
> "But they are both x64, my current droplet is x86. Would it matter?"

I don't think it'll matter. I recommend installing the mail server on a separate droplet.

> "Can I install the webmail on another droplet and use it with the same domain of the first droplet?"

Yes. You'll only need to add MX records to your domain that point to the new droplet.
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george.semaan June 29, 2013
Can you point me to the MX records tutorial please?
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kamaln7 MOD June 29, 2013
Who is your domain registrar?
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george.semaan June 29, 2013
Godaddy
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kamaln7 MOD June 29, 2013
Add an A record with the hostname of mail and your droplet's IP address as the value, then create an MX record for @ that points to mail.yourdomain.com:

http://support.godaddy.com/help/article/7924/adding-or-editing-mx-records
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george.semaan June 29, 2013
Thank you mate.
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george.semaan July 1, 2013
One last question, is it ok if I installed it on my currently droplet and not a separate one? Will it slow down my site or anything?
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kamaln7 MOD July 1, 2013
You can install it on an existing droplet along. However, if that droplet crashes because of running out of memory, or a kernel panic, or if your mailserver crashes because mysql is taking up too much memory and not leaving enough memory for the mailserver you'll lose emails.

If your current droplet has enough room for a mailserver, you can install it on it instead of a new droplet.
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tortilaman August 3, 2013
Just an FYI, you can't use iRedMail or Zimbra any of the other ready made mail systems with an x86 OS, they all require x64. I went through this recently and just ended up installing postfix and dovecot by themselves and having my Gmail grab all the emails.
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thanhtancorp May 4, 2014
>https://www.digitalocean.com/community/articles/how-to-install-iredmail-on-ubuntu-12-10-x64
>https://www.digitalocean.com/community/articles/how-to-install-iredmail-on-centos-6-3-x64

These links died, can you have newer links?
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