Installing Postal on Ubuntu Server

Postal is an open-source mail server used for sending and receiving emails. In this tutorial, we will guide you on how to install Postal on Ubuntu Server.

Prerequisites

To install Postal on Ubuntu Server, you'll need the following:

  • Ubuntu Server
  • Root access or sudo privileges
  • At least 2 GB of RAM (recommended)
  • A domain name for the server

Step 1: Update and Upgrade your Ubuntu Server

Before proceeding with the installation process, update and upgrade your Ubuntu Server by running the following command:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

Step 2: Install Postal Dependencies

Now, we are going to install the necessary Postal dependencies which are:

  • Node.js
  • Redis server
  • PostgreSQL database

Install Node.js

To install Node.js, run the following command:

curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_12.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs

Install Redis server

To install Redis server, run the following command:

sudo apt-get install redis-server

Install PostgreSQL database

To install PostgreSQL database, run the following command:

sudo apt-get install postgresql postgresql-contrib

Step 3: Create Postal User and Database

Create a new PostgreSQL user for Postal by running the following command:

sudo -u postgres createuser postal

Create a new PostgreSQL database for Postal by running the following command:

sudo -u postgres createdb -O postal postal

Step 4: Download and Install Postal

Now, we are going to download and install Postal.

Clone the Postal repository by running the following command:

git clone https://github.com/postalhq/postal.git /opt/postal

Navigate to the Postal directory by running the following command:

cd /opt/postal

Now, run the installer script by running the following command:

sudo ./bin/postal install

The installation process will take a few moments. Follow the on-screen instructions and provide the necessary information.

Step 5: Configure Postal

After the installation is complete, navigate to the Postal configuration directory by running the following command:

cd /opt/postal/config

Open the Postal production.env file by running the following command:

sudo nano production.env

Replace the following fields:

Field Value
POSTAL_ADDRESS Enter your server IP address or FQDN
POSTAL_HOSTNAME Enter your server domain name
POSTAL_DB_USER Enter the PostgreSQL username (i.e., postal)
POSTAL_DB_PASS Enter the PostgreSQL password
RAILS_SECRET_KEY_BASE Generate a new random string and enter here for enhanced security

Save and close the file.

Step 6: Run Postal

Now, start Postal services by running the following command:

sudo systemctl start postal

To check the status of Postal services, run the following command:

sudo systemctl status postal

If everything is running fine, you should see the Active: active status.

Conclusion

You have successfully installed Postal on Ubuntu Server. You can now start using Postal to send and receive emails.