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README.md
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mailconfig.py
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mailinabox.sh
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rdns_linode.png
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README.md

Email Hosting

Requirements

  • A ICANN second level domain (SLD) eg. email.com
  • A server with
    • IP address that supports reverse DNS
    • At least 1GB of RAM
    • These ports open
      • 22 (SSH)
      • 25 (SMTP)
      • 53 (DNS for the ICANN domain) both TCP and UDP
      • 80 (HTTP)
      • 443 (HTTPS)
      • 465 (SMTPS)
      • 993 (IMAPS)
      • 995 (POP3S)
      • 4190 (Sieve)

For this guide we will be using

  • example.com as the ICANN domain
  • exampledomain as the HNS domain
  • 1.2.3.4 as the server IP

Step 1: Prep server

Change hostname of server to your domain name + sub.

sudo echo "mail.example.com" > /etc/hostname

Add the hostname to hosts

sudo nano /etc/hosts

Add the following line to the end of the file

127.0.0.1   mail.example.com

Step 2: Prep domain

Add two glue records to your ICANN domain

  • ns1.example.com pointing to 1.2.3.4
  • ns2.example.com pointing to 1.2.3.4

Add the following NS records for your ICANN domain

  • ns1.example.com
  • ns2.example.com

Step 3: Install mail in a box

Run the following command to install mail in a box

curl -s https://mailinabox.email/setup.sh | sudo -E bash

Answer the questions and wait for the install to finish. Run the following command to patch the install to work with HNS

curl -s https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Nathanwoodburn/HNS-server/main/email/mailinabox.sh | sudo -E bash

Step 4: Add Reverse DNS

Add a reverse DNS record for your server IP pointing to your ICANN domain, in this case mail.example.com
For example like so (but for the IPv6 as well)
RDNS Setup for linode

Step 5: Finish setup

In the admin panel (accessible at https://mail.example.com/admin)

Go to the TLS (SSL) Certificates tab and click the "Provision" button (usually requires 2 presses to provision all the certs)

Adding a domain

Simply add a user/alias with the domain eg. nathan@woodburn
After adding the user/alias, go to external DNS and get the DNS records to add to your DNS for the HNS domain.
You will need the MX and preferably the SPF records.

I would recommend having your main user a ICANN domain to allow sending emails to other email providers.
Then use aliases for the HNS domains as direct HNS accounts are a bit buggy with the webmail.