How to deploy a mail server with BeAdmin

The BeAdmin control panel makes it easy to set up your own mail server in just a few clicks. You can create unlimited mailboxes on your domains, manage mail with Roundcube, or connect accounts to popular mail clients from Google, Apple, and others.

⚠️ Warning

To run a mail server, you need a domain name. It allows you to send and receive messages over the internet. You can purchase a domain from any registrar. Multiple domains can be added later if needed.

If you’re starting with a clean server and BeAdmin installed, you’ll need to add the mail module before it can be used. Follow the steps below.

Step 1. Installing the mail server

Go to the Mail section and click Install. If additional dependencies are required, the panel will prompt you to install them automatically.

In the dialog window, specify the primary domain of your server.

💡 Tip

At this stage, you’ll need to define a default domain. If you don’t have one yet, you can enter any value — later you’ll be able to change the default domain and add more.

Once the installation is complete, you’ll be redirected to the mailbox management page.

Step 2. Creating a mail account

Go to Mail → Accounts and click Create account.

In the dialog window, fill out the following fields:

• Account name: the part of the address before the @ symbol. For example, entering info with the domain example.com will create info@example.com.
• Domain: the part of the address after @. If multiple domains are configured, you can choose the one you need. If there’s only one domain, it will be selected automatically.
• Create as alias: turns the account into an alias — a forwarding address that redirects mail to another mailbox. This option is only available if at least one regular account exists.

⚠️ Warning

An alias is not a full-fledged mailbox but a forwarding rule. It looks like a normal email address, but all messages are redirected to the specified destination account.

• Password: required to access the account. The panel will not allow overly simple passwords. Not applicable for aliases.
• Comment: optional field for notes.

When finished, click Create.

Step 3. Installing the Roundcube web client

Go to the Mail section and click Install Roundcube.

ℹ️ Info

Roundcube requires PHP version 8.0 or higher. If it’s not installed, the system will prompt you to install PHP first.

After installation, you’ll be able to access your mail directly in the browser.

To open the web client, go to Mail and click Open Roundcube. Enter the login and password of one of the accounts created in step 2 and click Login.

⚠️ Warning

Only regular accounts can be used to log in. Aliases work exclusively for mail forwarding.

Step 4. Connecting an external mail client

You can also use any popular desktop or mobile mail client, for example Thunderbird. Use the following parameters when setting up:

• Host: your server’s IP address or domain
• IMAP: port 143
• SMTP: port 25
• Email address: your mailbox (e.g., info@example.com)
• Password: the account password

Useful links

• How to configure DNS records for the mail server