In this article we will see how to setup Free SMTP server using Postal (Open-Source
Software), after setting up we will connect to email marketing application to
send unlimited Emails.
So, Let’s burn it.
If you are wondering What is Postal don’t worry, I will explain right
now.
Postal is open source fully-featured mail delivery platform for outgoing
and incoming Email and give the features and tools which is need for building a
full mailing system for your business.
The question is what is SMPT Server?
SMPT means (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) Simply SMPT It’s the application
to send email over the internet.
SMPT have two parts:
1. The sender (SMTP service): it’s allows to send emails all over the internet.
2. Management application: Email managing, configure, email list, marketing Campaigns, manage your sending servers, analyze results and monitor it.
I think it’s clear,
Sending Unlimited Emails what does it means?
It’s means we can send unlimited emails from our server; it depends on our server how much got our server CPU and RAM the more we have CPU and RAM the more we can send emails.
Let’s burn the SMPT server Setup!
Before we start you need to know what’s the requirement for SMPT sever
server.
1.
A domain Name
2.
VPS Server with at 25 opened.
1. Domain Name
Whenever you are sending email your email address will like
info@w-evergreen.com
so w-evergreen.com is domain name that will be using for sending email all
over the internet.
But here is one risk if you are using your main domain name may be not
sure but may be in some cases it will blacklist. For not be in blacklist I will
refer work on cold emails. To keep your main business domain safe.
How you will get the domain?
Buy from big companies it costs only 10$ per year it’s not that big amount
go and buy to continue setup. If you have already then, we are good to go.
These are the I refer domain companies.
- 1.
Namecheap.
- 2.
GoDaddy.
- 3.
Freenom.
- 4.
Google Domain.
- 5.
Enom
In this guide we will be using GoDaddy to get the domain.
2. VPS Sever with Post 25 opened.
We will need also VPS
server to install and setup SMPT on.
What is VPS server?
Simply it’s a computer. Running in the cloud that you buy from web hosting
companies and it’s accessible all over the world with a public IP.
A VPS
can run 24/7 with higher performance that you can do any task anytime.
Port 25 opened?
Port is using for communication between networks services or software’s
all over the internet.
For instance.
·
Remote connectivity to another Windows Machine
using RDP software. It will work on port 3389.
·
Linux machine will work on using port 22.
·
SQL database work on port 3306.
·
Websites surfing web work on Port 80.
But note please all servers and computers have a firewall running for
blocking all port except which on you working on. It’s mandatory to open that
port which will be we will work on.
Let’s burn this diagram to make things clear.
So, when you get a VPS server just make clear thing that the company
allows port 25 and it will not be blocked. In some cases, block this port to
protect their server from spammers.
Here is some companies that provide and allows port 25 by default.
- 1. OVH.
- 2. Interserver.
- 3. Contabo
- 4. Digital Ocean.
- 5. Host wind
- 6. AWS (some account are blocked)
Note: By some of the companies block this port but there is a way to open
it. The way is you will ask from that
company to allow 25 port. If it’s already allowed by default then your good to
go.
Well, I will prefer Contabo
VPS server because it’s super cheap with good solid performance.
After selecting your VPS company, with the following specification just
create a VPS server.
·
You can start with 1 CPU and 2 GB RAM
it is possible that you can resize it later
·
Ubuntu 18 x64 bit will your operating system.
Basic configuration of VPS Server
We have got our new VPS server, let’s setup
Using an SSH client Putty, to connect your server.
Check your host name first:
Hostname -f
In some cases, if you didn’t see like EXAMPLE.YOURDOMAIN.COM the
we need to change the hostname using below command.
Sudo hostname host.domain.tld
The host name anything you want. We will take as Wmailing.me
The command will be:
Sudo hostname postal.Wemailing.me
Map domain name.
Finally, we have our VPS server and we set the name. For mapping your Domain
to your server go to your Domain Provider. Next step is open DNS management
zone and add a new record like below mention:
Tip: you can choose whatever you want for your server.
Is it done??? Great now we will move to next step.
Install Postal Free SMTP Software
We have many SMTP software like Postal, PowerMTA, Exim, Postfix and so
on.
As you know we will use Postal as our SMTP Software. Let’s burn it.
If you are on Contabo VPS provider, then before you start you have to run
following commands.
Sudo apt-get install apt-transport-https
For installing Postal, Run this command
curl
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/atech/postal/master/script/install/ubuntu1604.sh
| sh
The Setup is completely automated you don’t need to typed any command to complete
the setup
Just wait it for the couple of minutes it would be itself the finish the
installation process.
When it’s done, it will reveal the granted message “Installation
complete”
Now we need to create a user so can manage and
login out Postal server through the web interface. Execute following command.
Postal make-user
It will ask for name Enter your name, password, email and noted some
where else after that press Enter.
Vallla ! Postal is installed successfully. Isn’t it so simple right?
Configure Postal SMTP
This time you may need to go to your browser, and locate the to your
Server IP URL or Subdomain like it :
https:YOUR_SERVER_ADDRESS
the SSL warning you will get denote , don’t worry ! its not the big problem
just proceed as you can
more the image you can see down
Next! the page will appear that Postal login page, now fill the two-empty box with
Your email and password that its click on Login
And Now, you are inside Postal, click “Add Organization” to add one.
Enter the name, set it to live mode then Click on Build the Mail Sever.
Postal Domain configuration
Now It’s time, to click On the Domains to add your domain name into Postal
If you want to send email than enter your Domain name and click Create
Domain.
Next step is Postal will show the Domain page with the records which you
will need for configuration.
Simply copy these records and paste in your DNS Zone, after that your server
will be ready to send emails!
What is SPF and DKIM
1.
Dkim (Domain Keys identified Mail):
A DKIM record hold public authentication key as in text record in your
DNS. Inside your server this key will validated using a private key saved privately.
All of the email will be signed, and this will avoid any alterations and
protect your email.
Setting Up Dkim For Postal
Postal already did the job for you, DKIM already configured and the keys
are generated, Need to only copy and paste to your DNS Zone.
SPF (sender Policy Framework ):
SPF is stand for the sender Policy Framework it is the txt record
which is added to your
Domain DNS Zone and allows you to set the mail server which that are allowed
to send the email
Form your Domain.
The message that it send to the sever would recognize as spam record then
it will prohibited
To allowance.
Be patience the mail you send to from your own sever are not allowed it
because . it identify as
Fake page like phishing page . more your can’t use the google domain. The
sever denote as the spam.
It is very important to set up the
SFP in matter of that which it will prevent anybody to access
your domain. So, it come pretty
much protection to making your domain validated by another mailing provider.
To Establish SPF. Quickly open your DNS zone in and tally the pursuit record
v=spf1 a mx ip4:XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX -all
Substitute with your VPS sever up.
the way your server can only send emails from your domain.
If you noticed, Postal will give you instance SPF to copy.
It should look like this.
v=spf1 a mx include:spf.postal.example.com ~all
This is just example, how to change this in the postal confiq file to
match your domain name reason of changing it because it’s necessary.
How to edit Postal config file.
For editing file we need to connect to our server using file manager.
In this way we can use WinSCP, for editing files.
Open WinSCP, Go to /opt/postal/config directory. Open postal.yml
file.
After that right click and edit the file.
Change the example domain to your domain name.
Restart postal.
Run this command
Postal restart
Refresh it, you will see example domain name replace will on your domain name. copy the SPF record to your DNS zone.
Server is ready for testing.
Sending test Email
Click on messages and then click on send message for testing Free SMPT server.
How to use SMTP as a rely to send email from any email marketing application?
Answer: Create “Credentials” inside Postal to connect and authenticate to
our Free SMPT Server.
To Relay Email create Post Credentials
Click on Credentials, and Add new credentials.
In type select SMTP.
Enter User (any)
Put the key, is the password or let them generate automatically
Great! Now you can use these credentials in any email marketing
application.
Test Email Relay
Go to SMTPER.NET and enter your server details.
For email sender application use these below credentials.
SMTP Host: Your Server IP or Domain
Port: 25 or 2525
Login: The User You entered in credentials.
Password: The User Password.
Great! Setting is finished
If you are facing any problem Please let me know in comments.
Before you sending emails!
Felicitation! You got free setup your own Free SMTP Server
Using Postal. The best delivery rates
and reach the inbox! . you have to known some important concepts and follow up
on the instruction to get the best delivery rates and reach the inbox.
Warming Up your SMTP server
When you make new SMTP server with
new Ip Address and foremost you can start transmit your Email Marketing crusade,
you have to warm up your IP Address.
What is Warming Up IP ?
For SMTP new brand up address , this Ip have no action
on the internet and ISPs (internet service provider ) don’t know this IP
Warmup IP is the practice of making your action on the internet by slowly
increment the range of mail sent with your Ip address according to a predetermined
time table.
Example of warming up your server shown in the table is given down:
|
Warmup Day |
Emails to Send |
|
1 |
20 |
|
2 |
50 |
|
3 |
100 |
|
4 |
300 |
|
5 |
500 |
|
6 |
700 |
|
7 |
900 |
|
8 |
1000 |
Up table shows a scenario if you want to get jumps up 1k emails per day
with a good action.
Please refer to Warming up STMP Guide for more details.
rDNS (Reverse DNS):
The DNS is known as a pointer record it is used to point your IP to your Domain, it’s the inverse of the regular DNS A record.
So, when call up the IP, then name you would get. to increase sending score of your mail sever it very useful setting up mail sever.
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting &Conformance):
This protocol is uses the (SFS) and (DKIM) to decide the authenticity of an email message.
DMARC make thing easy for ISPs. To secure from malicious email, phish
for recipient’s personal information.
Using SPF or DKIM it allows email senders to how to handle emails that
were not authenticated. Sender can block them.
MX Record (Mail Exchange)
MX record is responsible for delivering email to your address.
Email List Health
·
Bounce Rate: How many emails are
valid in your list.
·
Spam Traps: does you list include any spam traps?
That’s it we did it.
Thank you for reading this guide hope this guide give you some knowledge
Good Luck !
No comments