docs(guide): reorder Installation and add a Full deployment walkthrough
test / test (push) Has been cancelled

Installation now reads Ports, Local trial, Initial setup, Full
deployment (with Fixed image tag nested under it), Environment
variables, Reverse proxy. The step-by-step production deploy and the
per-proxy TLS commands move from README's "Reference deploy" into the
operator guide; README keeps a short pointer instead of duplicating
the walkthrough.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
This commit is contained in:
2026-08-14 15:49:58 +03:00
parent 403c76d17d
commit 9e3f0d0fad
2 changed files with 196 additions and 189 deletions
+11 -129
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@@ -83,7 +83,8 @@ See [Domain-level DNS](docs/guide.md#domain-level-dns-spf-dkim-dmarc) in the ope
> **First boot — create the admin account.** On a fresh container SelfPost prints > **First boot — create the admin account.** On a fresh container SelfPost prints
> a **one-time setup URL** (valid ten minutes). Open it in a browser to choose > a **one-time setup URL** (valid ten minutes). Open it in a browser to choose
> the administrator username and password. Until you do, the panel has no login. > the administrator username and password. Until you do, the panel has no login.
> Production deploy: [step 3](#3-start-selfpost). > Production deploy: [Full deployment](docs/guide.md#full-deployment) in the
> operator guide.
One container, panel at `http://127.0.0.1:8080` — no reverse proxy, no TLS One container, panel at `http://127.0.0.1:8080` — no reverse proxy, no TLS
files, no compose files. Good for clicking through the UI on your machine; files, no compose files. Good for clicking through the UI on your machine;
@@ -129,136 +130,17 @@ TLS PEM files at `./certs` (read by Postfix on 465/587). The panel is reached
only through a reverse proxy on 443 — port 8080 is bound to localhost in the only through a reverse proxy on 443 — port 8080 is bound to localhost in the
default compose file. default compose file.
| Artefact | Path | Full walkthrough — fetching the base files, setting up a reverse proxy and
|---|---| TLS (Apache/nginx/Caddy/Traefik), starting the container, and wiring up
| Compose file (fixed image tag) | [deploy/docker-compose.yml](deploy/docker-compose.yml) | DNS — lives in the operator guide's [Full
| Environment template | [deploy/.env.example](deploy/.env.example) | deployment](docs/guide.md#full-deployment) section, with proxy-specific
| Apache vhost (recommended) | [deploy/apache/selfpost-vhost.conf](deploy/apache/selfpost-vhost.conf) | commands under [Reverse proxy](docs/guide.md#reverse-proxy-mandatory).
| nginx | [deploy/nginx/](deploy/nginx/) |
| Caddy | [deploy/caddy/](deploy/caddy/) |
| Traefik | [deploy/traefik/](deploy/traefik/) |
### 1. Fetch the base files
```sh
mkdir -p selfpost/data selfpost/certs && cd selfpost
curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mixeme/selfpost/main/deploy/docker-compose.yml
curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mixeme/selfpost/main/deploy/.env.example
cp .env.example .env
```
Edit `.env` — at minimum set `SELFPOST_HOSTNAME` to your mail hostname (bare
FQDN, e.g. `mail.example.com`). It must match the PTR record you request from
your provider and the certificate your proxy will obtain.
### 2. Reverse proxy and TLS
Pick one proxy. In every case the proxy terminates HTTPS for the panel; the
same certificate must end up under `./certs` as `fullchain.pem` and
`privkey.pem` so Postfix can serve it on 465 (and 587 if enabled). The proxy
must **pass the original `Host` header** — details and rationale:
[Reverse proxy](docs/guide.md#reverse-proxy-mandatory).
**Apache (recommended, on the host).** Install Apache with `ssl`, `proxy`, and
`proxy_http` enabled. Copy
[deploy/apache/selfpost-vhost.conf](deploy/apache/selfpost-vhost.conf) into your
vhost directory, replace `mail.example.com` with your hostname, enable the site,
then issue a certificate:
```sh
sudo certbot --apache -d mail.example.com
```
Point `./certs` at the PEM files certbot wrote (symlink is fine):
```sh
ln -s /etc/letsencrypt/live/mail.example.com certs
```
**nginx (containerised).** From the `deploy/` directory, merge the nginx
fragment and issue the first certificate before nginx can serve HTTPS:
```sh
docker compose -f docker-compose.yml -f nginx/docker-compose.nginx.yml \
run --rm certbot certonly --webroot -w /var/www/certbot \
-d mail.example.com --email you@example.com --agree-tos --no-eff-email
docker compose -f docker-compose.yml -f nginx/docker-compose.nginx.yml up -d
```
Edit [deploy/nginx/nginx.conf.example](deploy/nginx/nginx.conf.example) and
replace `mail.example.com` first. The fragment bind-mounts certbot's output into
both nginx and SelfPost.
**Caddy (containerised, automatic ACME).** Edit
[deploy/caddy/Caddyfile](deploy/caddy/Caddyfile) and the `<hostname>` placeholders
in [deploy/caddy/docker-compose.caddy.yml](deploy/caddy/docker-compose.caddy.yml),
then:
```sh
docker compose -f docker-compose.yml -f caddy/docker-compose.caddy.yml up -d
```
Verify Caddy's on-disk cert path for your version before relying on the
default mount — see the comment at the top of the Caddy compose fragment.
**Traefik (containerised).** Edit the `Host(...)` label and ACME email in
[deploy/traefik/docker-compose.traefik.yml](deploy/traefik/docker-compose.traefik.yml),
start the stack, then extract PEM files for Postfix whenever Traefik issues or
renews a certificate:
```sh
docker compose -f docker-compose.yml -f traefik/docker-compose.traefik.yml up -d
./traefik/extract-cert.sh ./traefik/letsencrypt/acme.json mail.example.com ./traefik/extracted-certs
```
Schedule `extract-cert.sh` (cron or a timer) alongside Traefik's renewals.
### 3. Start SelfPost
If you used Apache on the host (step 2, first option), start only the base
compose file from your `selfpost/` directory:
```sh
docker compose up -d
```
The nginx/Caddy/Traefik fragments from step 2 already include `docker compose up
-d` — skip this if you ran one of those.
**Get the setup URL** — open it in a browser to create the admin account
([first boot](#quick-start)):
```sh
docker compose logs selfpost 2>&1 | grep -m1 'http'
```
```sh
cat ./data/setup-token
```
The file is deleted as soon as setup completes. If logs are shipped to a
central aggregator, prefer `cat ./data/setup-token` so the bearer token does
not enter the log pipeline.
### 4. DNS and sending
Before sending real mail:
1. Confirm PTR/rDNS for the server IP points at `SELFPOST_HOSTNAME` (Status
page → *Re-check*).
2. For each domain you add in the panel, publish SPF, DKIM, and DMARC at the
same time ([Domain-level DNS](docs/guide.md#domain-level-dns-spf-dkim-dmarc)).
3. Warm up a new IP gradually ([IP warmup](docs/guide.md#ip-warmup)).
### Ports and upgrades
The compose file maps **465** (always) and **587** (when The compose file maps **465** (always) and **587** (when
`SUBMISSION_ENABLE=true`). Bump the pinned image tag deliberately when `SUBMISSION_ENABLE=true`); bump the pinned image tag deliberately when
upgrading never use `:latest` ([why](docs/guide.md#fixed-image-tag)). upgrading, never `:latest` ([why](docs/guide.md#fixed-image-tag)). Optional
variables (`TRUSTED_PROXY_CIDR`, rate limits, retention): see [Environment
Optional variables (`TRUSTED_PROXY_CIDR`, rate limits, retention): see variables](docs/guide.md#environment-variables).
[Environment variables](docs/guide.md#environment-variables).
## License ## License
+185 -60
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@@ -13,12 +13,13 @@ domains hosted on that instance — DNS, deliveries, rate limits, applications).
## Table of contents ## Table of contents
- [Installation](#installation) - [Installation](#installation)
- [Reverse proxy (mandatory)](#reverse-proxy-mandatory) - [Ports](#ports)
- [Local trial](#local-trial) - [Local trial](#local-trial)
- [Environment variables](#environment-variables) - [Initial setup](#initial-setup)
- [First-time setup link](#first-time-setup-link) - [Full deployment](#full-deployment)
- [Published ports](#published-ports)
- [Fixed image tag](#fixed-image-tag) - [Fixed image tag](#fixed-image-tag)
- [Environment variables](#environment-variables)
- [Reverse proxy (mandatory)](#reverse-proxy-mandatory)
- [Instance administration](#instance-administration) - [Instance administration](#instance-administration)
- [Status](#status) - [Status](#status)
- [Mail queue and System log](#mail-queue-and-system-log) - [Mail queue and System log](#mail-queue-and-system-log)
@@ -41,39 +42,12 @@ domains hosted on that instance — DNS, deliveries, rate limits, applications).
## Installation ## Installation
### Reverse proxy (mandatory) ### Ports
SelfPost's panel speaks plain HTTP and never terminates TLS itself — a reverse `deploy/docker-compose.yml` maps **465** and **587** to the host. Port 465
proxy in front of it is not optional. The proxy is also the project's only (smtps) is always active. Port **587** is published even when
source of TLS certificates: whatever it obtains via ACME/Let's Encrypt gets `SUBMISSION_ENABLE=false`; nothing listens until you set it to `true` — harmless,
bind-mounted **read-only** into the SelfPost container, and Postfix uses those but it can look like an open port in external scans.
same PEM files for TLS on 465 (and 587, if enabled). If the panel and the mail
service share one hostname — the common case — it's genuinely one certificate
serving both.
SelfPost isn't tied to a specific proxy; pick whichever fits your host:
| Proxy | Where certs live | Fragment |
|---|---|---|
| **Apache** (default/recommended) | Host disk, via the certbot Apache plugin — PEM files ready to bind-mount, no extraction step. | [deploy/apache/selfpost-vhost.conf](../deploy/apache/selfpost-vhost.conf) |
| nginx | Host disk, via a certbot sidecar container — same PEM-ready shape as Apache. | [deploy/nginx/](../deploy/nginx/) |
| Caddy | Automatic ACME, zero extra containers — simplest, but its on-disk cert path is versioned internal layout, not a stable API; verify it for the Caddy version you run. | [deploy/caddy/](../deploy/caddy/) |
| Traefik | Bundled inside `acme.json` — needs a small extraction script to produce standalone PEM files. | [deploy/traefik/](../deploy/traefik/) |
Apache is the recommended default because the certbot Apache plugin already
writes plain `fullchain.pem`/`privkey.pem` files to a predictable path with no
extra moving parts between "certificate issued" and "Postfix can read it."
**The proxy needs no security configuration of its own.** The panel emits its
own `Content-Security-Policy`, `Strict-Transport-Security`, `X-Frame-Options`,
`X-Content-Type-Options` and `Referrer-Policy` — deliberately, so the part
that's easy to get wrong lives in the service rather than in a config file
somebody edits under pressure. There is exactly one thing the proxy must do:
**pass the original `Host` header through**. All four fragments above already
do (Apache `ProxyPreserveHost On`, nginx `proxy_set_header Host $host`, Caddy
and Traefik by default). A proxy that rewrites `Host` instead makes the panel
reject every form submission as cross-origin — the log says so explicitly,
printing the `Origin` and `Host` it compared.
### Local trial ### Local trial
@@ -109,6 +83,98 @@ Add `-v /tmp/selfpost-certs:/etc/postfix/tls:ro` to the `docker run` command
(and keep `SELFPOST_HOSTNAME=mail.local.test` so it matches the certificate CN). (and keep `SELFPOST_HOSTNAME=mail.local.test` so it matches the certificate CN).
Clients must skip TLS verification — the cert is not from a public CA. Clients must skip TLS verification — the cert is not from a public CA.
### Initial setup
On first start the one-time setup URL is printed in the container log
(`docker compose logs -f`) and written to `/data/setup-token` inside the
container — `./data/setup-token` on the host, mode `0600` — then deleted when
setup completes. The link is `https://<SELFPOST_HOSTNAME>/setup/<token>` (path
token, not a query string), valid for ten minutes. Open it to choose the
administrator username and password — until then the panel has no login. If
this host ships container logs to a central aggregator, prefer reading the
file:
```sh
docker compose exec selfpost cat /data/setup-token
```
### Full deployment
Production layout: one `docker-compose.yml`, a `.env`, persistent `./data`, and
TLS PEM files at `./certs` (read by Postfix on 465/587). The panel is reached
only through a [reverse proxy](#reverse-proxy-mandatory) on 443 — port 8080 is
bound to localhost in the default compose file.
| Artefact | Path |
|---|---|
| Compose file (fixed image tag) | [deploy/docker-compose.yml](../deploy/docker-compose.yml) |
| Environment template | [deploy/.env.example](../deploy/.env.example) |
| Apache vhost (recommended) | [deploy/apache/selfpost-vhost.conf](../deploy/apache/selfpost-vhost.conf) |
| nginx | [deploy/nginx/](../deploy/nginx/) |
| Caddy | [deploy/caddy/](../deploy/caddy/) |
| Traefik | [deploy/traefik/](../deploy/traefik/) |
**1. Fetch the base files.**
```sh
mkdir -p selfpost/data selfpost/certs && cd selfpost
curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mixeme/selfpost/main/deploy/docker-compose.yml
curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mixeme/selfpost/main/deploy/.env.example
cp .env.example .env
```
Edit `.env` — at minimum set `SELFPOST_HOSTNAME` to your mail hostname (bare
FQDN, e.g. `mail.example.com`). It must match the PTR record you request from
your provider and the certificate your proxy will obtain. See [Environment
variables](#environment-variables) for the full list.
**2. Reverse proxy and TLS.** Pick and set up one proxy — see [Reverse proxy
(mandatory)](#reverse-proxy-mandatory) for the per-proxy commands. The same
certificate must end up under `./certs` as `fullchain.pem` and `privkey.pem`
so Postfix can serve it on 465 (and 587 if enabled).
**3. Start SelfPost.** If you used Apache on the host (the recommended
option), start only the base compose file from your `selfpost/` directory:
```sh
docker compose up -d
```
The nginx/Caddy/Traefik fragments already include `docker compose up -d`
skip this if you ran one of those.
**Get the setup URL** — open it in a browser to create the admin account (see
[Initial setup](#initial-setup)):
```sh
docker compose logs selfpost 2>&1 | grep -m1 'http'
```
```sh
cat ./data/setup-token
```
**4. DNS and sending.** Before sending real mail:
1. Confirm PTR/rDNS for the server IP points at `SELFPOST_HOSTNAME` (Status
page → *Re-check*) — see [Server-level DNS](#server-level-dns-ptrrdns).
2. For each domain you add in the panel, publish SPF, DKIM, and DMARC at the
same time ([Domain-level DNS](#domain-level-dns-spf-dkim-dmarc)).
3. Warm up a new IP gradually ([IP warmup](#ip-warmup)).
#### Fixed image tag
`deploy/docker-compose.yml` pins an explicit version (`ghcr.io/mixeme/selfpost:X.Y.Z`),
deliberately never `:latest`. The current pin is `1.2.5`. Intermediate
CHANGELOG sections (`0.2.0``0.6.0`) record development cuts from before that
image was published. Pinning matters because of the backup version check (see
[Full backup and restore](#full-backup-and-restore)): the panel binary's
embedded version and the image tag that produced it are the same value by
construction (the release CI stamps both from one git tag — see
`.github/workflows/release.yml`), so the pin is what makes "restore into the
same version" a checkable fact rather than a guess. Upgrade by bumping the tag
deliberately, not by riding a moving target — see [Upgrading](#upgrading).
### Environment variables ### Environment variables
Copy [deploy/.env.example](../deploy/.env.example) to `.env` next to your Copy [deploy/.env.example](../deploy/.env.example) to `.env` next to your
@@ -158,38 +224,97 @@ supported configuration:
hours; logrotate keeps 14 rotated files on a daily schedule, and each hours; logrotate keeps 14 rotated files on a daily schedule, and each
rotation triggers `postfix reload`). rotation triggers `postfix reload`).
### First-time setup link ### Reverse proxy (mandatory)
On first start the one-time setup URL is printed in the container log SelfPost's panel speaks plain HTTP and never terminates TLS itself — a reverse
(`docker compose logs -f`) and written to `/data/setup-token` inside the proxy in front of it is not optional. The proxy is also the project's only
container — `./data/setup-token` on the host, mode `0600` — then deleted when source of TLS certificates: whatever it obtains via ACME/Let's Encrypt gets
setup completes. The link is `https://<SELFPOST_HOSTNAME>/setup/<token>` (path bind-mounted **read-only** into the SelfPost container, and Postfix uses those
token, not a query string), valid for ten minutes. If this host ships same PEM files for TLS on 465 (and 587, if enabled). If the panel and the mail
container logs to a central aggregator, prefer reading the file: service share one hostname — the common case — it's genuinely one certificate
serving both.
SelfPost isn't tied to a specific proxy; pick whichever fits your host:
| Proxy | Where certs live | Fragment |
|---|---|---|
| **Apache** (default/recommended) | Host disk, via the certbot Apache plugin — PEM files ready to bind-mount, no extraction step. | [deploy/apache/selfpost-vhost.conf](../deploy/apache/selfpost-vhost.conf) |
| nginx | Host disk, via a certbot sidecar container — same PEM-ready shape as Apache. | [deploy/nginx/](../deploy/nginx/) |
| Caddy | Automatic ACME, zero extra containers — simplest, but its on-disk cert path is versioned internal layout, not a stable API; verify it for the Caddy version you run. | [deploy/caddy/](../deploy/caddy/) |
| Traefik | Bundled inside `acme.json` — needs a small extraction script to produce standalone PEM files. | [deploy/traefik/](../deploy/traefik/) |
Apache is the recommended default because the certbot Apache plugin already
writes plain `fullchain.pem`/`privkey.pem` files to a predictable path with no
extra moving parts between "certificate issued" and "Postfix can read it."
**The proxy needs no security configuration of its own.** The panel emits its
own `Content-Security-Policy`, `Strict-Transport-Security`, `X-Frame-Options`,
`X-Content-Type-Options` and `Referrer-Policy` — deliberately, so the part
that's easy to get wrong lives in the service rather than in a config file
somebody edits under pressure. There is exactly one thing the proxy must do:
**pass the original `Host` header through**. All four fragments above already
do (Apache `ProxyPreserveHost On`, nginx `proxy_set_header Host $host`, Caddy
and Traefik by default). A proxy that rewrites `Host` instead makes the panel
reject every form submission as cross-origin — the log says so explicitly,
printing the `Origin` and `Host` it compared.
In every case the proxy terminates HTTPS for the panel; the resulting
certificate must end up under `./certs` as `fullchain.pem` and `privkey.pem`.
**Apache (recommended, on the host).** Install Apache with `ssl`, `proxy`, and
`proxy_http` enabled. Copy
[deploy/apache/selfpost-vhost.conf](../deploy/apache/selfpost-vhost.conf) into your
vhost directory, replace `mail.example.com` with your hostname, enable the site,
then issue a certificate:
```sh ```sh
docker compose exec selfpost cat /data/setup-token sudo certbot --apache -d mail.example.com
``` ```
### Published ports Point `./certs` at the PEM files certbot wrote (symlink is fine):
`deploy/docker-compose.yml` maps **465** and **587** to the host. Port 465 ```sh
(smtps) is always active. Port **587** is published even when ln -s /etc/letsencrypt/live/mail.example.com certs
`SUBMISSION_ENABLE=false`; nothing listens until you set it to `true` — harmless, ```
but it can look like an open port in external scans.
### Fixed image tag **nginx (containerised).** From the `deploy/` directory, merge the nginx
fragment and issue the first certificate before nginx can serve HTTPS:
`deploy/docker-compose.yml` pins an explicit version (`ghcr.io/mixeme/selfpost:X.Y.Z`), ```sh
deliberately never `:latest`. The current pin is `1.2.5`. Intermediate docker compose -f docker-compose.yml -f nginx/docker-compose.nginx.yml \
CHANGELOG sections (`0.2.0``0.6.0`) record development cuts from before that run --rm certbot certonly --webroot -w /var/www/certbot \
image was published. Pinning matters because of the backup version check (see -d mail.example.com --email you@example.com --agree-tos --no-eff-email
[Full backup and restore](#full-backup-and-restore)): the panel binary's
embedded version and the image tag that produced it are the same value by docker compose -f docker-compose.yml -f nginx/docker-compose.nginx.yml up -d
construction (the release CI stamps both from one git tag — see ```
`.github/workflows/release.yml`), so the pin is what makes "restore into the
same version" a checkable fact rather than a guess. Upgrade by bumping the tag Edit [deploy/nginx/nginx.conf.example](../deploy/nginx/nginx.conf.example) and
deliberately, not by riding a moving target — see [Upgrading](#upgrading). replace `mail.example.com` first. The fragment bind-mounts certbot's output into
both nginx and SelfPost.
**Caddy (containerised, automatic ACME).** Edit
[deploy/caddy/Caddyfile](../deploy/caddy/Caddyfile) and the `<hostname>` placeholders
in [deploy/caddy/docker-compose.caddy.yml](../deploy/caddy/docker-compose.caddy.yml),
then:
```sh
docker compose -f docker-compose.yml -f caddy/docker-compose.caddy.yml up -d
```
Verify Caddy's on-disk cert path for your version before relying on the
default mount — see the comment at the top of the Caddy compose fragment.
**Traefik (containerised).** Edit the `Host(...)` label and ACME email in
[deploy/traefik/docker-compose.traefik.yml](../deploy/traefik/docker-compose.traefik.yml),
start the stack, then extract PEM files for Postfix whenever Traefik issues or
renews a certificate:
```sh
docker compose -f docker-compose.yml -f traefik/docker-compose.traefik.yml up -d
./traefik/extract-cert.sh ./traefik/letsencrypt/acme.json mail.example.com ./traefik/extracted-certs
```
Schedule `extract-cert.sh` (cron or a timer) alongside Traefik's renewals.
## Instance administration ## Instance administration