Installation guide for VoidMail

Packages provisioned by the installer

• Nginx with PHP 8.4 FPM and CLI.
• MariaDB, Redis, Composer, Certbot, and system utilities.
• Postfix for receive-only mail flow.
• PowerDNS and DNS utilities for domain management.

Before you start

• Point the main production domain to the target server.
• Open the firewall ports listed below.
• Prepare the buyer email used for SSL and operational notices.
• Keep the VoidMail license key ready during installation.

Useful commands after install

voidmail doctor
voidmail status
voidmail logs --install

What the installer wires

• Environment file and Laravel app configuration.
• Database, migrations, storage permissions, and services.
• Web server and SSL flow.
• Mail ingest, cleanup cadence, and DNS sync tasks.

Public workflow

• Generate a mailbox from the homepage or refresh an existing one.
• Copy the address and use it anywhere you need a temporary inbox.
• Poll for messages, open individual messages, and download attachments.
• Delete the mailbox or rotate to a new address when done.

Admin workflow

• Add the active domain and mark the default receiving domain.
• Configure IMAP if you are using fetch-based mail retrieval.
• Check Health Center after DNS, SSL, or mail changes.
• Control cleanup, pages, ad slots, and support settings from the admin panel.

Instant mailbox generation

• Creates disposable inboxes on demand.
• Supports alias and expiry rules.
• Can protect inbox access with a token instead of exposing open state by default.

Public inbox API and UI

• Mailbox polling and refresh flow.
• Message list, message detail, and deletion endpoints.
• Attachment download handling.

Mail ingestion

• Receives mail through the VPS runtime.
• Resolves the target mailbox and stores the message safely.
• De-duplicates incoming mail and sanitizes HTML before display.

IMAP fetch mode

• Stores IMAP credentials and tests connectivity.
• Tracks fetch status and fetch recency.
• Supports manual fetch execution from the admin panel.

Core admin areas

• Dashboard with platform stats and recent activity.
• Domain management and default-domain control.
• IMAP settings and fetch controls.
• Mailbox and message management.

Business and content controls

• Static page content and SEO settings.
• Ads management for monetized placements.
• PWA, theme, security, and general settings.
• Admin user management and system tools.

What it checks

• PHP and database connectivity.
• Storage state and queue mode.
• HTTPS availability.
• IMAP extension, IMAP login, and fetch recency.

Why it matters

• Speeds up post-install validation.
• Helps buyers identify missing DNS or mail setup quickly.
• Provides support-friendly status output during troubleshooting.

Routine tasks

• Review Health Center after DNS, SSL, or mail-routing changes.
• Confirm the default receiving domain is correct.
• Run manual IMAP fetch when diagnosing delayed polling.
• Check cleanup settings for mailbox and message retention.

Useful admin tools

• Clear cache from the system tools area.
• Export and import settings backups.
• Inspect recent mailboxes and stored messages.
• Verify ad slots and content pages before marketing launch.

First checks

• Confirm ports 80, 443, 25, and 53 are publicly reachable where required.
• Check the active domain DNS and SSL state.
• Open Health Center and review the failed checks first.
• Use voidmail doctor and voidmail status for runtime clues.

If mail is not appearing

• Verify the receiving domain is pointed correctly.
• Check whether the server provider allows inbound SMTP on port 25.
• Review IMAP configuration if using fetch mode.
• Inspect recent messages and fetch timestamps in the admin panel.