PowerMTA Installation

FAQ for this step is available here.

So, here you are, your Main server is running, our custom EMS is prepared and the PowerMTA Management Console is ready to connect with your first PowerMTA. Not to waste time, let's move to the PowerMTA installation.

If you want to install PowerMTA on its own budget VPS (suggested) now is the time to connect to it. If you are installing PowerMTA on your main server just open the SSH you used in Step 1. This guide isn't written for the same server installs as it always leads to trouble.

DNS Records

NOTE: Kindly note that this is the most common step where users tend to encounter difficulties, resulting in lower email deliverability. It is essential to maintain precision and focus. I highly recommend utilizing my DNS Creator Tool for optimal results.

Before you start with your MTA server install I suggest setting up all necessary DNS records. You can do it manually or use my DNS Creator Tool (suggested). DNS Creator Tool will create an import file with all required DNS records. All you have to do is import them with 2 clicks.

If you want to do it manually here are all the DNS records that must be created:

CLOUDFLARE - DNS RECORDS

A Records

AAAA Records

CNAME Records

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MX Records

TXT Records

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DNS Creator Tool generates all these records for you in just a few clicks and eliminates any copy/paste errors.

rDNS or PTR Setup

It's always a smart idea to set up reverse DNS or rDNS (sometimes called PTR records) as soon as possible. It takes time for it to become visible to all computers connected to the internet. It's the same with DNS records.

IMPORTANT: Never start sending if you made major DNS or rDNS changes in the last 3 days!

It's a bit hard to write a guide on how to set up rDNS since each provider takes a bit different approach. With some providers, you set rDNS even before your server comes online, while others have dedicated sections in their dashboards. Typically rDNS settings are somewhere where your IPs are listed. Here are a few different ways to set rDNS.

VPS PROVIDER

rDNS example 1

rDNS example 2

rDNS example 3

Hopefully, you will find a way to set rDNS with your VPS provider with ease. If you have problems try to ask their support for assistance.

IMPORTANT: Make sure your rDNS matches what you set for your MTA server VMTA name. Look inside the file DNS Creator tool made if you forgot.

SSH - MTA SERVER

You first need to set a hostname. In the same set of commands, we'll also adjust server limits, install some needed packages, update the system, and reboot.

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Wait for your server to come back online and run this command

hostname

You should get what you set before if you don't follow the steps below.

nano /etc/hostname

nano /etc/hosts

nano /etc/hosts

reboot

Wait for the server to come back online and reconnect. In the Bitvise SSH client click on "New SFTP window" and upload pmta.zip (download it from the Members area) to /root (drag and drop the file into the folder that opened) folder of your what will soon be a MTA server. Now run these three commands to start with PowerMTA installation.

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If you did everything right, you'll see something like this:

PowerMTA is now installed but we need to take care of some things. Run this set of commands:

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If installation is going as it should you will see this.

PowerMTA is now installed and running and a web monitor is available, however you are not allowed to access it yet. If you do try you will see an error like this.

Enable access to the PowerMTA Web Monitor

SSH - MTA SERVER

Edit config, add your IP to access the PowerMTA web monitor

cd /etc/pmta
nano config

Search for (CRTL+W) http-mgmt-port 8080 and add a few lines below

http-access YOURIP admin

Restart the PowerMTA web Monitor using

service pmtahttp restart

If you still get the same error check you added the correct IP and restart the PowerMTA Web Monitor.

You now have at least one server with PowerMTA running on it. Since you finished Step 1 you also have another server with a control panel, email marketing software, and PowerMTA Management Console.

If you have more than 1 MTA server, repeat this step on all servers.

Here are all the important URLs and other information. All of this should already be in your TXT file!

PowerMTA Web Monitor

Your PowerMTA web monitor is available at
https://serverip:8080

Congratulations! You finished Step 2!

Continue to Step 3 and Configure your EMS, PMTA, and PMTA MC, or check the FAQ if you encounter any problems during installation.