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Install Zimbra on a clean, dedicated Ubuntu LTS VPS whose release is supported by the Zimbra Daffodil build you select. Before running the installer, set a permanent fully qualified hostname, publish working A and MX records, prepare the firewall, disable conflicting services and AppArmor, enable time synchronisation, and obtain the license required by your Zimbra edition.

Zimbra is not a package you safely add to a busy web or database server. Its installer changes global system configuration and installs a complete mail collaboration stack. Treat DNS, licensing, TLS and port policy as part of the installation, not as finishing tasks.

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Choose the Zimbra and Ubuntu versions first

Start at Zimbra’s current download matrix and select one exact release before provisioning the VPS. The Daffodil 10.1.0 GA download page lists 64-bit images for Ubuntu 24.04, 22.04, 20.04 and 18.04. The single-server installation guide’s support table is narrower and lists Ubuntu 18.04, 20.04 and 22.04. That difference matters: use the operating-system images explicitly supported by the documentation for the release and installation method you intend to run, rather than assuming every image in the download page applies to every guide.

Zimbra information What is established Installation implication
Daffodil 10.1.0 GA The download matrix lists 64-bit Ubuntu 24.04, 22.04, 20.04 and 18.04 images. Confirm that your selected package supports the exact Ubuntu image before creating the VPS.
Single-server guide The guide’s system table lists Ubuntu 18.04, 20.04 and 22.04. If you are following that guide verbatim, choose one of those releases unless the release documentation says otherwise.
License Daffodil 10.1 uses the new licensing system; older-edition licenses do not work with 10.1. Obtain and have the matching license or key information ready before configuration.

Zimbra documentation states that Zimbra Daffodil (v10) cannot be installed without a license. A trial, subscription or other entitlement must therefore be available during the menu-driven configuration; an older license file is not a substitute.

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Plan the VPS before you order it

Use a dedicated host

Zimbra Collaboration is designed to be the only application suite installed on its server. Provision a full default Ubuntu Server installation, apply tested security updates, and reserve the machine for Zimbra. Do not share it with a control panel, web site, database, LDAP service, another mail transfer agent or a separate web server.

The installer makes global changes. Remove or disable an existing MTA, web server, database and LDAP service before starting. Do not create a zimbra Unix user yourself; the installer creates that account with the permissions it needs.

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Capacity is workload-dependent

Zimbra’s generic single-server documentation does not publish one universal CPU, RAM or disk minimum for every VPS workload. Mailbox count, attachment volume, indexing, retention, antivirus activity and log growth determine the practical capacity. Do not turn an invented minimum into a promise. Instead, estimate mailbox and attachment growth, leave room for indexes and updates, and select storage with enough capacity for backups and recovery copies.

Prefer SSD-backed storage and a provider that exposes snapshots or independent backups. A snapshot is useful for rollback, but it is not a replacement for an application-consistent mail backup. Keep at least one recovery copy outside the VPS.

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Check provider capabilities

Capability Why it matters Question to resolve before deployment
64-bit Ubuntu support The Zimbra package and operating-system combination must match the selected release. Is the exact supported Ubuntu LTS image available as 64-bit?
Static public IPv4 DNS A and MX records and stable mail reputation depend on a persistent address. Is the address dedicated, and can it be retained during a rebuild?
Reverse DNS (PTR) Many receiving systems evaluate the identity associated with a sending address. Can you set the PTR to the mail host’s FQDN?
SMTP port 25 Internet mail delivery uses port 25. Is outbound port 25 open by default, and can it be requested if blocked?
Firewall or security groups You need precise control over public mail and HTTPS ports while keeping internal ports private. Can rules be applied independently for IPv4 and IPv6?
Storage and recovery Indexes, attachments, logs and backups grow over time. What are the SSD capacity, IOPS, snapshot and backup options?
Time and network behavior NTP, IPv6 routing and abuse policies affect reliable mail operation. Is NTP available, is IPv6 enabled consistently, and are mail workloads permitted?

Prepare the hostname and operating system

  1. Install a full Ubuntu Server image. Use the exact LTS release approved for your Zimbra package. Avoid a minimal image that omits expected system utilities unless you know how to add them.
  2. Patch the system. From an administrative SSH session, run
    sudo apt update
    sudo apt full-upgrade

    Reboot if the kernel or core services were updated, then reconnect and confirm that the system is healthy.

  3. Set the final FQDN. Replace the example name with the host you will publish in DNS:
    sudo hostnamectl set-hostname mail.example.com
    hostname --fqdn

    The second command must return the same fully qualified name. Avoid changing the hostname after Zimbra is configured.

  4. Install netcat. Zimbra’s prerequisite checks require nc. On Ubuntu, install the packaged implementation with
    sudo apt install netcat-openbsd

    If the installer reports that nc is missing, resolve that before continuing.

  5. Disable AppArmor and verify it is stopped. The installation instructions require AppArmor to be disabled. On a standard Ubuntu system you can use
    sudo systemctl disable --now apparmor
    systemctl is-active apparmor

    The status command should report that the service is not active. Confirm your organisation’s security policy before making this change, and do not leave a conflicting AppArmor profile silently blocking Zimbra services.

  6. Enable network time synchronisation. Mail timestamps, certificates and authentication depend on a correct clock. Enable NTP with
    sudo timedatectl set-ntp true
    timedatectl status

    Use the provider’s documented NTP service or another reliable source and keep it scheduled, not just corrected once.

  7. Confirm SSH access and recovery access. Keep a second administrative session open while installing. Make sure you can use the provider’s console if a firewall change cuts off SSH.

Publish DNS before installing Zimbra

DNS is a functional prerequisite for mail flow. Zimbra checks MX information when you create a domain, and its documentation requires both A and MX records for sending and receiving Internet mail.

Record Example Purpose
A mail.example.com A 203.0.113.25 Maps the mail host name to the VPS public IPv4 address.
MX example.com MX 10 mail.example.com. Directs incoming mail for the domain to the Zimbra host. The target should resolve through the A record.
CAA example.com CAA 0 issue "letsencrypt.org" Authorises Let’s Encrypt to issue a certificate when you use the documented certificate procedure.

Use your DNS provider’s actual record editor; the values above are examples of the required shape, not addresses to copy. Allow for DNS TTL and propagation before you start the installer. Check from outside the VPS with your provider’s DNS tools or commands such as dig A mail.example.com and dig MX example.com, and verify that the answers are publicly visible.

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An SMTP relay can be configured if DNS lookups are disabled in a particular environment, but that does not remove the MX requirement for Internet reception. Even with a relay host, an MX record is still required when the Zimbra server is expected to receive mail from the Internet.

Configure the firewall deliberately

Open only the protocols you intend to offer. Apply equivalent rules in both the VPS provider’s security group and the Ubuntu firewall if both are present. Keep Zimbra’s internal service ports private to the host or trusted management network; the public defaults below are the externally relevant protocols documented for Zimbra.

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Port Protocol Typical use Exposure decision
25 SMTP Server-to-server mail transfer and inbound mail. Required for a server receiving Internet mail; confirm that the provider permits it.
80 HTTP Web access and temporary Let’s Encrypt HTTP validation. Allow during certificate issuance; keep it only if your web policy requires it.
110 POP3 Unencrypted POP3 retrieval. Open only if you deliberately support POP3; prefer encrypted access.
143 IMAP Unencrypted IMAP retrieval or STARTTLS negotiation. Open only for clients that need it and enforce TLS in the service policy.
443 HTTPS Webmail and secure administration/client access. Normally public for web access, protected by strong credentials and TLS.
465 SMTPS Implicit-TLS message submission. Open if your client policy uses this submission method.
587 Submission Authenticated client message submission. Open for mail clients and enforce authentication and encryption.

Do not expose LDAP, database, message-store or other internal listener ports to the Internet simply because a scan shows them. Restrict SSH to administration addresses where practical, and account for IPv6 separately rather than assuming an IPv4 rule protects both stacks.

Download and run the Zimbra installer

  1. Select the matching package and license. Download the Zimbra Daffodil package that corresponds to your Ubuntu release and CPU architecture. For Daffodil 10.1, use the new licensing system; an older-edition license will fail validation.
  2. Transfer the archive to the VPS. Download it on the installation computer, verify the package you selected, and copy it to a temporary administrative directory, for example:
    scp zcs-package-name.tgz root@mail.example.com:/root/

    Use the actual archive name supplied by Zimbra. Keep a copy of the release notes and license information with your deployment records.

  3. Extract the archive. On the VPS, unpack the file in a temporary location and enter the directory created by the archive. Do not mix files from different Zimbra releases.
  4. Run the supplied install script. Start the script provided in the package, normally named install.sh, with administrative privileges:
    sudo ./install.sh

    The script checks for prerequisite Zimbra packages, installs the components you select and opens a menu-driven configuration. Read each warning; a detected web server, MTA, database, LDAP service or incompatible package is a reason to stop and correct the host rather than force the installation.

  5. Select the component set. Choose only the Zimbra components required for this server, accepting the package’s dependency checks. The installer creates the zimbra account; do not pre-create or repurpose that user.
  6. Set the logical hostname and domain. Enter the same FQDN returned by hostname --fqdn, such as mail.example.com, and the mail domain, such as example.com. If the installer reports an MX or hostname mismatch, stop and fix DNS or the system hostname before proceeding.
  7. Set the administrator credential. Choose a unique, long administrator password and record it in an approved password manager. Do not reuse the VPS, SSH or DNS password.
  8. Enter license and key information. Provide the Daffodil 10.1 license or key data when requested. Installation cannot be completed without a valid license for the selected release.
  9. Review and commit the configuration. Confirm the hostname, domain, component list, password and licensing values in the final summary. Allow the installer to finish and start the services; do not interrupt package configuration halfway through.

Verify the new server before creating mailboxes

First confirm that the operating system and Zimbra agree on the name:

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hostname --fqdn
zmhostname

Both should return the same stable FQDN. Check that the expected listeners exist and that no unintended public listener is present:

sudo ss -tulpn

From an external network, test DNS resolution for the A and MX records and test only the ports you elected to publish. Open the HTTPS administration or webmail endpoint and confirm that the browser reaches Zimbra over HTTPS. A reachable page alone is not proof of working mail flow: send a controlled test message to an external account and reply to it, then inspect the timestamps and headers for the expected host identity.

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Create the first domain and user accounts only after the license, DNS and HTTPS checks pass. Start with one test mailbox, verify login, inbound delivery, outbound submission and attachment handling, and then apply your normal account-provisioning process.

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Enable HTTPS with Let’s Encrypt

The documented Ubuntu procedure uses Certbot and a free Let’s Encrypt certificate. It depends on a correct FQDN, public DNS and temporary access to port 80.

  1. Confirm the name and CAA policy. Verify that zmhostname equals hostname --fqdn, that the A record points to this VPS, and that the DNS CAA record permits letsencrypt.org.
  2. Install Certbot. Install the Ubuntu Certbot package using the supported package source for your release. Keep the certificate’s renewal account and configuration under administrative control.
  3. Make port 80 available for standalone validation. The standalone challenge server must bind to port 80. If Zimbra is already listening there, follow the Zimbra procedure to change the proxy or mail mode temporarily before requesting the certificate; do not simply kill an unknown process.
  4. Request the certificate. A typical standalone request is
    sudo certbot certonly --standalone -d mail.example.com

    Use the exact host name in the certificate and complete the email and terms prompts.

  5. Deploy the certificate into Zimbra. Copy or link the issued certificate, chain and private key using the Zimbra certificate-deployment procedure for your Daffodil release. Validate the chain and restart or reload the affected Zimbra services as instructed. Protect the private key and do not place it in a world-readable directory.
  6. Restore normal proxy and firewall settings. If you changed Zimbra’s proxy or mail mode for validation, return it to the production setting. Keep port 80 open only when it serves a deliberate redirect or is required by your renewal design.
  7. Test renewal. Run Certbot’s renewal simulation after deployment and schedule renewal monitoring. A certificate that works today but cannot renew will eventually interrupt webmail and client connections.
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Troubleshoot the common installation failures

The installer says the hostname or MX is wrong

Check the value returned by hostname --fqdn, the value returned by zmhostname, the public A record for the mail host and the MX target for the domain. Correct the authoritative DNS zone and local hostname, wait for the new answers to propagate, and rerun the check. Do not bypass the warning by entering a short hostname.

Port 25 is blocked

Some VPS networks block outbound SMTP by default. Ask the provider to remove the restriction or use an authorised relay, and document whether inbound port 25 is also filtered. A relay can handle outbound delivery, but it does not remove the MX requirement when this server receives Internet mail.

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An existing service conflicts with Zimbra

List active services and stop or remove the conflicting web server, MTA, database or LDAP service. Zimbra is intended to be the only application suite on the host. Re-run the prerequisite checks after the cleanup rather than forcing component installation over an existing stack.

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AppArmor or a security profile blocks a service

Verify the AppArmor service is disabled and not running, as required by the installation procedure. If your organisation cannot permit that change, choose a deployment design that supports its security controls instead of leaving a partially confined Zimbra installation.

Let’s Encrypt cannot validate the name

Confirm public A-record resolution, the CAA record, the correct FQDN and inbound port 80. If Zimbra occupies port 80, change its proxy or mail mode according to the documented procedure before rerunning Certbot. Restore the normal mode and deploy the certificate only after validation succeeds.

The license is rejected

Confirm that the entitlement is for Daffodil 10.1 and uses the new licensing system. A license from an older Zimbra edition will not activate a 10.1 installation. Resolve the entitlement issue before provisioning domains or mailboxes.

Operate the VPS safely after installation

  • Keep Ubuntu and Zimbra patched on a planned schedule, testing updates before applying them to a production mail system.
  • Monitor disk consumption, especially mailbox data, full-text indexes, attachments, logs and certificate files. Capacity planning must follow actual growth because no single universal VPS size fits every workload.
  • Maintain independent backups and periodically perform a restore test. Provider snapshots are a useful additional rollback mechanism, not the only backup.
  • Review firewall and security-group rules after every service change. Remove POP3 or unencrypted IMAP exposure if no client requires it.
  • Monitor NTP status, DNS expiry, certificate renewal and SMTP port availability. A mail server can appear healthy locally while external delivery fails because of DNS or provider policy.
  • Keep administrator credentials, license records and the exact Zimbra/Ubuntu version pair in a secure operations record.

Installation completion checklist

  • The VPS runs a supported 64-bit Ubuntu LTS release for the chosen Zimbra package.
  • The host is dedicated to Zimbra, patched and free of conflicting web, database, LDAP and MTA services.
  • The final FQDN is stable, and hostname --fqdn matches zmhostname.
  • nc is installed, AppArmor is disabled and not active, SSH access works, and NTP is enabled.
  • Public A and MX records resolve correctly; a CAA record authorises Let’s Encrypt if you will use it.
  • The Daffodil 10.1 license uses the new licensing system and was accepted by the installer.
  • Only intended public ports are open: SMTP 25, HTTPS 443 and the selected submission, IMAP or POP services.
  • HTTPS works with a deployed certificate, port 80 validation was completed, and renewal has been tested.
  • A test mailbox can send and receive mail, and backups plus recovery access have been verified.

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