Ansible Role - MailCow

Role to deploy MailCow dockerized on a linux server.

This role follows the official installation instructions.

Molecule Logs: Short, Full

Tested:

• Debian 11

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Install

# latest
ansible-galaxy role install git+https://github.com/ansibleguy/sw_mailcow

# from galaxy
ansible-galaxy install ansibleguy.sw_mailcow

# or to custom role-path
ansible-galaxy install ansibleguy.sw_mailcow --roles-path ./roles

# install dependencies
ansible-galaxy install -r requirements.yml

---

Prerequisites

See: Prerequisites

---

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---

Usage

Config

Define the config as needed:

mailcow:
  fqdn: 'srv.template.ansibleguy.net'
  # per example: 'srv.template.ansibleguy.net' must be a valid, public dns-hostname of the server

  # if you don't have IPv6
  ipv6: false  

  nginx:  # configure the webserver settings => see: https://github.com/ansibleguy/infra_nginx
    aliases: ['mail.template.ansibleguy.net']  # additional domains to add to the certificate
    ssl:
      mode: 'letsencrypt'  # or selfsigned/ca/snakeoil
      #  if you use 'selfsigned' or 'ca':
      #    cert:
      #      cn: 'MailCow Server'
      #      org: 'AnsibleGuy'
      #      email: '[email protected]'
    letsencrypt:
      email: '[email protected]'

  config:  # add config overrides for 'mailcow.conf'
    WEBAUTHN_ONLY_TRUSTED_VENDORS: 'y'

  auto_update:
    enable: true  # enable auto-updates

  backup:
    retention_days: 60  # default = 14

Bare minimum example:

mailcow:
  fqdn: 'srv.template.ansibleguy.net'

If you want to use the built-in (not ansible-managed) webserver:

mailcow:
  fqdn: 'srv.template.ansibleguy.net'
  # per example: 'srv.template.ansibleguy.net' must be a valid, public dns-hostname of the server

  manage:
    webserver: false

  config:
    HTTP_PORT: 80
    HTTPS_PORT: 443
    # if you want to use the built-in letsencrypt support
    SKIP_LETS_ENCRYPT: 'n'
    ACME_CONTACT: '[email protected]'
    ADDITIONAL_SAN: 'smtp.template.ansibleguy.net,mail.*'

Execution

Run the playbook:

ansible-playbook -K -D -i inventory/hosts.yml playbook.yml

There are also some useful tags available:

• docker
• webserver

To debug errors - you can set the 'debug' variable at runtime:

ansible-playbook -K -D -i inventory/hosts.yml playbook.yml -e debug=yes

---

Functionality

• Package installation

  • Ansible dependencies (minimal)

• Configuration

  • Service to start containers on boot: 'mailcow.service'

  • Default config:

    • Directories:
      • Base: '/var/lib/mailcow'
      • Data: '/var/lib/docker/volumes' (cannot be changed by role)
      • Backup: '/var/backups/mailcow'

  • Default opt-ins:

    • Docker => using THIS Role

      • Dependencies
      • Server
      • Docker-compose

    • Nginx proxy on docker-host => using THIS Role

    • Features:

      • SOGo Groupware
      • Apache Solr
      • ClamAV (virus scanner)

    • IPv6 enabled

    • Daily backup using the backup script

  • Default opt-outs:

    • Auto update using the update script

---

Info

• Info: Consider using a Mail Gateway to gain Security!

  Per example: Proxmox Mail Gateway

• Info: Check out the troubleshooting information: Troubleshooting

• Note: this role currently only supports debian-based systems

• Note: Most of the role's functionality can be opted in or out.

  For all available options - see the default-config located in the main defaults-file!

• Warning: Not every setting/variable you provide will be checked for validity. Bad config might break the role!

• Info: Default credentials:

  User: admin

  Password: moohoo

• Info: For more detailed information - look into the nice documentation provided by MailCow!

• Info: If the setup fails after creating the config - you need to remove the config file (/var/lib/mailcow/mailcow.conf) manually, so the role will know it isn't initialized already!

• Warning: The automatic BACKUPS are placed on the same system and need to be copied to a REMOTE location to be SAFE!

• Warning: Using NFTables on the MailCow host is NOT RECOMMENDED as IPTables rules are auto-managed by docker and the MailCow containers.

  Containers may fail if the ruleset is not as expected.

  You can disable the firewall check using the ignore_firewall_check: true setting.