Hello everyone! 👋✌️
I’ve try to use Dovecot + Postfix for setting up my own E-Mail server 📬
But I have some troubles here 😅. I can sends messages through my E-Mail address 🙂📨, but I can’t receives messages those was be sent from different address 📩❌😅
Please, help me to fix this issue who ones who can help me 🔧😁
The logs from journalctl -xeu postfix
Jul 31 14:02:56 mail.xolat.games postfix/qmgr[1163]: CC268296: from=<>, size=2889, nrcpt=1 (queue active)
Jul 31 14:02:56 mail.xolat.games dovecot[22176]: lda(root)<22176><5eFAMRCrbGqgVgAAuoFhiA>: Warning: Failed to parse address from `From_'-line: Missing domain
Jul 31 14:02:56 mail.xolat.games dovecot[22176]: lda(root)<22176><5eFAMRCrbGqgVgAAuoFhiA>: Error: mkdir(/home/root/Maildir) failed: Permission denied (euid=8(mail) egid=8(mail) missing +w perm: /home, dir owned by 0:0 mode=0755)
Jul 31 14:02:56 mail.xolat.games dovecot[22176]: lda(root)<22176><5eFAMRCrbGqgVgAAuoFhiA>: Error: mkdir(/home/root/Maildir) failed: Permission denied (euid=8(mail) egid=8(mail) missing +w perm: /home, dir owned by 0:0 mode=0755)
Jul 31 14:02:56 mail.xolat.games dovecot[22176]: lda(root)<22176><5eFAMRCrbGqgVgAAuoFhiA>: Error: Mailbox INBOX: Failed to autocreate mailbox: Internal error occurred. Refer to server log for more information. [2026-07-31 14:02:56]
Jul 31 14:02:56 mail.xolat.games dovecot[22176]: lda(root)<22176><5eFAMRCrbGqgVgAAuoFhiA>: Error: sieve: msgid=<20260727174421[email protected]>: failed to store into mailbox 'INBOX': Failed to autocreate mailbox: Internal error occurred. Refer to server log for more information. [2026-07-31 14:02:56]
Jul 31 14:02:56 mail.xolat.games dovecot[22176]: lda(root)<22176><5eFAMRCrbGqgVgAAuoFhiA>: Error: sieve: failed to open logfile (LOGGING TO STDERR): open(/var/lib/dovecot/sieve/default.sieve.log) failed: Permission denied (euid=8(mail) egid=8(mail) missing +w perm: /var/lib/dovecot/sieve, we're not in group 1004(vmail), dir owned by 1004:1004 mode=0775)
Jul 31 14:02:56 mail.xolat.games dovecot[22176]: lda(root)<22176><5eFAMRCrbGqgVgAAuoFhiA>: Error: sieve: Execution of script 'default/default' was aborted due to temporary failure (user logfile /var/lib/dovecot/sieve/default.sieve.log may reveal additional details)
Jul 31 14:02:56 mail.xolat.games postfix/local[22175]: CC268296: to=<[email protected]>, orig_to=<[email protected]>, relay=local, delay=332315, delays=332315/0.02/0/0.06, dsn=4.3.0, status=deferred (temporary failure. Command output: sieve: info: started log at 2026-07-31 14:02:56 +0000. error: msgid=<20260727174421[email protected]>: failed to store into mailbox 'INBOX': Failed to autocreate mailbox: Internal error occurred. Refer to server log for more information. [2026-07-31 14:02:56]. )
The logs from cat /var/log/mail.log
2026-07-31T14:02:56.763692+00:00 mail postfix/qmgr[1163]: CC268296: from=<>, size=2889, nrcpt=1 (queue active)
2026-07-31T14:02:56.828022+00:00 mail dovecot: lda(root)<22176><5eFAMRCrbGqgVgAAuoFhiA>: Warning: Failed to parse address from `From_'-line: Missing domain
2026-07-31T14:02:56.830219+00:00 mail dovecot: lda(root)<22176><5eFAMRCrbGqgVgAAuoFhiA>: Error: mkdir(/home/root/Maildir) failed: Permission denied (euid=8(mail) egid=8(mail) missing +w perm: /home, dir owned by 0:0 mode=0755)
2026-07-31T14:02:56.830528+00:00 mail dovecot: lda(root)<22176><5eFAMRCrbGqgVgAAuoFhiA>: Error: mkdir(/home/root/Maildir) failed: Permission denied (euid=8(mail) egid=8(mail) missing +w perm: /home, dir owned by 0:0 mode=0755)
2026-07-31T14:02:56.830731+00:00 mail dovecot: lda(root)<22176><5eFAMRCrbGqgVgAAuoFhiA>: Error: Mailbox INBOX: Failed to autocreate mailbox: Internal error occurred. Refer to server log for more information. [2026-07-31 14:02:56]
2026-07-31T14:02:56.832453+00:00 mail dovecot: lda(root)<22176><5eFAMRCrbGqgVgAAuoFhiA>: Error: sieve: msgid=<[email protected]>: failed to store into mailbox 'INBOX': Failed to autocreate mailbox: Internal error occurred. Refer to server log for more information. [2026-07-31 14:02:56]
2026-07-31T14:02:56.832584+00:00 mail dovecot: lda(root)<22176><5eFAMRCrbGqgVgAAuoFhiA>: Error: sieve: failed to open logfile (LOGGING TO STDERR): open(/var/lib/dovecot/sieve/default.sieve.log) failed: Permission denied (euid=8(mail) egid=8(mail) missing +w perm: /var/lib/dovecot/sieve, we're not in group 1004(vmail), dir owned by 1004:1004 mode=0775)
2026-07-31T14:02:56.832661+00:00 mail dovecot: lda(root)<22176><5eFAMRCrbGqgVgAAuoFhiA>: Error: sieve: Execution of script 'default/default' was aborted due to temporary failure (user logfile /var/lib/dovecot/sieve/default.sieve.log may reveal additional details)
2026-07-31T14:02:56.843566+00:00 mail postfix/local[22175]: CC268296: to=<[email protected]>, orig_to=<[email protected]>, relay=local, delay=332315, delays=332315/0.02/0/0.06, dsn=4.3.0, status=deferred (temporary failure. Command output: sieve: info: started log at 2026-07-31 14:02:56 +0000. error: msgid=<[email protected]>: failed to store into mailbox 'INBOX': Failed to autocreate mailbox: Internal error occurred. Refer to server log for more information. [2026-07-31 14:02:56]. )
2026-07-31T14:04:25.897233+00:00 mail postfix/submission/smtpd[22193]: connect from unknown[46.101.119.210]
2026-07-31T14:04:32.882147+00:00 mail postfix/submission/smtpd[22193]: SSL_accept error from unknown[46.101.119.210]: lost connection
2026-07-31T14:04:32.888445+00:00 mail postfix/submission/smtpd[22193]: NOQUEUE: lost connection after CONNECT from unknown[46.101.119.210]
2026-07-31T14:04:32.888622+00:00 mail postfix/submission/smtpd[22193]: disconnect from unknown[46.101.119.210] commands=0/0
2026-07-31T14:32:00.045293+00:00 mail dovecot: imap-login: Logged in: user=<hello>, method=PLAIN, rip=95.25.67.217, lip=5.35.81.149, mpid=22438, TLS, session=<uFZlDOlXSPRfGUPZ>
2026-07-31T14:32:01.145793+00:00 mail dovecot: imap-login: Logged in: user=<hello>, method=PLAIN, rip=95.25.67.217, lip=5.35.81.149, mpid=22443, TLS, session=<MuI0DelX4vdfGUPZ>
Postfix config at cat /etc/postfix/main.cf
# Which domain that locally-originated mail appears to come from.
# Debian policy suggests to read this value from /etc/mailname.
#XX needs a review in postinst&config
#myorigin = /etc/mailname
#myorigin = $mydomain
mydomain = xolat.games
myorigin = $mydomain
mail_name = $mydomain
# Text that follows the 220 code in the SMTP server's greeting banner.
# You MUST specify $myhostname at the start due to an RFC requirement.
smtpd_banner = $myhostname ESMTP $mail_name (Debian)
# IP protocols to use: ipv4, ipv6, or all
# (set this explicitly so `post-install upgrade-configuration' wont complain)
inet_protocols = ipv4
# List of "trusted" SMTP clients (maptype:mapname allowed) that have more
# privileges than "strangers". If mynetworks is not specified (the default),
# mynetworks_style is used to compute its value.
#mynetworks_style = class
#mynetworks_style = subnet
mynetworks_style = host
#
mynetworks = 127.0.0.0/12 [::ffff:127.0.0.0]/104 [::1]/128
# Uncomment the next line to generate "delayed mail" warnings
#delay_warning_time = 4h
# List of domains (maptype:mapname allowed) that this machine considers
# itself the final destination for.
mydestination = $myhostname, xolat.games, mail.xolat.games, localhost.xolat.games, localhost
# Maximum size of a user mailbox
mailbox_size_limit = 0
# Optional external command to use instead of mailbox delivery. If set,
# you must set up an alias to forward root mail to a real user.
#mailbox_command = /usr/bin/procmail
#mailbox_command = /usr/bin/procmail -a "$EXTENSION"
#mailbox_command =
# List of alias maps to use to lookup local addresses.
# Per Debian Policy it should be /etc/aliases.
alias_maps = hash:/etc/aliases
# List of alias maps to make indexes on, when running newaliases.
alias_database = hash:/etc/aliases
# Notify (or not) local biff service when new mail arrives.
# Rarely used these days.
biff = no
# Separator between user name and address extension (user+foo@domain)
#recipient_delimiter = +
recipient_delimiter = +
# A host to send "other" mail to
#relayhost = $mydomain
#relayhost = [gateway.example.com]
#relayhost = [ip.add.re.ss]:port
#relayhost = uucphost
relayhost =
# Where to look for Cyrus SASL configuration files. Upstream default is unset
# (use compiled-in SASL library default), Debian Policy says it should be
# /etc/postfix/sasl.
cyrus_sasl_config_path = /etc/postfix/sasl
# SMTP server RSA key and certificate in PEM format
smtpd_tls_cert_file = /etc/letsencrypt/live/mail.xolat.games/fullchain.pem
smtpd_tls_key_file = /etc/letsencrypt/live/mail.xolat.games/privkey.pem
smtpd_tls_CAfile = /etc/ssl/certs/ca-certificates.crt
smtpd_tls_auth_only = yes
smtpd_tls_loglevel = 1
# SMTP Server security level: none|may|encrypt
smtpd_tls_security_level = may
smtpd_tls_mandatory_protocols = !SSLv2, !SSLv3, !TLSv1, !TLSv1.1
smtpd_tls_protocols = !SSLv2, !SSLv3, !TLSv1, !TLSv1.1
smtpd_sasl_auth_enable = yes
smtpd_sasl_type = dovecot
smtpd_sasl_path = private/auth
smtpd_sasl_security_options = noanonymous, noplaintext
smtpd_sasl_tls_security_options = noanonymous
milter_default_action = accept
milter_protocol = 6
smtpd_milters = inet:localhost:8991
non_smtpd_milters = inet:localhost:8991
mailbox_command = /usr/lib/dovecot/deliver
smtpd_forbid_bare_newline = normalize
smtpd_forbid_bare_newline_exclusions = $mynetworks
smtpd_sender_login_maps = pcre:/etc/postfix/login_maps.pcre
smtpd_sender_restrictions = reject_sender_login_mismatch, permit_sasl_authenticated, permit_mynetworks, reject_unknown_reverse_client_hostname, reject_unknown_sender_domain
smtpd_recipient_restrictions = permit_sasl_authenticated, permit_mynetworks, reject_unauth_destination, reject_unknown_recipient_domain
smtpd_relay_restrictions = permit_sasl_authenticated, reject_unauth_destination
smtpd_helo_required = yes
smtpd_helo_restrictions = permit_mynetworks, permit_sasl_authenticated, reject_invalid_helo_hostname, reject_non_fqdn_helo_hostname, reject_unknown_helo_hostname
home_mailbox = Maildir/INBOX
default_privs = mail
header_checks = regexp:/etc/postfix/header_checks
# List of CAs for SMTP Client to trust
# Prefer this over _CApath when smtp is running chrooted
smtp_tls_CAfile = /etc/ssl/certs/ca-certificates.crt
smtp_tls_loglevel = 1
# SMTP Client TLS security level: none|may|encrypt|...
smtp_tls_security_level = may
smtp_tls_mandatory_protocols = !SSLv2, !SSLv3, !TLSv1, !TLSv1.1
smtp_tls_protocols = !SSLv2, !SSLv3, !TLSv1, !TLSv1.1
# SMTP Client TLS session cache
smtp_tls_session_cache_database = btree:${data_directory}/smtp_scache
#smtpd_relay_restrictions = permit_mynetworks permit_sasl_authenticated defer_unauth_destination
myhostname = mail.xolat.games
inet_interfaces = all
Postfix config at cat /etc/postfix/master.cf
# Postfix master process configuration file. For details on the format
# of the file, see the master(5) manual page (command: "man 5 master" or
# on-line: https://www.postfix.org/master.5.html).
#
# Do not forget to execute "postfix reload" after editing this file.
#
# ==========================================================================
# service type private unpriv chroot wakeup maxproc command + args
# (yes) (yes) (no) (never) (100)
# ==========================================================================
#smtp unix - - n - - smtp
smtp inet n - y - - smtpd
#smtp inet n - y - 1 postscreen
#smtpd pass - - y - - smtpd
#dnsblog unix - - y - 0 dnsblog
#tlsproxy unix - - y - 0 tlsproxy
# Choose one: enable submission for loopback clients only, or for any client.
#127.0.0.1:submission inet n - y - - smtpd
-o content_filter=spamassasin
submission inet n - y - - smtpd
-o syslog_name=postfix/submission
# -o smtpd_forbid_unauth_pipelining=no
-o smtpd_tls_security_level=encrypt
-o smtpd_sasl_auth_enable=yes
-o smtpd_tls_auth_only=yes
-o smtpd_client_restrictions=permit_sasl_authenticated,reject
-o smtpd_sender_restrictions=reject_sender_login_mismatch
-o smtpd_sender_login_maps=pcre:/etc/postfix/login_maps.pcre
-o smtpd_recipient_restrictions=permit_sasl_authenticated,reject_unauth_destination
# -o local_header_rewrite_clients=static:all
# -o smtpd_hide_client_session=yes
# -o smtpd_reject_unlisted_recipient=no
# Instead of specifying complex smtpd_<xxx>_restrictions here,
# specify "smtpd_<xxx>_restrictions=$mua_<xxx>_restrictions"
# here, and specify mua_<xxx>_restrictions in main.cf (where
# "<xxx>" is "client", "helo", "sender", "relay", or "recipient").
# -o smtpd_client_restrictions=
# -o smtpd_helo_restrictions=
# -o smtpd_sender_restrictions=
# -o smtpd_relay_restrictions=
# -o smtpd_recipient_restrictions=permit_sasl_authenticated,reject
# -o milter_macro_daemon_name=ORIGINATING
# Choose one: enable submissions for loopback clients only, or for any client.
#127.0.0.1:submissions inet n - y - - smtpd
#submissions inet n - y - - smtpd
# -o syslog_name=postfix/submissions
# -o smtpd_forbid_unauth_pipelining=no
-o smtpd_tls_wrappermode=yes
# -o smtpd_sasl_auth_enable=yes
# -o local_header_rewrite_clients=static:all
# -o smtpd_hide_client_session=yes
# -o smtpd_reject_unlisted_recipient=no
# Instead of specifying complex smtpd_<xxx>_restrictions here,
# specify "smtpd_<xxx>_restrictions=$mua_<xxx>_restrictions"
# here, and specify mua_<xxx>_restrictions in main.cf (where
# "<xxx>" is "client", "helo", "sender", "relay", or "recipient").
# -o smtpd_client_restrictions=
# -o smtpd_helo_restrictions=
# -o smtpd_sender_restrictions=
# -o smtpd_relay_restrictions=
# -o smtpd_recipient_restrictions=permit_sasl_authenticated,reject
# -o milter_macro_daemon_name=ORIGINATING
smtps inet n - y - - smtpd
-o syslog_name=postfix/smtps
-o smtpd_tls_wrappermode=yes
-o smtpd_sasl_auth_enable=yes
spamassasin unix - n n - - pipe
user=debian-spamd argv=/usr/bin/spamc -f -e /usr/sbin/sendmail -oi -f ${sender} ${recipient}
#628 inet n - y - - qmqpd
pickup unix n - y 60 1 pickup
cleanup unix n - y - 0 cleanup
qmgr unix n - n 300 1 qmgr
#qmgr unix n - n 300 1 oqmgr
tlsmgr unix - - y 1000? 1 tlsmgr
rewrite unix - - y - - trivial-rewrite
bounce unix - - y - 0 bounce
defer unix - - y - 0 bounce
trace unix - - y - 0 bounce
verify unix - - y - 1 verify
flush unix n - y 1000? 0 flush
proxymap unix - - n - - proxymap
proxywrite unix - - n - 1 proxymap
smtp unix - - y - - smtp
relay unix - - y - - smtp
-o syslog_name=${multi_instance_name?{$multi_instance_name}:{postfix}}/$service_name
# -o smtp_helo_timeout=5 -o smtp_connect_timeout=5
showq unix n - y - - showq
error unix - - y - - error
retry unix - - y - - error
discard unix - - y - - discard
local unix - n n - - local
virtual unix - n n - - virtual
lmtp unix - - y - - lmtp
anvil unix - - y - 1 anvil
scache unix - - y - 1 scache
postlog unix-dgram n - n - 1 postlogd
If I will need to put here some Dovecot’s configs - let me know from which file in /etc/dovecot/conf.d/ directory 📂, okay? 😁
Thanks in advance! 😉
There’s various permission errors on the log file, I’d start from those. Also your dovecot configs seem a bit funny to me, usually mails are not stored to user home directories with dovecot, but instead somewhere under /var, likely you’ll want /var/vmail. Logfiles are pretty good with these tools, so pay close attention to those.
And take your time to understand what the config options actually do. Too permissive configurations will get your sever to every spamlist on the world pretty quickly.
How can I prevent my server to put anything to spamlist? 🤔
Don’t send spam, behave nicely, have proper configuration on postfix and dovecot, set up SPF and preferably DKIM, keep your domains reputation clean and so on. You’ll likely still end up on some lists, so you need to manually dig them trough and ask nicely for removal.
Self hosting email has a pretty bad reputation and many will strongly advice against it, but in reality it’s really not that bad. But email as a whole is more complex beast to manage than simple website or running Jellyfin for your family and friends. You need to understand how the mail routing side of things work (SMTP itself, authentication for it encryption included and so on) and also you need to understand how DNS works and how various entries are related to mail transport. Then you’ll likely want at least some kind of spam filtering and so on. And with email you’ll need to have proper backup scenario too so that you don’t lose the likely pretty important data. All of that is perfectly doable and it’s not as difficult as many claim it to be, but there’s a bunch of stuff you need to understand and implement all of them correctly.