Bulk Email Server Guide

1. Bulk​​Email​​Server​​Guide A​​Complete​​Guide​​how​​to​​setup​​a​​Perfect​​Bulk​​Email​​Server​​and​​use​​it​​for transactional​​or​​newsletter​​emailing​​without​​any​​sending​​limits,​​with​​IP rotation,​​domain​​masking,​​automatic​​bounce​​processing,​​Feedback​​loops and​​everything​​else​​that​​is​​required​​for​​perfect​​deliverability. By​​PowerMTA​​NiNjA

2. This​​guide​​is​​meant​​for​​those​​that​​would​​like​​a​​to​​start​​with​​email​​marketing​​or​​those​​that already​​do​​it​​but​​want​​to​​improve​​their​​current​​system​​setup. It​​can​​be​​used​​with​​your​​double​​opt-in​​list,​​a​​list​​you​​bought​​online,​​a​​list​​you​​scraped​​off some​​site,​​etc.​​This​​really​​doesn't​​matter. Why​​​​did​​​​I​​​​decide​​​​to​​​​publish​​​​it? Mostly​​to​​help​​my​​customers​​with​​their​​system​​setup​​and​​configuration.​​Now​​they​​can save​​their​​money​​and​​my​​time​​by​​following​​this​​guide​​to​​add​​new​​IPs,​​domains,​​SMTPs, or​​to​​even​​​set​​up​​a​​new​​bulk​​email​​system​. Another​​reason​​is​​to​​help​​newcomers​​to​​start​​with​​a​​perfect​​system​​setup.​​It​​took​​me years​​to​​get​​everything​​to​​the​​point​​where​​it's​​working​​how​​I​​want. Isn't​​that​​nice​​from​​me?​​Yes​​and​​no.​​I​​know​​from​​experience​​that​​a​​lot​​of​​those​​that​​will follow​​my​​guide​​will​​need​​my​​help.​​Even​​tho​​you​​will​​follow​​a​​step​​by​​step​​guide​​it doesn't​​mean​​it​​will​​be​​easy.​​If​​you​​do​​manage​​to​​get​​it​​to​​work​​(even​​if​​it's​​on​​your​​fifth try)​​I​​salute​​you.​​You​​obviously​​have​​enough​​skills​​and​​a​​nice​​work​​ethic​​to​​do​​even bigger​​things.​​If​​you​​are​​interested​​contact​​me.​​I​​am​​always​​looking​​for​​bright​​people​​to help​​me​​with​​my​​projects. If​​you​​do​​decide​​to​​follow​​my​​guide​​please​​read​​everything​​before​​you​​start. Have​​fun​​and​​don't​​send​​me​​an​​email​​from​​your​​new​​bulk​​email​​system.

3. Before​​​​We​​​​Begin Let​​us​​make​​one​​thing​​clear​​first.​​Even​​tho​​this​​is​​a​​step​​by​​step​​guide​​you​​still​​have​​to think​​on​​your​​own​​and​​what​​is​​even​​more​​important.​​You​​MUST​​have​​more​​than​​basic knowledge​​of: ● Linux ● How​​email​​works ● How​​the​​internet​​works I​​can​​not​​write​​a​​guide​​that​​will​​be​​copy/paste​​from​​start​​to​​finish.​​We​​aren't​​setting​​up​​an email​​account​​in​​Outlook.​​We​​are​​setting​​up​​a​​PERFECT​​bulk​​email​​server​​and​​even tho​​you​​are​​following​​a​​guide​​you​​will​​have​​to​​adjust​​some​​parts​​so​​everything​​will​​work with​​your​​domains​​and​​IPs. I​​​​have​​​​to​​​​say​​​​is​​​​this ● Don't​​rush​​or​​you​​will​​end​​up​​with​​a​​system​​that​​is​​full​​of​​errors​​and​​you​​won't come​​close​​to​​perfect​​10/10​​score​​on​​mail​​tester. ● Read​​everything​​from​​start​​to​​finish​​and​​don't​​just​​blindly​​follow​​this​​guide​​without knowing​​what​​is​​coming​​in​​next​​steps. ● Start​​the​​guide​​with​​your​​head​​clear​​and​​rested​​as​​I​​can't​​do​​the​​thinking​​for​​you. If​​you​​mess​​up​​your​​emails​​might​​not​​get​​delivered. We​​have​​all​​been​​there.​​At​​some​​point,​​it​​was​​my​​first​​time​​and​​I​​know​​it​​was​​a​​mess.​​I didn't​​know​​what​​I​​was​​doing,​​I​​was​​sweating​​like​​crazy,​​I​​was​​tired​​but​​full​​of​​adrenaline so​​I​​couldn't​​stop​​or​​even​​leave​​my​​computer​​just​​to​​make​​me​​a​​cup​​of​​coffee. Before​​you​​begin,​​get​​yourself: ● Some​​snacks ● A​​bottle​​of​​water ● A​​cup​​of​​coffee​​or​​an​​energy​​drink Don't​​drink​​beer.​​We'll​​come​​to​​that​​during​​this​​guide​​so​​make​​sure​​you​​have​​some.​​Or maybe​​you​​prefer​​something​​else​​as​​I​​do.

4. This​​one​​is​​a​​bit​​tricky​​since​​you​​are​​an​​adult,​​but​​think​​about​​your​​health​​and​​go​​to​​the toilet​​before​​you​​start.​​If​​you​​are​​like​​me​​you'll​​forget​​about​​the​​world​​around​​you​​once you​​begin. Oh,​​if​​you​​have​​kids​​wait​​for​​them​​to​​go​​to​​sleep.​​It​​took​​me​​some​​time​​to​​master everything​​to​​the​​point​​that​​I​​was​​able​​to​​do​​everything​​as​​it​​should​​be​​while​​the​​little ones​​were​​running​​around. Remember Read,​​​​Think​​​​...,​​​​Do And​​​​don't​​​​blame​​​​me​​​​if​​​​you​​​​fail

5. Bulk​​Email​​Server​​Guide:​​Ready?​​Set…​​GO! Before​​we​​begin​​you​​need​​a​​server​​first.​​I​​am​​sure​​you​​must​​be​​thrilled​​you are​​following​​a​​guide​​with​​such​​useful​​tips.​​And​​more​​are​​on​​the​​way! No,​​seriously​​you​​need​​a​​server​​before​​we​​can​​start.​​And​​almost​​anything​​will​​do​​that meet​​minimum​​system​​requirements.​​If​​you’ll​​search​​around​​you​​can​​find​​VPS​​offers with​​more​​than​​enough​​to​​run​​everything​​we​​need​​for​​testing​​purposes​​for​​as​​low​​as 1,5€.​​A​​server​​like​​this​​isn’t​​recommended​​for​​production​​server​​as​​it​​usually​​comes​​with no​​SLA,​​but​​it​​could​​easily​​be​​used​​as​​an​​external​​MTA/SMTP,​​but​​more​​about​​this​​later. For​​your​​production​​server​​pick​​a​​VPS​​or​​dedicated​​server​​with​​your​​preferred​​hosting provider.​​In​​our​​tests​​and​​all​​years​​of​​doing​​e-mail​​marketing​​(read​​setting​​up​​servers) we​​didn’t​​have​​any​​major​​problems​​with​​providers​​as​​far​​as​​system​​configuration​​goes. There​​are​​a​​few​​that​​would​​not​​allow​​for​​necessary​​changes​​to​​be​​done,​​but​​you​​just move​​to​​the​​next​​one​​if​​that​​happens.​​Most​​major​​hosting​​providers​​will​​be​​just​​fine​​for your​​perfect​​email​​server. Local​​or​​external​​MTAs/SMTPs? There​​is​​one​​more​​thing​​we​​need​​to​​go​​over​​before​​we​​start.​​There​​are​​three​​different scenarios. Local​​MTAs/SMTPs Mumara​​and​​PowerMTA​​will​​run​​on​​the​​same​​server. Pros:​​Easy​​administration,​​Cheapest Cons:​​Hosting​​providers​​will​​usually​​assign​​IPs​​in​​a​​range​​to​​your​​server​​so​​if blacklisting​​occur​​they​​could​​affect​​all​​your​​IPs.​​If​​your​​provider​​decides​​to​​shut​​you down​​your​​complete​​operation​​will​​stop. External​​MTAs/SMTPs Mumara​​will​​run​​on​​one​​server​​and​​PowerMTA​​will​​run​​on​​one​​or​​more​​servers.

6. Pros:​​In​​a​​case​​of​​blacklistings​​only​​one​​server​​or​​IP​​will​​be​​affected.​​In​​a​​case​​of problems​​with​​provider​​only​​one​​sending​​server​​is​​taken​​down​​so​​sending​​will​​continue. The​​server​​where​​Mumara​​is​​installed​​does​​no​​sending​​at​​all​​so​​you​​will​​never​​have problems. Cons:​​More​​expensive,​​more​​servers​​to​​configure Hybrid A​​mix​​of​​everything.​​Mumara​​and​​PowerMTA​​on​​the​​same​​server​​with​​integrated external​​servers​​with​​PowerMTA. The​​best​​long​​run​​scenario,​​of​​course,​​is​​using​​external​​MTAs/SMPTs. Minimum​​requirements Let's​​go​​over​​this​​again​​now​​that​​we​​know​​our​​options.​​How​​will​​your​​system​​be​​setup? Will​​it​​use​​local​​or​​external​​PowerMTA? Local​​PowerMTA Everything​​will​​run​​on​​the​​same​​server​​so​​our​​server​​must​​have​​enough​​power.​​Here are​​our​​recommendations: 5-19​​IPs/domains ● VPS​​or​​Dedicated​​server ● 2​​cores ● 8​​GB​​RAM ● 20​​GB​​SSD 20-99​​IPs/domains ● VPS​​or​​Dedicated​​server ● 4​​cores ● 16GB​​RAM ● 40​​GB​​SSD 100+​​IPs/domains ● VPS​​or​​Dedicated​​server ● 8​​cores ● 32GB​​RAM

7. ● 100​​GB​​SSD Here​​a​​saying​​we​​all​​know​​from​​Jeremy​​Clarkson​​would​​come​​in​​handy,​​POWER!!!!​​And more​​power​​we​​have​​the​​better. External​​PowerMTA In​​this​​case,​​Mumara​​will​​run​​on​​one​​more​​powerful​​server​​and​​PowerMTA​​will​​be installed​​on​​many​​cheaper​​servers.​​Here​​are​​our​​recommendations: Main​​server​​–​​Mumara ● 4​​cores ● 16GB​​RAM ● 40​​GB​​SSD ● 1​​IP MTAs​​–​​PowerMTA ● 1​​core ● 1​​GB​​RAM ● 10​​GB​​HDD ● 1​​IP This​​tutorial​​covers​​both​​scenarios. Buy​​a​​server Seriously,​​we​​are​​at​​the​​stage​​where​​you​​need​​your​​server​​so​​if​​you​​haven’t​​already now​​is​​the​​time​​to​​pick​​which​​scenario​​you’ll​​use​​and​​then​​buy​​1​​or​​more​​servers. Like​​I​​already​​said.​​Almost​​anything​​that​​meets​​minimum​​system​​requirements​​will​​do​​so pick​​a​​hosting​​provider​​and​​get​​your​​servers​​up​​and​​running. IMPORTANT All​​your​​servers​​no​​matter​​what​​scenario​​you’ll​​go​​with​​must​​have​​CentOS​​6​​x64 minimal​​installed.​​If​​you’ll​​pick​​a​​different​​version​​or​​distro​​chances​​are​​this​​tutorial​​will not​​be​​much​​help​​to​​you.

8. Bulk​​Email​​Server​​Guide:​​Main​​Server​​Install In​​this​​guide​​I​​am​​talking​​about​​MAIN​​server​​and​​MTA​​server,​​so​​to​​avoid any​​unnecessary​​confusion​​let​​me​​clarify​​this. The​​Main​​server​​​is​​the​​server​​where​​your​​Email​​Marketing​​Software​​(EMS)​​such​​as Mumara,​​MailWizz,​​Interspire​​Email​​Marketer,​​...​​is​​installed.​​Since​​we​​are​​getting​​ready to​​set​​up​​a​​bulk​​email​​server​​with​​an​​option​​to​​scale​​it​​up​​if​​needed​​I​​recommend​​you pick​​a​​bit​​more​​powerful​​VPS​​for​​it. MTA​​server​​is​​a​​server​​where​​PowerMTA​​is​​installed.​​These​​servers​​are​​doing​​all​​the sending.​​This​​is​​just​​one​​layer​​of​​protection​​to​​keep​​your​​MTA​​servers​​away​​from​​your Main​​server.​​In​​case​​there​​is​​ever​​a​​problem​​your​​main​​server​​will​​never​​be​​taken​​down since​​it's​​not​​doing​​any​​sending​​at​​all.​​MTA​​server​​can​​be​​any​​budget​​VPS​​with​​at​​least 1GB​​RAM. Now​​let's​​get​​back​​to​​our​​Main​​server.​​For​​my​​own​​personal​​use​​I​​have: ● Six​​core​​CPU​​(Intel®​​Xeon®​​E5-2620v3) ● 24​​GB​​RAM​​(guaranteed) ● 600​​GB​​SSD ● UNLIMITED​​traffic

9. ● 1​​IPv4​​+​​IPv6 The​​price​​I​​am​​paying​​for​​my​​main​​server​​is​​14.99​​€​​(around​​$18)​​per​​month.​​And​​since it​​is​​not​​doing​​anything​​wrong​​and​​there​​is​​no​​reason​​for​​my​​VPS​​provider​​to​​shut​​it down​​I​​can​​pay​​for​​it​​for​​1​​year​​and​​get​​an​​even​​lower​​price. Of​​course,​​I​​never​​pay​​for​​my​​MTA​​servers​​up​​front.​​They​​are​​the​​bad​​guys​​and​​could be​​taken​​offline​​at​​any​​time.​​But​​even​​if​​they​​do​​I​​still​​have​​enough​​left​​and​​can​​add​​a new​​one​​in​​about​​30​​minutes.​​The​​price​​I'm​​paying​​for​​MTA​​servers​​is​​from​​1,5​​€​​-​​5​​€ for​​each​​server​​per​​month,​​but​​more​​about​​this​​later​​when​​we'll​​look​​at​​the​​process​​of setting​​up​​MTA/sending​​server. In​​this​​step​​you​​will​​need: ● A​​bit​​more​​Powerful​​VPS​​(I​​suggest​​at​​least​​8GB​​RAM,​​16GB​​recommended). Don't​​have​​a​​server​​online​​yet?​​Get​​it​​online​​in​​less​​than​​a​​minute. ● Clean​​install​​of​​CentOS​​6/7​​x64​​(minimal​​recommended) ● SSH​​client​​(I​​suggest​​Bitvise) Now​​login​​as​​root​​and​​follow​​this​​steps: First,​​check​​your​​hostname hostname​​-f It​​should​​be​​in​​format​​hostname.domain.tld.​​Where​​hostname​​is​​something​​random​​like server,​​main,​​box,​​...​​Since​​we​​want​​that​​it's​​obvious​​this​​is​​a​​bulk​​mail​​server​​I recommend​​you​​stay​​away​​from​​words​​like​​mail,​​email,​​newsletter,​​...​​In​​my​​case​​this​​is henry.powermtaninja.science If​​you​​didn't​​set​​your​​hostname​​during​​your​​VPS​​setup​​or​​the​​provider​​you​​are​​using does​​not​​have​​this​​option​​follow​​"How​​to​​setup​​hostname". Install​​required​​packages yum​​-y​​install​​wget Server​​update yum​​-y​​update Reboot reboot

10. Now​​depending​​on​​your​​CentOS​​version​​use​​the​​appropriate​​lines. CentOS​​6 cd​​/usr/local/src wget​​http://centos-webpanel.com/cwp-latest sh​​cwp-latest CentOS7 cd​​/usr/local/src wget​​http://centos-webpanel.com/cwp-el7-latest sh​​cwp-el7-latest The​​install​​process​​can​​take​​from​​5-20​​minutes​​depending​​on​​your​​VPS​​specifications, so​​get​​a​​cup​​of​​coffee​​and​​relax. When​​the​​install​​finishes​​copy​​login​​information​​and​​paste​​it​​to​​a​​safe​​place.​​I​​always create​​a​​new​​text​​file​​and​​save​​all​​login​​details​​in​​it.​​Of​​course,​​I​​save​​it​​in​​a​​safe​​place (check​​​Tools​). Reboot reboot The​​installation​​is​​now​​complete​​and​​you​​can​​login​​to​​control​​panel​​and​​start​​with​​basic configuration.

11. Bulk​​Email​​Server​​Guide:​​Basic​​control​​panel​​configurations Now​​that​​we​​have​​a​​control​​panel​​installed​​we​​can​​do​​all​​(well​​most)​​of configuration​​in​​a​​user-friendly​​user​​interface​​you​​can​​access​​in​​your browser. You​​already​​have​​all​​necessary​​login​​information​​(did​​you​​save​​it?)​​from​​the​​previous step.​​So​​copy/paste​​the​​URL​​you​​got​​and​​login.​​It​​looks​​something​​like​​this NO-SSL http://MAIN_SERVER_IPv4:2030 SSL https://MAIN_SERVER_IPv4:2031 Where​​"MAIN_SERVER_IPv4"​​is​​obviously​​the​​IPv4​​of​​your​​main​​server​​so​​be​​sure​​to change​​it​​or​​you​​will​​get​​an​​error​​(doh!).​​I​​suggest​​you​​use​​SSL.​​You​​will​​get​​a​​warning since​​it's​​self-signed.

12. Login​​with​​user​​root​​and​​password​​you​​use​​to​​login​​over​​SSH.​​You​​will​​see​​something like​​this.

13. You​​will​​see​​a​​bit​​different​​screen.​​This​​is​​my​​fully​​configured​​server. The​​first​​thing​​you​​want​​to​​do​​is​​set​​your​​email​​address​​to​​get​​rid​​of​​the​​annoying message​​that​​shows​​after​​login.​​You​​can​​do​​this​​in​​"CWP​​Settings​​>​​Edit​​Settings" where​​all​​you​​have​​to​​do​​is​​enter​​your/some​​email​​and​​click​​"Save​​changes". Change​​Date​​&​​Time Now​​move​​to​​"Server​​settings​​>​​Change​​Date​​&​​Time"​​and​​select​​the​​time​​zone​​you​​are in​​and​​click​​"Change​​date​​&​​time".​​I​​am​​located​​in​​Germany​​so​​I​​picked​​"Europe/Berlin". If​​time​​still​​isn't​​correct​​adjust​​it​​manually.

14. Important! Remember​​the​​timezone​​you​​set​​as​​you​​will​​need​​it​​later! Simple​​PHP.ini​​Editor Now​​go​​to​​"PHP​​Settings​​>​​PHP​​Simple​​Editor"​​and​​change​​everything​​like​​you​​see​​in the​​picture​​below.​​Of​​course,​​do​​not​​set​​the​​same​​timezone​​as​​I​​have.​​Set​​it​​to​​what​​you used​​in​​step​​before.

15. Important! You​​have​​to​​click​​"Save"​​next​​to​​each​​field​​to​​save​​the​​changes. Make​​sure​​you​​uncomment​​the​​"date.timezone"​​option​​by​​removing​​";"​​in​​the​​front. Change​​SSH​​Port To​​make​​your​​server​​safe​​from​​script-kiddies​​I​​suggest​​you​​change​​the​​SSH​​port.​​Go​​to "Services​​Config​​>​​SSH​​Configuration"​​and​​search​​for​​"Port​​22".​​If​​needed​​uncomment it​​by​​removing​​";"​​and​​change​​it​​to​​a​​number​​between​​10000-60000. Click​​"Save​​changes"​​at​​the​​bottom​​and​​go​​back​​to​​the​​main​​page​​of​​control​​panel dashboard​​and​​Restart​​SSH​​by​​clicking​​on​​"Restart"​​next​​to​​it. This​​is​​all​​the​​basic​​configuration​​that​​had​​to​​be​​done.​​Of​​course,​​there​​is​​more​​to​​do​​like add​​user​​accounts,​​create​​system​​emails,​​enable​​firewall​​and​​backups,​​...​​but​​we'll​​get to​​that​​in​​the​​next​​step.

16. Bulk​​Email​​Guide:​​DNS​​Records Now​​it's​​time​​to​​set​​DNS​​records​​for​​the​​domain​​we'll​​use​​on​​our​​Main Server​​in​​our​​Bulk​​Email​​Network.​​For​​the​​sake​​of​​this​​guide,​​we​​are​​using CloudFlare,​​but​​you​​can​​use​​any​​other​​DNS​​hosting. To​​refresh​​your​​memory,​​the​​main​​server​​is​​the​​server​​where​​your​​Email​​Marketing Software​​(EMS)​​is​​installed​​(Mumara,​​Interspire​​Email​​Marketer,​​MailWizz,​​Mautic,​​...). Then​​we​​also​​have​​MTA​​servers​​where​​PowerMTA​​is​​installed.​​These​​servers​​are​​doing all​​the​​sending.​​This​​is​​just​​one​​layer​​of​​protection​​to​​keep​​your​​MTA​​servers​​away​​from your​​Main​​server.​​In​​case​​there​​is​​ever​​a​​problem​​your​​main​​server​​will​​never​​be​​taken down​​since​​it's​​not​​doing​​any​​sending​​at​​all.​​MTA​​server​​can​​be​​any​​budget​​VPS​​with​​at least​​1GB​​RAM​​and​​you​​can​​add​​as​​many​​as​​you​​want.​​Your​​main​​server​​should​​be​​a more​​powerful​​VPS​​(16GB​​RAM​​recommended). Our​​Main​​server​​is​​up​​and​​running​​but​​for​​now,​​it​​only​​has​​A​​and​​AAAA​​records​​(if​​you have​​IPv6)​​set.​​Take​​a​​look​​at​​the​​table​​below​​and​​set​​your​​DNS​​records​​accordingly. TYPE A A AAAA AAAA CNAME MX TXT TXT TXT NAME @ HOSTNAME @ HOSTNAME www @ @ @ _dmarc VALUE MAIN_SERVER_IPv4 MAIN_SERVER_IPv4 MAIN_SERVER_IPv6 MAIN_SERVER_IPv6 @ HOSTNAME.EXAMPLE.COM @ v=spf1​​mx​​a​​ptr​​~all v=DMARC1;​​p=none STATUS OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF Since​​this​​server​​isn't​​doing​​any​​sending​​at​​all​​there​​is​​no​​need​​to​​set​​DKIM​​keys,​​but​​if you​​want​​you​​can​​do​​it​​from​​control​​panel. ● First,​​login​​to​​control​​panel​​as​​root ● Go​​to​​"Email​​>​​Mail​​Server​​Manager"​​and​​check​​boxes​​like​​in​​the​​picture​​below.​​If you​​don't​​want​​Antivirus​​and​​rDNS​​checker​​just​​select​​"Installs​​DKIM​​&​​SPF,

17. enables​​DKIM​​for​​New​​Accounts​​and​​Domains"​​and​​make​​sure​​your​​hostname and​​domain​​are​​correct.​​This​​are​​correct​​formats: ● Hostname​​-​​hostname.example.com ● Domain​​-​​example.com ● When​​everything​​looks​​fine,​​click​​on​​"Rebuild​​Mail​​Server".​​It​​will​​take​​a​​few minutes​​to​​complete. ● Now​​go​​to​​"Email​​>​​DKIM​​Manager"​​and​​click​​on​​"Edit​​Records"​​for​​your​​main domain. ● Search​​for​​"default._domainkey"​​and​​copy/paste​​it​​to​​your​​CLoudFlare​​account like​​​​this TYPE TXT NAME default._domain key VALUE v=DKIM1;​​k=rsa;​​p=YOUR_KEY All​​emails​​you​​send​​from​​your​​Main​​server​​will​​now​​be​​signed​​with​​this​​DKIM​​key. If​​you​​want​​to​​add​​email​​accounts​​on​​your​​main​​doman​​go​​to​​"Email​​>​​Add​​Email Account"​​and​​follow​​instructions​​there.​​It's​​really​​simple. Next​​step​​is​​to​​Install​​Email​​Marketing​​Software.​​You​​can​​use​​any​​email​​marketing application​​you​​want​​Interspire​​Email​​Marketer,​​MailWizz,​​Mautic,​​...​​I​​do​​however suggest​​Mumara​​for​​its​​easy​​and​​full​​integration​​with​​PowerMTA.​​This​​is​​something​​that none​​of​​other​​email​​marketing​​applications​​has.​​In​​a​​long​​run,​​it​​will​​save​​you​​time​​and money​​when​​you​​will​​set​​up​​more​​MTA​​servers.​​Mumara​​also​​has​​some​​unique​​features and​​some​​you​​will​​only​​find​​with​​other​​EMS​​only​​if​​you​​use​​expensive​​add-ons. Continue​​with​​Main​​server​​setup​​on​​my​​site. Additions​​steps​​available​​online​​are: ● Add​​user,​​domain​​and​​create​​Free​​SSL ● Installing​​Email​​Marketing​​Software ● Install​​PowerMTA​​Management​​Console ● Tighten​​Security

18. Bulk​​Email​​Server​​Guide:​​Sending/MTA​​Server​​Setup Yes,​​it's​​time​​to​​start​​with​​MTA​​server​​setup​​and​​configuration.​​These servers​​will​​be​​used​​to​​do​​the​​actual​​sending.​​This​​are​​our​​bad​​boys. Let's​​recap​​what​​we​​already​​learned​​in​​this​​guide We​​can​​use​​almost​​any​​budget​​VPS​​as​​our​​​MTA​​server​.​​I​​use​​cheap​​servers​​from​​$2​​- $6​​and​​couldn't​​be​​happier​​with​​the​​results.​​The​​only​​real​​requirement​​is​​that​​the​​VPS have​​at​​least​​1​​GB​​RAM. What​​makes​​my​​setup​​different​​from​​what​​most​​other​​people​​use​​is​​that​​I​​always​​use VPS​​with​​1​​IP​​for​​my​​MTA​​server. Here​​is​​why I've​​been​​in​​this​​business​​for​​almost​​15​​years​​and​​saw​​every​​possible​​scenario.​​Since the​​lists,​​I​​sent​​to​​aren't​​actually​​mine​​it​​is​​normal​​that​​from​​time​​to​​time​​my​​sending servers​​are​​taken​​down​​due​​to​​spam​​complaints. Let's​​take​​a​​look​​at​​what​​happens​​when​​you​​have: Everything​​on​​one​​server You​​bought​​a​​super​​expensive​​VPS​​with​​128GB​​RAM​​and​​256​​IPs.​​In​​case​​there​​is​​a problem​​you​​will​​lose​​everything​​and​​if​​you​​don't​​have​​a​​backup​​and​​let's​​be​​honest, most​​don't,​​you​​will​​be​​forced​​to​​start​​from​​scratch.​​Can​​you​​imagine​​all​​those​​hours​​of work​​lost?​​And​​guess​​what,​​all​​emails​​you​​already​​sent​​out​​and​​links​​in​​them​​will become​​useless.​​Maybe​​it's​​better​​to​​buy​​a​​gun,​​eh? Another​​bad​​thing​​with​​setups​​like​​this​​is​​that​​usually,​​your​​IPs​​will​​come​​in​​a​​range. Why​​is​​this​​bad?​​When​​blacklistings​​will​​start​​rolling​​in​​they​​will​​simply​​blacklist​​your whole​​IP​​range​​and​​you​​are​​done.​​Bye,​​bye​​inbox! Multi-Server​​Install Now​​let's​​take​​a​​look​​what​​will​​happen​​in​​the​​same​​scenario,​​but​​this​​time​​with​​my​​setup. You​​got​​so​​many​​spam​​complaints​​that​​your​​VPS​​provider​​decides​​it's​​time​​to​​take​​you offline.​​Since​​all​​complaints​​are​​regarding​​one​​MTA​​only​​that​​server​​will​​be​​taken​​offline.

19. Your​​Main​​server​​and​​other​​MTAs​​(which​​should​​be​​hosted​​on​​other​​account/providers) will​​keep​​working​​and​​continue​​sending​​emails. You​​will​​have​​to​​setup​​a​​new​​sending​​server​​but​​by​​using​​my​​guide​​this​​shouldn't​​take you​​more​​than​​30​​minutes​​once​​you​​get​​used​​to​​the​​process. Do​​you​​see​​the​​difference? With​​single​​setup,​​we​​were​​talking​​about​​buying​​a​​gun.​​With​​my​​setup,​​this​​is​​just​​a​​few clicks​​and​​a​​new​​sending​​server​​will​​be​​ready​​to​​start​​sending. Of​​course,​​it​​is​​a​​lot​​more​​work,​​but​​believe​​me,​​it​​is​​worth​​it.​​After​​your​​whole​​bulk​​email system​​is​​taken​​offline​​you​​will​​never​​sleep​​again.​​For​​me,​​meh,​​doesn't​​really​​affect​​me, a​​few​​clicks​​and​​it's​​back. How​​to​​begin? You​​will​​need: ● VPS​​with​​1​​GB​​RAM​​and​​1​​IP ● CentOS​​6​​x64​​(minimal​​recommended) Connect​​to​​your​​VPS​​via​​SSH​​using​​Bitvise​​and​​run​​the​​following​​commands: curl​​-O​​http://vestacp.com/pub/vst-install.sh bash​​vst-install.sh​​--nginx​​no​​--apache​​yes​​--phpfpm​​no​​--named​​no​​--remi no​​--vsftpd​​no​​--proftpd​​no​​--iptables​​yes​​--fail2ban​​yes​​--quota​​no --exim​​yes​​--dovecot​​yes​​--spamassassin​​no​​--clamav​​no​​--mysql​​yes --postgresql​​no​​--hostname​​hostname.example.com​​--email​​your@email.com --password​​YOUR_STRONG_PASSWORD Be​​sure​​to​​replace​​hostname.example.com,​​your@email.com​​and YOUR_STRONG_PASSWORD.​​For​​hostname,​​the​​same​​rules​​apply​​as​​for​​our​​Main Server.

20. Answer​​Yes​​with​​"Y"​​and​​press​​Enter. The​​installation​​process​​of​​VestaCP​​will​​take​​about​​15​​minutes.​​After​​it's​​done​​you​​will get​​all​​login​​information​​you'll​​need.​​Be​​sure​​to​​save​​them​​to​​that​​same​​file! Raising​​the​​Limits To​​avoind​​another​​reboot​​later​​lets​​rase​​the​​limits​​as​​this​​is​​needed​​for​​when​​we'll​​install PowerMTA.​​Edit​​/etc/security/limits.conf nano​​/etc/security/limits.conf And​​add​​at​​the​​bottom​​of​​the​​file *​​soft​​nofile​​65535 *​​hard​​nofile​​65535 Save​​it​​with​​Ctrl+X​​and​​reboot​​your​​server​​with reboot Now​​it's​​time​​to​​do​​some​​basic​​configurations​​of​​our​​MTA/Sending​​server​​and​​after​​that, we'll​​install​​PowerMTA.​​When​​you​​are​​done​​with​​this​​sending​​server​​set​​up​​as​​many​​as you​​can.​​Host​​them​​on​​different​​accounts​​with​​different​​VPS​​providers. Continue​​with​​MTA​​server​​setup​​on​​my​​site. Additions​​steps​​available​​online​​are: ● Basic​​MTA​​server​​configuration ● Install​​PowerMTA

21. Bulk​​Email​​Server​​Guide:​​Basic​​EMS​​Config First,​​I​​would​​suggest​​you​​look​​around​​and​​get​​familiar​​with​​Mumara.​​If​​you worked​​with​​Interspire​​and​​co​​you​​will​​not​​have​​any​​problems.​​If​​you​​are familiar​​with​​WordPress​​style​​admin​​and​​like​​it​​as​​much​​as​​I​​do,​​navigating will​​be​​a​​breeze. The​​next​​thing​​you​​will​​probably​​realise​​is​​that​​Mumara​​comes​​with​​everything​​you​​ever wanted​​and​​need​​for​​successful​​email​​marketing. Now​​that​​you​​looked​​around​​a​​bit​​and​​you​​know​​where​​what​​is​​let's​​​begin​​with​​the​​basic configuration​​​that​​is​​required​​for​​everything​​to​​work. Set​​your​​timezone You​​might​​think,​​meh,​​I​​don't​​care​​if​​the​​time​​I​​see​​in​​Mumara​​is​​correct,​​but​​setting​​up the​​time​​to​​your​​correct​​time​​zone​​(the​​same​​you​​set​​in​​control​​panel)​​is​​very​​important and​​here​​is​​why. Mumaras​​internal​​time​​is​​used​​to​​set​​email​​headers​​about​​sent​​time.​​So​​if​​your​​time​​is incorrect​​your​​emails​​will​​come​​from​​past​​or​​future. And​​if​​you​​are​​planning​​to​​use​​campaign​​schedule​​or​​evergreen​​campaigns​​you​​will need​​your​​time​​to​​be​​correct​​in​​order​​to​​set​​time​​when​​you​​want​​your​​emails​​to​​start sending. First,​​click​​on​​Profile​​icon​​at​​the​​top. Now​​select​​the​​same​​time​​zone​​from​​the​​drop-down​​you​​selected​​in​​control​​panel before.​​You​​should​​know​​what​​time​​zone​​your​​city​​is​​located.

22. Now​​do​​the​​same​​under​​'Settings​​>​​Application​​Settings'​​if​​you​​plan​​on​​adding​​more users​​or​​sub-users​​just​​to​​make​​sure​​their​​time​​is​​set​​up​​correctly​​and​​they​​don't​​have​​to worry​​about​​this. Continue​​with​​EMS​​configuration​​on​​my​​site. Additions​​steps​​available​​online​​are: ● Set​​cron​​jobs ● Full​​EMS​​Guide

23. Bulk​​Email​​Server​​Guide:​​Integration​​with​​PowerMTA I​​don't​​know​​why​​but​​this​​is​​where​​most​​of​​the​​people​​get​​stuck.​​It​​is probably​​because​​they​​are​​tired​​and​​already​​have​​enough​​of​​things​​they aren't​​used​​to​​do.​​Maybe​​it's​​a​​good​​idea​​to​​take​​a​​break.​​Maybe​​even​​stop for​​today​​and​​go​​out,​​go​​watch​​a​​movie​​or​​play​​a​​game. The​​truth​​is​​that​​this​​step​​is​​really​​simple​​and​​if​​it​​didn't​​exist​​the​​whole​​Mumara​​to PowerMTA​​connection​​​step​​would​​need​​about​​10​​steps​​to​​cover​​everything.​​Since Mumara​​is​​smart​​enough​​it​​will​​do​​most​​of​​the​​hard​​work​​for​​us.​​There​​are​​some​​things that​​need​​to​​be​​fixed​​for​​everything​​to​​work​​but​​nothing​​harder​​than​​copy/paste. First,​​go​​to​​'Integrations​​>​​PowerMTA​​Settings'​​and​​click​​on​​+​​to​​add​​a​​new​​PowerMTA server.​​Now​​it​​depends​​on,​​are​​you​​using​​local​​or​​external​​(recommended)​​PowerMTA. Basically,​​it's​​the​​same​​you​​just​​have​​to​​change​​the​​IP.​​The​​picture​​below​​shows​​how​​I set​​up​​local​​PowerMTA. If​​you​​are​​using​​local​​PowerMTA​​you​​can​​enter​​everything​​apart​​from​​root​​pass​​(another smart​​one)​​exactly​​like​​in​​the​​picture​​above.​​If​​possible​​always​​use​​localhost​​and​​run everything​​on​​localhost​​only.​​Of​​course,​​this​​isn't​​possible​​in​​case​​of​​external PowerMTA.​​In​​that​​case,​​adjust​​all​​IPs.​​When​​done​​with​​everything​​click​​'Next'. Unforgenetly​​you​​won't​​see​​to​​the​​very​​last​​integration​​step​​if​​you​​entered​​everything correct.

24. In​​step​​2​​enter​​your​​IPs​​and​​domains​​separated​​by​​commas​​to​​appropriate​​boxes.​​Make sure​​the​​are​​in​​the​​same​​order​​as​​you​​assigned​​them​​in​​control​​panel​​to​​save​​time​​in​​the next​​step.​​Do​​everything​​else​​like​​in​​the​​picture​​below.​​When​​done​​click​​'Next'. Since​​you​​followed​​my​​tip​​and​​entered​​IPs​​and​​domains​​in​​the​​same​​order​​you​​assigned them​​in​​control​​panel​​the​​only​​thing​​to​​do​​in​​step​​3​​is​​to​​enter​​all​​necessary​​data​​for​​each SMTP.​​For​​group​​I​​usual​​just​​copy/paste​​domain​​name.​​Enter​​From​​name,​​From​​email, and​​Reply​​email​​and​​leave​​everything​​else​​as​​it​​is.​​No​​picture​​here​​since​​this​​is​​easier than​​setting​​up​​an​​account​​in​​Outlook.​​When​​done​​click​​'Next'. In​​Step​​4​​there​​is​​nothing​​to​​do​​so​​just​​click​​'Next'. In​​Step​​5​​you​​will​​finally​​see​​if​​the​​info​​you​​provided​​in​​step​​1​​was​​correct.​​In​​a​​case​​of errors​​go​​back​​and​​correct​​your​​mistakes.​​If​​the​​connection​​was​​successful​​just​​click 'Next'.

25. If​​you​​did​​everything​​correct​​you​​will​​see​​something​​similar​​as​​on​​picture​​below​​and​​a file​​called​​pmta_server.zip​​will​​be​​downloaded.​​Save​​this​​file​​as​​you​​will​​need​​it​​later. Here​​is​​its​​content ● Bounce.csv​​-​​infor​​about​​your​​bounce​​accounts ● DKIM.txt​​-​​all​​your​​DKIM​​records ● FDNS.csv​​-​​your​​reverse​​DNS ● htaccess.txt​​-​​we​​will​​need​​this​​for​​domain​​masking ● pmta_config.txt​​-​​defoult​​PowerMTA​​config​​file​​that​​Mumara​​creates. Unforgenetly​​PowerMTA​​will​​not​​start​​when​​using​​this​​config,​​but​​we'll​​fix​​this later. ● SMTP.csv​​-​​info​​about​​your​​SMTP​​accounts

26. That​​is​​it.​​Your​​Mumara​​is​​connected​​to​​PowerMTA.​​You​​should​​be​​able​​to​​send​​your first​​email​​from​​Mumara​​but​​I​​don't​​recommend​​to​​do​​it​​yet.​​Your​​configuration​​is​​far​​from perfect.To​​make​​it​​perfect​​there​​are​​still​​things​​we​​must​​do. Continue​​Integration​​with​​PowerMTA​​on​​my​​site. Additions​​steps​​available​​online​​are: ● Bounce​​emails​​and​​Feedback​​Loops ● Masking​​domains ● Setting​​rDNS ● DKIM​​for​​sending​​domains

27. Bulk​​Email​​Server​​Guide:​​Tips​​before​​you​​start​​sending Let's​​face​​it​​the​​whole​​setup​​process​​required​​a​​lot​​of​​work​​and​​I​​am​​sure you​​want​​to​​stay​​informed​​with​​whats​​going​​so​​you​​can​​fix​​little​​problems before​​they​​turn​​into​​big​​ones. Copy​​backups The​​first​​thing​​you​​will​​want​​to​​do​​after​​your​​whole​​system​​is​​up​​and​​running​​is​​make sure​​you​​have​​a​​copy​​of​​main​​servers​​backups​​on​​your​​local​​computer.​​If​​you​​didn't copy​​them​​yet​​open​​Bitvise​​and​​connect​​to​​your​​main​​server.​​Use​​SFTP​​and​​navigate​​to /backups​​and​​copy​​all​​files​​to​​your​​computer.​​If​​you​​didn't​​enable​​rsync​​to​​another​​server make​​sure​​you​​copy​​all​​backups​​to​​your​​computer​​at​​least​​once​​per​​month. Enable​​SSH​​key To​​protect​​your​​main​​server​​from​​hackers​​you​​might​​want​​to​​use​​SSH​​keys​​instead​​of password​​when​​you​​are​​logged​​in.​​SSH​​keys​​the​​same​​way​​DKIM​​keys​​work​​with emails.​​You​​copy​​private​​key​​to​​your​​computer​​and​​public​​key​​to​​your​​server.​​If​​keys don't​​match​​you​​don't​​get​​access. To​​enable​​SSH​​keys​​go​​to​​"Server​​Settings​​>​​SSH​​Key​​Generator"​​and​​follow instructions​​there. Check​​your​​open​​ports During​​setup,​​you​​might​​have​​open​​some​​ports​​or​​completely​​disabled​​firewall​​on​​your main​​server.​​Make​​sure​​your​​firewall​​is​​turned​​on​​and​​only​​ports​​you​​really​​need​​are opened. Monitor​​your​​blacklists If​​you​​are​​using​​Mumara​​it​​is​​already​​monitoring​​your​​IPs​​and​​domains,​​but​​even​​so,​​I suggest​​you​​add​​all​​your​​domains​​and​​IPs​​to​​and​​be​​informed​​by​​email​​when​​the​​status of​​IPs​​or​​domains​​changes.​​This​​way​​you​​can​​react​​and​​request​​a​​delisting​​before​​it impacts​​your​​delivery​​rates.​​​Click​​here​,​​create​​a​​free​​account​​and​​add​​your​​IPs​​and domains.

28. Create​​catch-all​​emails Create​​a​​catch-all​​email​​for​​all​​your​​sending​​domains​​and​​forward​​them​​to postmaster@domain. Check​​system​​emails​​regularly Make​​sure​​you​​add​​all​​your​​system​​emails​​(postmaster​​and​​abuse)​​to​​a​​client​​like Outlook​​or​​ThunderBird.​​Some​​users​​will​​send​​emails​​with​​removal​​requests. Check​​Spammyness​​of​​your​​Emails​​​​regularly You​​probably​​checked​​the​​score​​of​​your​​email​​on​​​Mail​​tester​​​during​​setup​​but​​in​​case you​​didn't​​check​​it​​now​​and​​also​​check​​it​​at​​least​​once​​per​​month.​​The​​best​​thing​​is​​to send​​all​​your​​campaigns​​to​​Mail​​Tester​​even​​if​​you​​check​​the​​spam​​score​​inside​​your EMS​​software. Register​​for​​FBL Register​​all​​your​​domains​​with​​all​​major​​providers​​that​​have​​Feedback​​Loops​​program. You​​can​​find​​a​​list​​of​​available​​FBLs​​​here​.​​Don't​​forget​​to​​add​​your​​FBL​​email​​addresses to​​Mumara​​or​​other​​Email​​Marketing​​Software. Add​​domains​​to​​Postmaster​​Tools Since​​Google/Gmail​​does​​not​​have​​a​​Feedback​​Loops​​for​​others​​then​​ESPs,​​be​​sure​​to add​​all​​your​​sending​​domains​​to​​Googles​​Postmaster​​Tools.​​You​​will​​be​​able​​to​​monitor IP​​and​​domain​​reputation,​​Spam​​complaints​​and​​so​​on.​​​Click​​here​​​to​​start. Don't​​use​​new​​domains​​for​​sending I​​don't​​know​​why,​​but​​most​​people​​even​​those​​that​​are​​in​​bulk​​sending​​for​​years​​don't know​​this.​​You​​should​​never​​use​​a​​newly​​registered​​domain​​for​​bulk​​email​​sending.​​New domains​​are​​added​​to​​Day​​old​​Bread​​list​​(DNSRBL).​​They​​say​​that​​it's​​removed​​from this​​list​​after​​5​​days​​but​​from​​my​​tests,​​it's​​best​​if​​you​​wait​​20​​days​​before​​you​​start sending​​from​​a​​fresh​​domain.​​Mail​​Tester​​will​​show​​this​​as​​URIBL_RHS_DOB.

29. Mask​​your​​IPs If​​you​​are​​using​​CloudFlare​​you​​can​​use​​IP​​masking​​feature​​and​​hide​​(to​​some​​degree) IPs​​of​​your​​servers.​​Just​​click​​the​​cloud​​icon​​to​​the​​right​​of​​each​​DNS​​record​​so​​it​​will turn​​orange​​and​​bum.​​If​​you​​ping​​your​​domain​​CloudFlare​​will​​reply​​from​​its​​IP.​​Make sure​​you​​do​​NOT​​mask​​the​​subdomain​​you​​are​​using​​for​​bulk​​email​​sending.​​If​​you​​do your​​rDNS​​and​​SPF​​will​​become​​invalid.​​I​​usually​​mask​​IP​​for​​my​​root​​domain​​and subdomain​​I​​am​​using​​for​​domain​​masking. CLEAN​​YOUR​​LISTS! If​​you​​bought​​your​​lists​​or​​scraped​​them​​off​​the​​Internet​​make​​sure​​you​​clean​​them before​​you​​start​​sending.​​It's​​not​​enough​​to​​process​​bounces​​and​​send​​to​​the​​rest. Bought​​and​​scraped​​lists​​are​​full​​of​​risky​​email​​addresses​​called​​Spam​​Traps.​​This​​are old​​emails​​that​​aren't​​used​​by​​their​​owner​​and​​email​​provider​​(for​​example​​Gmail)​​is monitoring​​them​​for​​new​​emails​​that​​arrive.​​If​​a​​new​​marketing​​email​​arrives​​in​​the​​email address​​that​​was​​turned​​into​​a​​Spam​​Trap​​the​​provider​​can​​be​​sure​​that​​the​​message​​is really​​spam,​​as​​the​​owner​​abandoned​​this​​address​​years​​ago. Clean​​your​​first​​15100​​email​​addresses​​for​​free,​​​Register​​here​. WARM​​UP​​YOUR​​IPS!!! You​​put​​in​​a​​lot​​of​​time​​in​​setting​​up​​your​​new​​Bulk​​Email​​System.​​Now​​don't​​be​​crazy and​​start​​sending​​without​​limits.​​It's​​really​​hard​​to​​recover​​your​​Sender​​Score​​if​​it​​drops below​​50​​so​​follow​​my​​​Warm​​Up​​Guide​​​and​​start​​slow. For​​​​more​​​​tip​​​​visit​​​​PowerMTA.NiNjA