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Saphira Linux

Mail

Saphira Linux MailDragon

An Open Source, shell-based mail server for Saphira Linux. No dashboard, no SaaS, no per-mailbox billing — a complete mail system you own and control, free forever.

In testing, functionality present — helpers missing
Saphira Linux mailDragon, the Open Source mail server mascot

What MailDragon is

MailDragon is a packaged, free mail solution built on Saphira Linux. It turns a Saphira virtual machine into a full mail server: receiving, sending, filtering and webmail, managed from the terminal.

NoteMailDragon is shell-based. There is no web dashboard and no SaaS control plane. You operate it from the command line using the included management scripts. That is the point: the system is yours, and nothing phones home.

What is in the box

  • akadata-mailserver — the Saphira mail server glue and management scripts.
  • Postfix — SMTP sending and receiving.
  • Dovecot — IMAP and POP3 mailbox access.
  • Rspamd — spam filtering, DKIM signing, DMARC and policy.
  • ClamAV — virus scanning of mail.
  • Roundcube — webmail, customised for MailDragon.
TipThe base layout already exists at /saphirabuild/musl/mailbase: akadata-mailserver, clamav, dovecot, postfix and rspamd. MailDragon assembles these into one coherent, supported mail system.
NoteCalendar, contacts and tasks (Roundcube + Baïkal CalDAV/CardDAV) ship as an add-on package. They are not bundled in the FREE edition by default, but the package is available to every edition and nothing restricts installing it — see Calendar & contacts.

Out of the box it is a full mail system

  • Custom Roundcube webmail.
  • Rspamd spam filtering.
  • Dovecot and Postfix for delivery and access.
  • ClamAV antivirus scanning.
  • Mailbox encryption.
  • Automatic DKIM key management and certificate-rotation scripts.

It ships the same components we run on our own mail, so it is proven in practice rather than a sketch. Every management script is included.

Standards supported

  • SPF — sender policy framework.
  • DKIM — domain key signing, with included key management.
  • DMARC — domain-based message alignment and reporting.
  • BIMI — brand indicators for message identification.
  • Mailbox encryption.
  • TLS with automated certificate rotation.
WarningReverse DNS (a PTR record) for your mail server's IP address must be configured by your hosting provider. Without correct reverse DNS, other mail systems may reject your mail even when SPF, DKIM and DMARC are all correct. This is an infrastructure step outside the box, not a MailDragon limitation.

FREE vs SUPPORTED

There are two editions. The only difference between them is the database backend.

  • MailDragon FREE — uses SQLite. Fully featured and free forever. This is the road to freedom from paid email: no Gmail bills, no Microsoft 365, no per-mailbox pricing.
  • MailDragon SUPPORTED — the same system based on MariaDB, for environments that want the supported database backend and its enhancements.
GoodBoth editions include every feature and every management script. The only difference is SQLite versus MySQL/MariaDB. All features are supported in both.

Why it is free

AKADATA does not do SaaS. MailDragon is free software you run yourself — no account, no metering, no renewal. It is the way out of paid-for email servers and paid-for mail hosting.

NoteBecause there is no SaaS, you are responsible for your own DNS (including reverse DNS) and certificates. The included scripts make that routine rather than mysterious.