How To Install Postfix on Manjaro

Postfix is a powerful and flexible mail transfer agent (MTA) that is widely used for sending and receiving emails. It is known for its reliability, security features, and ease of configuration. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of installing Postfix on Manjaro, a popular Arch-based Linux distribution. Whether you are setting up a personal email server or configuring a mail system for your business, this article will provide you with the necessary steps to get started.

Understanding Postfix

What is Postfix?

Postfix is an open-source MTA that routes and delivers electronic mail. Developed by Wietse Venema at IBM Research, it was designed to be a drop-in replacement for Sendmail while offering improved performance and security. Postfix operates by accepting incoming emails, processing them according to specified rules, and forwarding them to their destination.

Why Choose Postfix?

• Reliability: Postfix is known for its robust performance and ability to handle high volumes of email traffic.
• Security: It includes several built-in security features that help protect against spam and unauthorized access.
• Community Support: With extensive documentation and an active community, users can easily find help and resources.

Prerequisites for Installation

System Requirements

Before installing Postfix, ensure that your system meets the following requirements:

• A running instance of Manjaro Linux.
• Sufficient disk space (at least 100 MB).
• A stable internet connection for downloading packages.

Necessary Packages

You will need to install the following packages:

• Postfix: The main package required for email handling.
• Mailx or Mailutils: A command-line utility for sending emails.

User Permissions

Ensure that you have sudo privileges on your Manjaro system. This will allow you to install software packages and modify system configurations as needed.

Preparing Your System

Updating the System

The first step in preparing your system is to ensure that all existing packages are up-to-date. Open a terminal and run the following command:

sudo pacman -Syu

This command synchronizes your package databases and updates all installed packages to their latest versions.

Installing Required Packages

Next, install Postfix and Mailx using the following command:

sudo pacman -S postfix mailx

This command downloads and installs both packages from the official Manjaro repositories.

Verifying Installation

To confirm that Postfix has been successfully installed, execute the following command:

pacman -Qs postfix

This will list the installed Postfix package along with its version number.

Basic Configuration of Postfix

Edit the Main Configuration File

The main configuration file for Postfix is located at /etc/postfix/main.cf. Open this file in your preferred text editor with sudo privileges:

sudo nano /etc/postfix/main.cf

Key Configuration Parameters

Edit the following parameters in the configuration file to set up your mail server:

• • myhostname: This parameter should be set to your server’s fully qualified domain name (FQDN). For example:

myhostname = your_hostname.example.com

• • mydomain: Set this to your domain name:

mydomain = example.com

• • inet_interfaces: This specifies which network interfaces Postfix should listen on. For most setups, use:

inet_interfaces = all

• • mydestination: This parameter defines what domains this server will accept mail for. A typical setting might look like this:

mydestination = $myhostname, localhost.$mydomain, localhost

Example Configuration Snippet

Your /etc/postfix/main.cf file should contain entries similar to the following:

# Basic configuration
myhostname = your_hostname.example.com
mydomain = example.com
inet_interfaces = all
mydestination = $myhostname, localhost.$mydomain, localhost
relayhost =
mynetworks = 127.0.0.0/8
home_mailbox = Maildir/
mailbox_command =

Starting and Enabling Postfix Service

Starting the Service

You can start the Postfix service using the following command:

sudo systemctl start postfix

Enabling at Boot

If you want Postfix to start automatically when your system boots up, enable it using this command:

sudo systemctl enable postfix

Testing Your Installation

Sending a Test Email

The next step is to verify that your installation works correctly by sending a test email. Use the following command to send a simple test email:

echo "Test email from Postfix" | mail -s "Test Postfix" your_email@example.com

Verifying Mail Delivery

You can check if the email was sent successfully by examining the mail logs. Use this command to view logs related to Postfix:

sudo journalctl -u postfix.service

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Common Errors and Solutions

• Error: “Relay access denied”: This usually indicates that your server isn’t configured to relay emails for the specified domain. Check your /etc/postfix/main.cf, particularly the mydestination.
• Error: “Connection timed out”: This can happen if your firewall settings are blocking SMTP traffic. Ensure that ports 25 (SMTP), 587 (Submission), and 465 (SMTPS) are open in your firewall settings.
• Error: “No route to host”: This may indicate network issues or misconfigured DNS settings. Verify that your hostname resolves correctly.

Useful Commands for Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues during installation or operation, these commands can help diagnose problems:

• • CHECK CONFIGURATION:

postfix check

• • SHOW CONFIGURATION PARAMETERS:

postconf -n

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Postfix. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the Postfix mail transfer agent on your Manjaro system. For additional or useful information, we recommend you check the official Postfix website.