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Step 1Open the server Apps tab
Select the tutorial-vps VPS, open the Apps tab, and start a new app deployment. Keep sensitive server details hidden before capturing or sharing screenshots.
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Stalwart Mail
Development1024MB+ RAM
All-in-one mail server (SMTP, IMAP, JMAP, Sieve) with a built-in admin UI — modern, fast, written in Rust
developmentdevtoolsstalwartmailopen-sourceself-hosteddocker
Deploy Stalwart Mail in 3 Steps
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Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
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Select Stalwart Mail
Choose from our template library
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Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy Stalwart Mail on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the Stalwart Mail template in Server Compass to deploy the starter admin web UI on your VPS, then verify that the mail server dashboard is reachable in a browser.
About 10 minutesBrowser verified
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Step 2Choose an app template
Click New App and choose the template deployment path so Server Compass can load the built-in catalog.
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Step 3Search for Stalwart Mail
Use the template picker search to find Stalwart Mail in the Server Compass template catalog.
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Step 4Select the Stalwart Mail template
Choose the Stalwart Mail template. Server Compass fills the Stalwart Mail service, persistent mail-server data volume, and admin web UI port.
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Step 5Review the Stalwart Mail settings
Confirm the app name and compose services. In this run, the app was named stalwart-demo and used host port 4134.
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Step 6Deploy Stalwart Mail
Review the generated compose settings, confirm the admin web UI port is available, and click Deploy Now.
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Step 7Watch the deployment progress
Keep the deployment modal open while Server Compass uploads the compose file, pulls the Stalwart Mail image, starts the container, and verifies the stack.
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Step 8Confirm Stalwart Mail is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the Stalwart Mail app is marked Running with its application URL available.
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Step 9Open Stalwart Mail in the browser
Open the application URL with `/admin/` appended. The Stalwart Mail admin setup UI confirms the starter mail-server service is reachable. Stop before entering the generated admin password in a publishable screenshot.
After Stalwart Mail Opens
- Treat this template as a starter admin UI deployment, not a complete production mail-server setup.
- Capture the generated initial admin password from container logs locally, then rotate it after first login.
- Use a real mail hostname before creating domains, users, DKIM keys, and outbound mail tests.
- Add and firewall the required mail protocol ports only after DNS, reverse DNS, TLS, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are ready.
- Back up the Stalwart data volume because it stores accounts, mailboxes, configuration, and signing material.
Verified Result
The Stalwart Mail admin UI loaded successfully in a browser.
Stalwart Mail deployment questions
What does the Stalwart Mail template deploy?
It deploys the Stalwart Mail container with a persistent data volume and exposes the admin web UI on a generated host port.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host port 4134, which maps to the Stalwart Mail web UI on container port 8080.
Why does the browser verification stop at the first web UI screen?
A fresh Stalwart Mail deployment is considered reachable when the admin web UI loads. The tutorial does not publish the generated first-run admin password or create a real mail domain.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the Stalwart Mail template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
After Deployment
After deploying Stalwart Mail with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
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Capture the initial admin password from the logs: `docker compose logs stalwart | grep -i password`
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Visit http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:{{PORT}} and log in as admin
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Run the setup wizard: create the primary domain, generate DKIM keys, and add the first user
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Configure DNS (MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC) at your registrar
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Add SMTP/IMAP/POP3/submission ports to the compose ports section, regenerate TLS certs, and redeploy
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
Stalwart Mail FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting Stalwart Mail
How do I deploy Stalwart Mail with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Stalwart Mail from the templates list. Fill in the required configuration and click Deploy. The entire process takes under 3 minutes.
What are the system requirements for Stalwart Mail?
Stalwart Mail requires a minimum of 1024MB RAM. We recommend a VPS with at least 2048MB RAM for optimal performance. Any modern Linux server with Docker support will work.
Can I migrate my existing Stalwart Mail data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Stalwart Mail backup and restore procedures.
How do I update Stalwart Mail to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Stalwart Mail image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is Stalwart Mail free to self-host?
Stalwart Mail is open-source software. You only pay for your VPS hosting (typically $5-20/month) and optionally Server Compass ($29 one-time). No subscription fees or per-seat pricing.
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