Roundcube is a web-based multilingual IMAP client with an apps-like user interface that allows you to access all your external mailboxes from a single web interface. With LAMP / LEMP support, it is a great way to bring all your external mail like Google, Yahoo, and other SMTP inboxes onto your server. Roundcube also comes with decent performance, simple installation and upgrade with support for IMAP and SMTP protocols (SSL, STARTTLS), sieve scripts support, integration with Facebook, Google, Twitter, and Dropbox, and many more via plugins. For more about Roundcube, please check out its homepage. Some highlights of Roundcube:

Modern user interface. Complete support of IMAP and SMTP protocols including SSL and STARTTLS. Sieve scripts (Filters and vacation message). Minimalistic resources requirements. Multilingual capabilities Find-as-you-type address book Richtext/HTML message composing Searching messages and contacts Shared folders and ACL

When you’re ready to get Roundcube install on Ubuntu, follow the steps below:

Install Nginx HTTP Server

Nginx HTTP Server is probably the second most popular web server in use. so install it, since Roundcube needs it. To install Nginx HTTP on Ubuntu server, run the commands below. After installing Nginx, the commands below can be used to stop, start and enable the Nginx service to always start up with the server boots. To test whether Nginx is installed, open your browser and browse to the server hostname or IP address. When you see that, then Nginx is working as expected.

Install MariaDB Database Server

MariaDB database server is a great place to start when looking at open-source database servers to use with Roundcube. To install MariaDB run the commands below. After installing MariaDB, the commands below can be used to stop, start and enable the MariaDB service to always start up when the server boots. Run these on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS Run these on Ubuntu 17.10 and 18.04 LTS After that, run the commands below to secure the MariaDB server by creating a root password and disallowing remote root access. When prompted, answer the questions below by following the guide.

Enter current password for root (enter for none): Just press the Enter Set root password? [Y/n]: Y New password: Enter password Re-enter new password: Repeat password Remove anonymous users? [Y/n]: Y Disallow root login remotely? [Y/n]: Y Remove test database and access to it? [Y/n]:  Y Reload privilege tables now? [Y/n]:  Y

Restart MariaDB server To test if MariaDB is installed, type the commands below to logon into the MariaDB server Then type the password you created above to sign on. if successful, you should see MariaDB welcome message

PHP 7.2-FPM may not be available in Ubuntu default repositories. to install it, you will have to get it from third-party repositories. Run the commands below to add the below third party repository to upgrade to PHP 7.2-FPM Then update and upgrade to PHP 7.2-FPM Next, run the commands below to install PHP 7.2-FPM and related modules. After installing PHP 7.2, run the commands below to open the PHP default config file for Nginx. sudo nano /etc/php/7.2/fpm/php.ini Then make the changes on the following lines below in the file and save. The value below is a great setting to apply in your environment. After making the change above, save the file and close it out. After installing PHP and related modules, all you have to do is restart Nginx to reload PHP configurations. To restart Nginx, run the commands below To test PHP 7.2 settings with Nginx, create a phpinfo.php file in the Nginx root directory by running the commands below Then type the content below and save the file. Save the file. then browse to your server hostname followed by /phpinfo.php You should see the PHP default test page.

Create Roundcube Database

Now that you’ve installed all the packages that are required for Roundcube to function, continue below to start configuring the servers. First, run the commands below to create a blank Roundcube database. To log on to the MariaDB database server, run the commands below. Then create a database called roundcube Create a database user called roundcubeuser with a new password Then grant the user full access to the database. Finally, save your changes and exit.

Download and Configure Roundcube

Now that Nginx and PHP 7.2 are installed, use the steps below to download and configure the Roundcube environment on Ubuntu servers. First, use the commands below to download the latest version. After that create the Roundcube directory and extract the download content there. After that, run the commands below to import Roundcube database tables to initiate the database. Next, configure the directory access permission for Nginx. When you’re done, run the commands below to create the Roundcube Nginx configuration file. Then copy and paste the content below into the file and save it. Save the file and exit. Next, run the commands below to enable Roundcube virtual host and restart Nginx. Finally, open your web browser and browse the server name to access the back-end portal. You should see that all the checks are ok. Click Next to continue with the setup. On the next page, focus mainly on the Database, IMAP, and SMTP sections. The easiest IMAP and SMTP host to use is Google. Google IMAP settings. Google SMTP settings. Finally, check if you can send a test email via your login. if everything is successful, you should be able to finish the setup. After that, use the URL below to log on to the Roundcube back-end portal. Run the commands below to delete the installer folder. sudo rm -rf /var/www/html/roundcube/installer Log in and begin configuring Roundcube Congratulations! You have successfully installed and configured Roundcube on Ubuntu 16.04 | 18.04 with Nginx and PHP 7.2. You may also like the post below: