How to install zimbra on Centos

This tutorial shows how to set up Zimbra Collaboration Suite - Open Source Edition on CentOS. This tutorial covers installation of CentOS, dependencies for ZCS and setup of Split DNS when working behind a firewall. This tutorial is based on the way I set this server up and is only a suggestion. It carries no guarantees and it is highly suggested that you do this on a test server first to verify functionality. If you don't have a test server available you should download VMWare Server 1.0 and perform this tutorial on a test virtual server.

[1]Requirements :

To install this system you will need the following:
CentOS 5 DVD or CD ISO images which are available at http://isoredirect.centos.org/centos/5/isos/i386/
High-speed Internet connection
Insert your CentOS install CD into your system and boot from it. Hit Enter to start the installation.
After Completing Centos Installation follow these steps
The last step is to shutoff some services that will interfere with ZCS.

chkconfig sendmail off
chkconfig ip6tables off
chkconfig iptables off

We need one package before we can continue:
yum install libtool-ltdl

This completes the base installation of CentOS. On the next page we will setup Split DNS which is essential for ZCS. Go ahead and reboot, and fill up that coffee cup.

[2]Installation Of Split DNS

This part of installation is working off of the assumption that you are behind a firewall. If you are not behind a firewall (not recommended) you can skip this part of the installation.

I need to give credit where it is due. The chroot portion of this tutorial is adapted from Sebastien Wains. His CentOS Bind Chroot tutorial can be found at http://www.wains.be/index.php/2007/12/13/centos-5-chroot-dns-with-bind/. The Split DNS tutorial is adapted from the Zimbra Wiki and can be found at http://wiki.zimbra.com/index.php?title=Split_dns.

yum install bind bind-chroot bind-libs bind-utils

REMINDER: Be sure to use the ip address and hostname/FQDN that is appropriate for your installation.

Create the /var/named/chroot/etc/named.conf file

vim /var/named/chroot/etc/named.conf

options {
       directory "/var/named";
       dump-file "/var/named/data/cache_dump.db";
       statistics-file "/var/named/data/named_stats.txt";
forwarders { 192.168.0.10 ; };
};
include "/etc/rndc.key";
// We are the master server for mail.geekdept.com
zone "mail.geekdept.com" {
    type master;
    file "db.mail.geekdept.com";
};

The ip address for forwarders should be the ip address of your dns server.

Now you need to create your /var/named/chroot/var/named/db.mail.geekdept.com file

;
;       Addresses and other host information.
;
@       IN      SOA     mail.geekdept.com. hostmaster.mail.geekdept.com. (
                               10118      ; Serial
                               43200      ; Refresh
                               3600       ; Retry
                               3600000    ; Expire
                               2592000 )  ; Minimum
;       Define the nameservers and the mail servers
               IN      NS      192.168.0.45
               IN      A       192.168.0.45
 IN      MX      10 mail.geekdept.com.


Change your resolv.conf to use your mail server's IP address as it's primary DNS.
vim /etc/resolv.conf 

search geekdept.com
nameserver 192.168.0.45
Start named on your server
/etc/init.d/named start 
Enable autostart for named.
chkconfig named on 
To verify that it is working do the following:
nslookup mail.geekdept.com 

It should return something similar to this:
Server:         192.168.0.45
Address:        192.168.0.45#53
Name:   mail.geekdept.com
Address: 192.168.0.45

Notice that the ip address returned is the same as the local machine. That means success.
Now we can move on to installing ZCS.

[3] Installation Of Zimbra Collaboration Suite

You will need to download ZCS from the Zimbra website.
cd/tmpwget http://files.zimbra.com/downloads/5.0.2_/zcs-5.0.2_GA_1975.RHEL5.20080130221917.tgz 

Next untar, change into the directory of the installer and run the installer.

tar xvzf zcs-5.0.2_GA_1975.RHEL5.20080130221917.tgz
cd zcs-5.0.2_GA_1975.RHEL5.20080130221917
./install.sh

The output should look something like:

zimbra-ldap...NOT FOUND
zimbra-logger...NOT FOUND
zimbra-mta...NOT FOUND
zimbra-snmp...NOT FOUND
zimbra-store...NOT FOUND
zimbra-apache...NOT FOUND
zimbra-spell...NOT FOUND
zimbra-proxy...NOT FOUND
zimbra-archiving...NOT FOUND
zimbra-cluster...NOT FOUND
zimbra-core...NOT FOUND 

Read through the license agreement and hit enter.

The output should be similar to:

Checking for prerequisites...
NPTL...FOUND
sudo...FOUND sudo-1.6.7p12-10
libidn...FOUND libidn-0.6.5-1.1
fetchmail...FOUND fetchmail-6.3.6-1.1
gmp...FOUND gmp-4.1.4-10
compat-libstdc++-296...FOUND compat-libstdc++-296-2.96-138
compat-libstdc++-33...FOUND compat-libstdc++-33-3.2.3-61
libtool-ltdl...FOUND libtool-ltdl-1.5.22-6.1
/usr/lib/libstdc++.so.6...FOUND
Prerequisite check complete.
Checking for standard system perl...
perl-5.8.8...FOUND start system perl-5.8.8

Checking for installable packages

Found zimbra-core
Found zimbra-ldap
Found zimbra-logger
Found zimbra-mta
Found zimbra-snmp
Found zimbra-store
Found zimbra-apache
Found zimbra-spell
Found zimbra-proxy

Next you need to select the packages to install. The defaults are listed in teh brackets so you can just press enter for every question.

Install zimbra-ldap [Y]Install zimbra-logger [Y]

Install zimbra-mta [Y]

Install zimbra-snmp [Y]

Install zimbra-store [Y]

Install zimbra-apache [Y]

Install zimbra-spell [Y]

Install zimbra-proxy [N]

You will see a warning like this:You appear to be installing packages on a platform different
than the platform for which they were built

This platform is CentOS5
Packages found: zimbra-core-5.0.2_GA_1975.RHEL5-20080130221917.i386.rpm
This may or may not work

Install anyway? [N]Y

The system will be modified. Continue? [N] Y

The installation takes a little bit so if you are running low on coffee or need a potty break now is the time to take it. :)

Once the install is finished you are presented with the Main Menu. It looks like this:

Notice the asterisks next to the Admin Password. You need to set the Admin Password before you complete the install. To do this enter 3 at the prompt and hit enter. The menu changes to:

Now you choose 4. You will be prompted to change the password. After you change the password hit r which will take you back to the previous menu. Enter a at the prompt to save the configuration.

The installation will complete and you will be all set to access the administrative web interface.

[4] ZCS Admin Web Interface

Just like Falko I'm just going to give a brief screenshot tour and leave it up to you to get more information from the Zimbra Admin Guide and the Zimbra Wiki.

Administration Login

You can access the admin web interface by going to https://you.domain.com:7071.

Note: The web interface is accessed via ssl. Make sure you put https otherwise you won't be able to access the site.

The web interface is fairly easy to navigate. That'll you will completed installing Zimbra Email Server