Purpose
This post confirms that required supporting services are running and accessible before any mail configuration begins.
These checks ensure the server is operationally ready for mail identity, mailbox creation, and authentication steps that follow.
This post acts as a gate. Do not proceed until all applicable checks pass.
Scope and Applicability
- Applies to the Account Domain VPS
- Performed one time per VPS
- Validates runtime services required before mail setup
Prerequisites
- SSL is configured and validated for the account domain
- HTTPS access works without warnings
- DirectAdmin is accessible using HTTPS and the domain name
- No mail identity or mailbox configuration has been performed yet
Confirm DirectAdmin Extra Features Open
With SSL confirmed, validate that DirectAdmin Extra Features open correctly. These checks confirm HTTPS routing, service availability, and UI‑level readiness.
From the DirectAdmin | USER interface, go to Extra Features and confirm each listed item opens successfully. Each feature’s items to check are described next.
Webmail: Roundcube
- Open Roundcube using DirectAdmin Admin credentials
- Confirm the interface loads
- Close Roundcube
No mail configuration or testing should be performed.
phpMyAdmin
- Open phpMyAdmin
- Confirm it loads successfully
- Close phpMyAdmin
No database changes are required.
ConfigServer Security & Firewall (CSF)
Confirm that ConfigServer Security & Firewall appears and opens.
If CSF does not appear, or if CSF is missing, install it using the following commands in a terminal session:
wget http://files.directadmin.com/services/all/csf/csf_install.sh 945 /bin/sh ./csf_install.sh
After installation, return to DirectAdmin | USER | Extra Features. Then, confirm CSF opens; then, close it.
Confirm Redis Is Running
Redis must be running and reachable before proceeding with mail configuration.
Use the following confirmation test to check if redis is actively running:
systemctl status redis@admin
If Redis is running, its service status should indicate active (running).
If Redis is not running, attempt to start it:
sudo systemctl start redis@admin
Re‑check redis’ status after starting the service.
If it’s running now, you must ensure redis is set to auto-start, using DirectAdmin. Here are the steps to confirm it.
- From DirectAdmin | User, go to Advanced Features | Redis.
- If it’s showing Enabled, click to Disable it and then click again to Enable it.
- If it’s showing Disabled, click to Enable, again to Disable it, and finish to Enable it.
- Operational Information: Sometimes, after a server restore or an update, it might not auto-start so, you can follow these steps to return redis to a running and auto-start status.
Verification
Confirm the following before proceeding:
- DirectAdmin Extra Features open without errors
- Roundcube opens and closes without mail configuration
- phpMyAdmin opens successfully
- CSF is present and accessible
- Redis service is running and set to auto-start.
Stop Point
Do not perform any of the following yet:
- Enable DKIM, SPF, or DMARC
- Create mailboxes
- Send or receive email
Those steps occur only after supporting services are confirmed.
Proceed to the next post to activate and test mail for the account domain, including DKIM enablement and live email validation.