Anil Madhavapeddy details the technical process of self-hosting email infrastructure from scratch, including obtaining a dedicated IPv4 allocation and implementing security measures like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. The article serves as an educational guide for those interested in understanding email infrastructure while advocating for digital sovereignty. The author shares insights from running their own email servers since 1997 and discusses the importance of maintaining control over personal data in an increasingly consolidated digital landscape.
Background
Self-hosting email has become increasingly complex due to spam prevention measures and the dominance of major email providers like Google and Microsoft. Running a personal email server requires deep technical knowledge of networking, security protocols, and ongoing maintenance to ensure deliverability and security.
- Source
- Lobsters
- Published
- Jun 9, 2026 at 05:47 AM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10