Install Roundcube webmail client

Install Roundcube webmail client KCTang

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Note

23 Jan 2024: Minor changes.

26 Mar 2023: smtp setting revised.

16 Dec 2021: Updated installation command.

27 May 2019: Changed to use extracting directly to web directory. Protection measures added.

8 May 2019: All "/var/www/web" changed to "/var/www/html/web". "<version number>" used instead of a specific number. More descriptions on settings added.

25 Dec 2014: Created.

Intro

Roundcube is a webmail client.

Install Roundcube using apt

Execute:

$ sudo apt install roundcube

Install Roundcube from roundcube.net

If the apt installation does not work, execute to remove:

$ sudo apt remove roundcube

Then download roundcubemail-<version number>-complete.tar.gz by selecting "Complete: <version number>" at https://roundcube.net/download/, usually to own "Downloads" directory.

Extract the compressed file, move the extracted directory and files to underneath "/var/www/html", and rename the directory as "roundcube".

Ensure that the hidden ".htaccess" file is also moved.

A quicker way is to extract directly to "/var/www/html" and rename the directory there.

Install Roundcube under "/var/www/html":

$ cd /var/www/html
$ sudo tar -xzfv /home/<own account name>/Downloads/roundcubemail-<version number>-complete.tar.gz  (extract to current directory)
$ tar -xzf /home/<own account name>/Downloads/roundcubemail-<version number>-complete.tar.gz (extract to current directory) 
$ ls      (see the existence of the extracted directory)​
$ sudo mv roundcubemail-<version number> roundcube    (change directory name)
$ cd roundcube
$ sudo chown www-data:www-data logs
$ sudo chown www-data:www-data temp

"-xzfv" can be remembered as extract zipped file verbose. Use "-xzf" if "v" not working. 

(changed to use "-xzf", added cd roundcube, 16 Dec 2021)

(changed to use "tar" directly to web directory,  27 May 2019)

Set up Roundcube

Install MySQL database + PHP + phpMyAdmin, if not already installed.

Login phpmyadmin at web browser:

https://localhost/phpmyadmin

Create a database user "roundcube" with database "roundcube":

  • click "Users" at the top menu bar
  • click "Add user" at the page middle
  • enter "roundcube" at the User name entry
  • select "Local" at the Host entry
  • enter and re-type the password
  • click "Create database with same name and grant all privileges"
  • click "Go" at the bottom

Enter at web browser:

https://localhost/roundcube/installer

Configure Roundcube:

  • accept all of the defaults
  • enter database user "roundcube", database "roundcube" and password under Database setup
  • click: "CREATE CONFIG"
  • download the configuration file generated and save it as config.inc.php
  • move the downloaded file:
$ mv /home/<own account name>/Downloads/config.inc.php /var/www/html/roundcube/config
  • click: "CONTINUE" on the webpage
  • click: "Initialize database"
  • set to use secure SMTP port 465 (i.e. set "localhost:465" as SMTP Host)

  • (last line not working, changed to next line, 26 Mar 2023)

  • set "ssl:kctang.com.hk" as SMTP Host
  • enter username and password, and sender and recipient full email addresses to test SMTP config
  • accept "localhost" as IMAP Host
  • enter username and password to test IMAP config

If installed from roundcube.net, remove or rename installer directory, and protect logs and temp directories:

$ sudo cd /var/www/html/roundcube
$ sudo rm -R installer                   (remove)
$ sudo mv installer installer.original   (or rename)
$ sudo chown -R $USER:$USER logs
$ sudo chown -R $USER:$USER temp

(revised to add protection, 27 May 2019)

Configure PHP5 only (not necessary for PHP7 and later):

$ sudo gedit /etc/php5/apache2/php.ini
  • define:
date.timezone = Asia/Hong_Kong

otherwise the date column of the web mail would be blank. 

Restart Apache2 service:

$ sudo systemctl reload apache2
or
$ sudo service apache2 reload

Log in at web browser:

https://localhost/roundcube

or

https://www.kctang.com.hk/roundcube

Click Settings > Identity to define some settings:
 ​

Click Settings > Preferences > User Interface

> Time zone > Asia/Hong Kong

> Time format > 07:30

> Date format > 24/7/2023

> Save.

Click Settings > Preferences > Composing Messages

> Compose HTML messages > always

> When replying > start new message above the quote

> Force standard separator in signatures > turn off

> Save.

Click Settings > Contacts > Import to import contacts files, e.g. previously exported from Google.

(more descriptions on settings added, 8 May 2019)

(further added, 26 Mar 2023)

Upgrade if installed from roundcube.net

Download and extract the subdirectory of the new version to "Downloads" directory as "roundcubemail-<new version number>".

Upgrade existing directory using the installto.sh script:

$ cd /home/<own account name>/Downloads/roundcubemail-<new version number>/bin
$ ./installto.sh /var/www/html/roundcube

In case of big trouble

Uninstall Roundcube:

$ sudo apt-get remove roundcube

Remove "/var/www/html/roundcube":

$ cd /var/www/html
$ sudo rm -r roundcube

Delete mySQL user "roundcube" and database "roundcube" using phpMyAdmin.

Intall Roundcube as new.

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