chore(release): prepare for 1.11.0

When running "cmdeploy run" operators will see a warning if their chatmail.ini contains these unused options.

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,5 +1,47 @@
 # Changelog for chatmail deployment
 
+## [1.11.0] - 2026-05-15
+
+### Breaking Changes
+
+- [**breaking**] Drop passthrough_sender and passthrough_recipients chatmail.ini options to eliminate one more source of unencrypted messages
+
+### Features
+
+- Use filtermail for delivery to remote MTAs
+- Expose metadata "maxsmtprecipients" value
+- Support setup without domain, with only an IPv4 address (#963)
+- *(doc/docker)* Introduce docker images in documentation
+- DKIM-sign bounce messages (mainly "user does not exist")
+- *(config)* Load default values from Config(), not chatmail.ini.f (#853)
+- Make turn_socket_path configurable, and cleanup tests and turnserver code.
+- Warn about any unused chatmail.ini parameter at the end of "cmdeploy run"
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- Make www tests work with editable instead of just plain installs
+- Use path with no leading slash for mxdeliv
+- Increase filtermail-transport concurrency limit
+- Fix #972 by increasing file descriptors for filtermail
+- *(mtail)* Correct boot ordering and deploy restart logic
+- *(cmdeploy)* Stop and disable unbound-resolvconf
+- *(nginx)* Properly redirect www to mail_domain
+- *(dns)* Query correct NS if MNAME server is hidden (#954)
+- Legacy token metadata storage used list type, but if no new setmetadata happened, the user would not be notified at all.
+- *(logging)* Log all http requests to syslog
+
+### Documentation
+
+- Document how to upgrade to new version (#965)
+
+### Other
+
+- *(deps)* Upgrade to filtermail v0.6.4
+
+### Refactor
+
+- Introduce automated change-tracking across deployers
+
 ## 1.10.0 2026-04-30
 
 * start mtail after networking is fully up <https://github.com/chatmail/relay/pull/942>

chatmaild/pyproject.toml

@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ chatmail-expire = "chatmaild.expire:daily_expire_main"
 chatmail-quota-expire = "chatmaild.expire:quota_expire_main"
 chatmail-fsreport = "chatmaild.fsreport:main"
 lastlogin = "chatmaild.lastlogin:main"
-turnserver = "chatmaild.turnserver:main"
 
 [project.entry-points.pytest11]
 "chatmaild.testplugin" = "chatmaild.tests.plugin"

chatmaild/src/chatmaild/config.py

@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ def read_config(inipath):
 class Config:
     def __init__(self, inipath, params):
         self._inipath = inipath
-        raw_domain = params["mail_domain"]
+        params = dict(params)
+        raw_domain = params.pop("mail_domain")
         self.mail_domain_bare = raw_domain
-        self.ssh_host = params.get("ssh_host", raw_domain)
 
         if is_valid_ipv4(raw_domain):
             self.ipv4_relay = raw_domain
@@ -30,57 +30,59 @@ class Config:
             self.mail_domain = raw_domain
             self.postfix_myhostname = raw_domain
 
-        self.max_user_send_per_minute = int(params.get("max_user_send_per_minute", 60))
-        self.max_user_send_burst_size = int(params.get("max_user_send_burst_size", 10))
-        self.max_mailbox_size = params.get("max_mailbox_size", "500M")
-        self.max_message_size = int(params.get("max_message_size", 31457280))
-        self.delete_mails_after = params.get("delete_mails_after", "20")
-        self.delete_large_after = params.get("delete_large_after", "7")
+        self.max_user_send_per_minute = int(params.pop("max_user_send_per_minute", 60))
+        self.max_user_send_burst_size = int(params.pop("max_user_send_burst_size", 10))
+        self.max_mailbox_size = params.pop("max_mailbox_size", "500M")
+        self.max_message_size = int(params.pop("max_message_size", 31457280))
+        self.delete_mails_after = params.pop("delete_mails_after", "20")
+        self.delete_large_after = params.pop("delete_large_after", "7")
         self.delete_inactive_users_after = int(
-            params.get("delete_inactive_users_after", 90)
+            params.pop("delete_inactive_users_after", 90)
         )
-        self.username_min_length = int(params.get("username_min_length", 9))
-        self.username_max_length = int(params.get("username_max_length", 9))
-        self.password_min_length = int(params.get("password_min_length", 9))
-        self.passthrough_senders = params.get("passthrough_senders", "").split()
-        self.passthrough_recipients = params.get("passthrough_recipients", "").split()
-        self.www_folder = params.get("www_folder", "")
-        self.filtermail_smtp_port = int(params.get("filtermail_smtp_port", "10080"))
+        self.username_min_length = int(params.pop("username_min_length", 9))
+        self.username_max_length = int(params.pop("username_max_length", 9))
+        self.password_min_length = int(params.pop("password_min_length", 9))
+        self.www_folder = params.pop("www_folder", "")
+        self.filtermail_smtp_port = int(params.pop("filtermail_smtp_port", "10080"))
         self.filtermail_smtp_port_incoming = int(
-            params.get("filtermail_smtp_port_incoming", "10081")
+            params.pop("filtermail_smtp_port_incoming", "10081")
         )
         self.filtermail_http_port_incoming = int(
-            params.get("filtermail_http_port_incoming", "10082")
+            params.pop("filtermail_http_port_incoming", "10082")
         )
         self.filtermail_lmtp_port_transport = int(
-            params.get("filtermail_lmtp_port_transport", "10083")
+            params.pop("filtermail_lmtp_port_transport", "10083")
         )
-        self.postfix_reinject_port = int(params.get("postfix_reinject_port", "10025"))
+        self.postfix_reinject_port = int(params.pop("postfix_reinject_port", "10025"))
         self.postfix_reinject_port_incoming = int(
-            params.get("postfix_reinject_port_incoming", "10026")
+            params.pop("postfix_reinject_port_incoming", "10026")
         )
-        self.mtail_address = params.get("mtail_address")
-        self.disable_ipv6 = params.get("disable_ipv6", "false").lower() == "true"
-        self.acme_email = params.get("acme_email", "")
-        self.imap_rawlog = params.get("imap_rawlog", "false").lower() == "true"
-        self.imap_compress = params.get("imap_compress", "false").lower() == "true"
-        if "iroh_relay" not in params:
+        self.mtail_address = params.pop("mtail_address", None)
+        self.disable_ipv6 = params.pop("disable_ipv6", "false").lower() == "true"
+        self.acme_email = params.pop("acme_email", "")
+        self.imap_rawlog = params.pop("imap_rawlog", "false").lower() == "true"
+        self.imap_compress = params.pop("imap_compress", "false").lower() == "true"
+        self.turn_socket_path = params.pop(
+            "turn_socket_path", "/run/chatmail-turn/turn.socket"
+        )
+        iroh_relay = params.pop("iroh_relay", None)
+        if iroh_relay is None:
             self.iroh_relay = "https://" + raw_domain
             self.enable_iroh_relay = True
         else:
-            self.iroh_relay = params["iroh_relay"].strip()
+            self.iroh_relay = iroh_relay.strip()
             self.enable_iroh_relay = False
-        self.privacy_postal = params.get("privacy_postal")
-        self.privacy_mail = params.get("privacy_mail")
-        self.privacy_pdo = params.get("privacy_pdo")
-        self.privacy_supervisor = params.get("privacy_supervisor")
+        self.privacy_postal = params.pop("privacy_postal", None)
+        self.privacy_mail = params.pop("privacy_mail", None)
+        self.privacy_pdo = params.pop("privacy_pdo", None)
+        self.privacy_supervisor = params.pop("privacy_supervisor", None)
 
         # TLS certificate management.
         # If tls_external_cert_and_key is set, use externally managed certs.
         # Otherwise derived from the domain name:
         # - Domains starting with "_" use self-signed certificates
         # - All other domains use ACME.
-        external = params.get("tls_external_cert_and_key", "").strip()
+        external = params.pop("tls_external_cert_and_key", "").strip()
 
         if external:
             parts = external.split()
@@ -101,11 +103,12 @@ class Config:
             self.tls_key_path = f"/var/lib/acme/live/{raw_domain}/privkey"
 
         # deprecated option
-        mbdir = params.get("mailboxes_dir", f"/home/vmail/mail/{raw_domain}")
+        mbdir = params.pop("mailboxes_dir", f"/home/vmail/mail/{raw_domain}")
         self.mailboxes_dir = Path(mbdir.strip())
 
         # old unused option (except for first migration from sqlite to maildir store)
-        self.passdb_path = Path(params.get("passdb_path", "/home/vmail/passdb.sqlite"))
+        self.passdb_path = Path(params.pop("passdb_path", "/home/vmail/passdb.sqlite"))
+        self._unused_keys = list(params)
 
     @property
     def max_mailbox_size_mb(self):

chatmaild/src/chatmaild/ini/chatmail.ini.f

@@ -3,9 +3,6 @@
 # mail domain (MUST be set to fully qualified chat mail domain)
 mail_domain = {mail_domain}
 
-# Where to deploy the relay - if unspecified, mail_domain will be used.
-ssh_host = localhost
-
 #
 # If you only do private test deploys, you don't need to modify any settings below
 #
@@ -45,13 +42,6 @@ ssh_host = localhost
 # minimum length a password must have
 #password_min_length = 9
 
-# list of chatmail addresses which can send outbound un-encrypted mail
-#passthrough_senders =
-
-# list of e-mail recipients for which to accept outbound un-encrypted mails
-# (space-separated, item may start with "@" to whitelist whole recipient domains)
-#passthrough_recipients =
-
 # Use externally managed TLS certificates instead of built-in acmetool.
 # Paths refer to files on the deployment server (not the build machine).
 # Both files must already exist before running cmdeploy.

chatmaild/src/chatmaild/metadata.py

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import logging
+import socket
 import sys
 import time
 from contextlib import contextmanager
@@ -7,7 +8,14 @@ from .config import read_config
 from .dictproxy import DictProxy
 from .filedict import FileDict
 from .notifier import Notifier
-from .turnserver import turn_credentials
+
+
+def turn_credentials(turn_socket_path):
+    with socket.socket(socket.AF_UNIX, socket.SOCK_STREAM) as client_socket:
+        client_socket.settimeout(5)
+        client_socket.connect(turn_socket_path)
+        with client_socket.makefile("rb") as file:
+            return file.readline().decode("utf-8").strip()
 
 
 def _is_valid_token_timestamp(timestamp, now):
@@ -79,12 +87,20 @@ class Metadata:
 
 
 class MetadataDictProxy(DictProxy):
-    def __init__(self, notifier, metadata, iroh_relay=None, turn_hostname=None):
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        notifier,
+        metadata,
+        iroh_relay=None,
+        turn_hostname=None,
+        turn_socket_path=None,
+    ):
         super().__init__()
         self.notifier = notifier
         self.metadata = metadata
         self.iroh_relay = iroh_relay
         self.turn_hostname = turn_hostname
+        self.turn_socket_path = turn_socket_path
 
     def handle_lookup(self, parts):
         # Lpriv/43f5f508a7ea0366dff30200c15250e3/devicetoken\tlkj123poi@c2.testrun.org
@@ -101,7 +117,7 @@ class MetadataDictProxy(DictProxy):
                             return f"O{self.iroh_relay}\n"
                         case "turn":
                             try:
-                                res = turn_credentials()
+                                res = turn_credentials(self.turn_socket_path)
                             except Exception:
                                 logging.exception("failed to get TURN credentials")
                                 return "N\n"
@@ -135,6 +151,7 @@ def main():
     config = read_config(config_path)
     iroh_relay = config.iroh_relay
     mail_domain = config.mail_domain
+    socket_path = config.turn_socket_path
 
     vmail_dir = config.mailboxes_dir
     if not vmail_dir.exists():
@@ -152,6 +169,7 @@ def main():
         metadata=metadata,
         iroh_relay=iroh_relay,
         turn_hostname=mail_domain,
+        turn_socket_path=socket_path,
     )
 
     dictproxy.serve_forever_from_socket(socket)

chatmaild/src/chatmaild/tests/test_config.py

@@ -45,8 +45,12 @@ def test_read_config_basic_using_defaults(tmp_path, maildomain):
     assert example_config.username_min_length == 9
     assert example_config.username_max_length == 9
     assert example_config.password_min_length == 9
-    assert example_config.passthrough_recipients == []
-    assert example_config.passthrough_senders == []
+    assert example_config._unused_keys == []
+
+
+def test_config_unused_keys(make_config):
+    config = make_config("chat.example.org", {"passthrough_senders": "x@y.org"})
+    assert config._unused_keys == ["passthrough_senders"]
 
 
 def test_config_userstate_paths(make_config, tmp_path):

chatmaild/src/chatmaild/tests/test_metadata.py

@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ def test_turn_credentials_exception_returns_N(notifier, metadata, monkeypatch):
         turn_hostname="turn.example.org",
     )
 
-    def mock_turn_credentials():
+    def mock_turn_credentials(turn_socket_path):
         raise ConnectionRefusedError("socket not available")
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(chatmaild.metadata, "turn_credentials", mock_turn_credentials)
@@ -348,7 +348,9 @@ def test_turn_credentials_success(notifier, metadata, monkeypatch):
         turn_hostname="turn.example.org",
     )
 
-    monkeypatch.setattr(chatmaild.metadata, "turn_credentials", lambda: "user:pass")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        chatmaild.metadata, "turn_credentials", lambda path: "user:pass"
+    )
 
     transactions = {}
     res = dictproxy.handle_dovecot_request(

chatmaild/src/chatmaild/tests/test_turn.py

@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+import socket
+import threading
+
+import pytest
+
+from chatmaild.metadata import turn_credentials
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def turn_socket(tmp_path):
+    sock_path = str(tmp_path / "turn.socket")
+    server = socket.socket(socket.AF_UNIX, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
+    server.bind(sock_path)
+    server.listen(1)
+    yield sock_path, server
+    server.close()
+
+
+def test_turn_credentials_timeout(turn_socket):
+    sock_path, server = turn_socket
+    with pytest.raises(socket.timeout):
+        # Inside turn_credentials the kernel listen backlog (1)
+        # completes connect() without accept()
+        # so the client blocks on readline() until the 5s timeout fires.
+        turn_credentials(sock_path)
+
+
+def test_turn_credentials_connection_refused_on_not_existing_socket(tmp_path):
+    missing = str(tmp_path / "nonexistent.socket")
+    with pytest.raises((ConnectionRefusedError, FileNotFoundError)):
+        turn_credentials(missing)
+
+
+def test_turn_credentials_socket_success(turn_socket):
+    sock_path, server = turn_socket
+
+    def respond():
+        conn, _ = server.accept()
+        conn.sendall(b"testuser:testpass\n")
+        conn.close()
+
+    t = threading.Thread(target=respond, daemon=True)
+    t.start()
+
+    result = turn_credentials(sock_path)
+    assert result == "testuser:testpass"

chatmaild/src/chatmaild/tests/test_turnserver.py

@@ -1,73 +0,0 @@
-import socket
-import threading
-import time
-from unittest.mock import patch
-
-import pytest
-
-from chatmaild.turnserver import turn_credentials
-
-SOCKET_PATH = "/run/chatmail-turn/turn.socket"
-
-
-@pytest.fixture
-def turn_socket(tmp_path):
-    """Create a real Unix socket server at a temp path."""
-    sock_path = str(tmp_path / "turn.socket")
-    server = socket.socket(socket.AF_UNIX, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
-    server.bind(sock_path)
-    server.listen(1)
-    yield sock_path, server
-    server.close()
-
-
-def _call_turn_credentials(sock_path):
-    """Call turn_credentials but connect to sock_path instead of hardcoded path."""
-    original_connect = socket.socket.connect
-
-    def patched_connect(self, address):
-        if address == SOCKET_PATH:
-            address = sock_path
-        return original_connect(self, address)
-
-    with patch.object(socket.socket, "connect", patched_connect):
-        return turn_credentials()
-
-
-def test_turn_credentials_timeout(turn_socket):
-    """Server accepts but never responds — must raise socket.timeout."""
-    sock_path, server = turn_socket
-
-    def accept_and_hang():
-        conn, _ = server.accept()
-        time.sleep(30)
-        conn.close()
-
-    t = threading.Thread(target=accept_and_hang, daemon=True)
-    t.start()
-
-    with pytest.raises(socket.timeout):
-        _call_turn_credentials(sock_path)
-
-
-def test_turn_credentials_connection_refused(tmp_path):
-    """Socket file doesn't exist — must raise ConnectionRefusedError or FileNotFoundError."""
-    missing = str(tmp_path / "nonexistent.socket")
-    with pytest.raises((ConnectionRefusedError, FileNotFoundError)):
-        _call_turn_credentials(missing)
-
-
-def test_turn_credentials_success(turn_socket):
-    """Server responds with credentials — must return stripped string."""
-    sock_path, server = turn_socket
-
-    def respond():
-        conn, _ = server.accept()
-        conn.sendall(b"testuser:testpass\n")
-        conn.close()
-
-    t = threading.Thread(target=respond, daemon=True)
-    t.start()
-
-    result = _call_turn_credentials(sock_path)
-    assert result == "testuser:testpass"

chatmaild/src/chatmaild/turnserver.py

@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python3
-import socket
-
-
-def turn_credentials() -> str:
-    with socket.socket(socket.AF_UNIX, socket.SOCK_STREAM) as client_socket:
-        client_socket.settimeout(5)
-        client_socket.connect("/run/chatmail-turn/turn.socket")
-        with client_socket.makefile("rb") as file:
-            return file.readline().decode("utf-8").strip()

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/cmdeploy.py

@@ -84,10 +84,19 @@ def run_cmd_options(parser):
     add_ssh_host_option(parser)
 
 
+def _warn_unused_settings(unused_keys, out):
+    if unused_keys:
+        names = ", ".join(unused_keys)
+        out.red(
+            f"WARNING: chatmail.ini contains settings that have no effect: {names}\n"
+            "Please remove them from chatmail.ini."
+        )
+
+
 def run_cmd(args, out):
     """Deploy chatmail services on the remote server."""
 
-    ssh_host = args.ssh_host if args.ssh_host else args.config.ssh_host
+    ssh_host = args.ssh_host if args.ssh_host else args.config.mail_domain_bare
     sshexec = get_sshexec(ssh_host)
     require_iroh = args.config.enable_iroh_relay
     strict_tls = args.config.tls_cert_mode == "acme"
@@ -107,7 +116,7 @@ def run_cmd(args, out):
     pyinf = "pyinfra --dry" if args.dry_run else "pyinfra"
 
     cmd = f"{pyinf} --ssh-user root {ssh_host} {deploy_path} -y"
-    if ssh_host in ["localhost", "@local"]:
+    if ssh_host == "localhost":
         cmd = f"{pyinf} @local {deploy_path} -y"
 
     if version.parse(pyinfra.__version__) < version.parse("3"):
@@ -125,6 +134,7 @@ def run_cmd(args, out):
             out.green("Deploy completed.")
         else:
             out.green("Deploy completed, call `cmdeploy dns` next.")
+        _warn_unused_settings(args.config._unused_keys, out)
         return 0
     except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
         out.red("Deploy failed")
@@ -148,7 +158,7 @@ def dns_cmd(args, out):
         ipv4 = args.config.ipv4_relay
         print(f"[WARNING] {ipv4} is not a domain, skipping DNS checks.")
         return 0
-    ssh_host = args.ssh_host if args.ssh_host else args.config.ssh_host
+    ssh_host = args.ssh_host if args.ssh_host else args.config.mail_domain
     sshexec = get_sshexec(ssh_host, verbose=args.verbose)
     tls_cert_mode = args.config.tls_cert_mode
     strict_tls = tls_cert_mode == "acme"
@@ -185,7 +195,7 @@ def status_cmd_options(parser):
 def status_cmd(args, out):
     """Display status for online chatmail instance."""
 
-    ssh_host = args.ssh_host if args.ssh_host else args.config.ssh_host
+    ssh_host = args.ssh_host if args.ssh_host else args.config.mail_domain_bare
     sshexec = get_sshexec(ssh_host, verbose=args.verbose)
 
     out.green(f"chatmail domain: {args.config.mail_domain}")

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/filtermail/filtermail-transport.service.j2

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ ExecStart={{ bin_path }} {{ config_path }} transport
 Restart=always
 RestartSec=30
 User=vmail
+LimitNOFILE=524288
 
 [Install]
 WantedBy=multi-user.target

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/tests/plugin.py

@@ -62,8 +62,8 @@ def maildomain(chatmail_config):
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="session")
-def sshdomain(chatmail_config):
-    return os.environ.get("CHATMAIL_SSH", chatmail_config.ssh_host)
+def sshdomain(maildomain):
+    return os.environ.get("CHATMAIL_SSH", maildomain)
 
 
 @pytest.fixture

doc/source/getting_started.rst

@@ -14,14 +14,21 @@ Minimal requirements and prerequisites
 
 You will need the following:
 
--  Control over a domain through a DNS provider of your choice.
-   (there is experimental support for :ref:`IP-only relays <iponly>`).
-
--  A Debian 12 server with reachable SMTP/SUBMISSIONS/IMAPS/HTTPS ports.
+-  A Debian 12 **deployment server** with reachable SMTP/SUBMISSIONS/IMAPS/HTTPS ports.
    IPv6 is encouraged if available. Chatmail relay servers only require
    1GB RAM, one CPU, and perhaps 10GB storage for a few thousand active
    chatmail addresses.
 
+-  A Linux or Unix **build machine** with key-based SSH access to the root
+   user of the deployment server.
+   You must add a passphrase-protected private key to your local ssh-agent because you
+   can’t type in your passphrase during deployment.
+   (An ed25519 private key is required due to an `upstream bug in
+   paramiko <https://github.com/paramiko/paramiko/issues/2191>`_)
+
+-  Control over a domain through a DNS provider of your choice
+   (there is experimental support for :ref:`IP-only relays <iponly>`).
+
 
 .. _setup:
 
@@ -31,7 +38,7 @@ Setup with ``scripts/cmdeploy``
 We use ``chat.example.org`` as the chatmail domain in the following
 steps. Please substitute it with your own domain.
 
-1. Setup the initial DNS records for your relay.
+1. Setup the initial DNS records for your deployment server.
    The following is an example in the
    familiar BIND zone file format with a TTL of 1 hour (3600 seconds).
    Please substitute your domain and IP addresses.
@@ -51,25 +58,22 @@ steps. Please substitute it with your own domain.
       The ``mta-sts`` CNAME and ``_mta-sts`` TXT records
       are not needed for such domains.
 
-2. Login to the server with SSH, clone the repository and bootstrap the Python
+2. On your local PC, clone the repository and bootstrap the Python
    virtualenv.
 
    ::
 
-       ssh root@chat.example.org
        git clone https://github.com/chatmail/relay
        cd relay
        scripts/initenv.sh
 
-3. Then, create a chatmail configuration file
+3. On your local build machine (PC), create a chatmail configuration file
    ``chatmail.ini``:
 
    ::
 
        scripts/cmdeploy init chat.example.org  # <-- use your domain
 
-   .. note::
-
    To use self-signed TLS certificates
    instead of Let's Encrypt,
    use a domain name starting with ``_``
@@ -80,7 +84,13 @@ steps. Please substitute it with your own domain.
    See the :doc:`overview`
    for details on certificate provisioning.
 
-4. Now run the deployment script to install the relay to the server:
+4. Verify that SSH root login to the deployment server server works:
+
+   ::
+
+       ssh root@chat.example.org  # <-- use your domain
+
+5. From your local build machine, setup and configure the remote deployment server:
 
    ::
 
@@ -92,6 +102,7 @@ steps. Please substitute it with your own domain.
    public).
 
 
+
 Docker installation
 -------------------
 
@@ -99,32 +110,26 @@ There is experimental support for running chatmail via Docker.
 A monolithic image based on the above cmdeploy method is available `through a separate repository <https://github.com/chatmail/docker/pkgs/container/docker>`_.
 See the `chatmail/docker README <https://github.com/chatmail/docker>`_ for full setup instructions.
 
-
-Next Steps
-----------
-
-Now you should display and check all recommended DNS records
-to enable federation with other relays:
-
-::
-
-   scripts/cmdeploy dns
-
-You should also test whether your chatmail service is working correctly:
-
-::
-
-   scripts/cmdeploy test
-
-Other Helpful Commands
+Other helpful commands
 ----------------------
 
-To check the status of your chatmail relay:
+To check the status of your deployment server running the chatmail service:
 
 ::
 
    scripts/cmdeploy status
 
+To display and check all recommended DNS records:
+
+::
+
+   scripts/cmdeploy dns
+
+To test whether your chatmail service is working correctly:
+
+::
+
+   scripts/cmdeploy test
 
 To measure the performance of your chatmail service:
 
@@ -166,9 +171,8 @@ This starts a local live development cycle for chatmail web pages:
    directory and generating HTML files and copying assets to the
    ``www/build`` directory.
 
--  if you are running scripts/cmdeploy webdev on the relay itself,
-   you need to configure a route in /etc/nginx/nginx.conf
-   to expose the build directory.
+-  Starts a browser window automatically where you can “refresh” as
+   needed.
 
 Custom web pages
 ----------------
@@ -186,7 +190,7 @@ Disable automatic address creation
 --------------------------------------------------------
 
 If you need to stop address creation, e.g. because some script is wildly
-creating addresses, login with ssh to the relay and run:
+creating addresses, login with ssh to the deployment machine and run:
 
 ::
 
@@ -242,3 +246,25 @@ The deploy will verify that both files exist on the server.
    If you use such a setup, you must trigger the reload explicitly after renewal::
 
       systemctl start tls-cert-reload.service
+
+
+Migrating to a new build machine
+----------------------------------
+
+To move or add a build machine,
+clone the relay repository on the new build machine, and copy the ``chatmail.ini`` file from the old build machine.
+Make sure ``rsync`` is installed, then initialize the environment:
+
+::
+
+   ./scripts/initenv.sh
+
+Run safety checks before a new deployment:
+
+::
+
+   ./scripts/cmdeploy dns
+   ./scripts/cmdeploy status
+
+If you keep multiple build machines (ie laptop and desktop), keep ``chatmail.ini`` in sync between
+them.