feat: add CI for docker

Docker and Compose support is provided through a standalone repo at
https://github.com/chatmail/docker, add reusable Docker build/test CI
jobs to staging workflows and a Docker docs stub pointing to the
chatmail/docker repository.

Requires CHATMAIL_DOCKER_DISPATCH_TOKEN secret in relay repo settings
(fine-grained PAT with contents:write on chatmail/docker).

.github/workflows/ci.yaml

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ jobs:
         with:
           ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}
       - name: download filtermail
-        run: curl -L https://github.com/chatmail/filtermail/releases/download/v0.6.0/filtermail-x86_64 -o /usr/local/bin/filtermail && chmod +x /usr/local/bin/filtermail
+        run: curl -L https://github.com/chatmail/filtermail/releases/download/v0.6.1/filtermail-x86_64 -o /usr/local/bin/filtermail && chmod +x /usr/local/bin/filtermail
       - name: run chatmaild tests 
         working-directory: chatmaild
         run: pipx run tox

.github/workflows/docker-deploy.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+name: Docker deploy
+
+on:
+  workflow_call:
+    inputs:
+      staging_host:
+        required: true
+        type: string
+        description: 'SSH hostname (e.g. staging2.testrun.org)'
+      mail_domain:
+        required: true
+        type: string
+        description: 'MAIL_DOMAIN for docker compose'
+      zone_file:
+        required: true
+        type: string
+        description: 'Default zone file basename (e.g. staging.testrun.org-default.zone)'
+
+jobs:
+  deploy-docker:
+    name: Docker deploy on ${{ inputs.staging_host }}
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    timeout-minutes: 20
+    environment:
+      name: ${{ inputs.staging_host }}
+      url: https://${{ inputs.staging_host }}/
+    concurrency: ${{ inputs.staging_host }}
+    env:
+      VPS: root@${{ inputs.staging_host }}
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          submodules: true
+      - name: Setup SSH
+        run: |
+          mkdir ~/.ssh
+          echo "${{ secrets.STAGING_SSH_KEY }}" >> ~/.ssh/id_ed25519
+          chmod 600 ~/.ssh/id_ed25519
+          ssh-keyscan ${{ inputs.staging_host }} > ~/.ssh/known_hosts
+          # Reuse TCP connection for all subsequent ssh/scp calls
+          echo -e "Host ${{ inputs.staging_host }}\n  ControlMaster auto\n  ControlPath ~/.ssh/ctrl-%r@%h:%p\n  ControlPersist 10m" >> ~/.ssh/config
+
+      - name: stop bare services, install Docker, prepare mounts
+        run: |
+          ssh $VPS bash -s <<'EOF'
+          systemctl stop postfix dovecot nginx opendkim unbound filtermail doveauth chatmail-metadata iroh-relay mtail fcgiwrap acmetool 2>/dev/null || true
+          curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/debian/gpg -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc && chmod a+r /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc
+          echo "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc] https://download.docker.com/linux/debian $(. /etc/os-release && echo $VERSION_CODENAME) stable" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list
+          apt-get update
+          apt-get install -y docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-compose-plugin
+          mkdir -p /srv/chatmail/certs /srv/chatmail/dkim
+          cp -a /var/lib/acme/. /srv/chatmail/certs/ || true
+          cp -a /etc/dkimkeys/. /srv/chatmail/dkim/ || true
+          cp /etc/chatmail/chatmail.ini /srv/chatmail/chatmail.ini
+          EOF
+
+      - name: deploy with Docker
+        run: |
+          SHORT_SHA=$(echo "${{ github.sha }}" | cut -c1-7)
+          GHCR_IMAGE="ghcr.io/chatmail/docker:sha-${SHORT_SHA}"
+          rsync -avz --exclude='.git' --exclude='venv' --exclude='__pycache__' ./ $VPS:/srv/chatmail/relay/
+          echo "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}" | ssh $VPS "docker login ghcr.io -u ${{ github.actor }} --password-stdin && \
+            docker pull ${GHCR_IMAGE} && \
+            cd /srv/chatmail/relay && CHATMAIL_IMAGE=${GHCR_IMAGE} MAIL_DOMAIN=${{ inputs.mail_domain }} docker compose -f docker/docker-compose.yaml -f docker/docker-compose.ci.yaml up -d"
+
+      - name: wait for container healthy
+        run: |
+          ssh $VPS 'docker exec chatmail journalctl -f --no-pager' &
+          LOG_PID=$!
+          trap "kill $LOG_PID 2>/dev/null || true" EXIT
+          for i in $(seq 1 60); do
+            status=$(ssh $VPS 'docker inspect --format={{.State.Health.Status}} chatmail 2>/dev/null' || echo "missing")
+            echo "  [$i/60] status=$status"
+            if [ "$status" = "healthy" ]; then
+              echo "Container is healthy."
+              exit 0
+            fi
+            if [ "$status" = "unhealthy" ]; then
+              echo "Container is unhealthy!"
+              break
+            fi
+            sleep 5
+          done
+          echo "Container did not become healthy."
+          kill $LOG_PID 2>/dev/null || true
+          ssh $VPS bash -s <<'EOF'
+          echo "--- failed units ---"
+          docker exec chatmail systemctl --failed --no-pager || true
+          echo "--- service logs ---"
+          docker exec chatmail journalctl -u dovecot -u postfix -u nginx -u unbound --no-pager -n 50 || true
+          echo "--- listening ports ---"
+          docker exec chatmail ss -tlnp || true
+          echo "--- chatmail.ini ---"
+          docker exec chatmail cat /etc/chatmail/chatmail.ini || true
+          EOF
+          exit 1
+
+      - name: show container state
+        run: |
+          ssh $VPS bash -s <<'EOF'
+          echo "--- listening ports ---"
+          docker exec chatmail ss -tlnp
+          echo "--- chatmail.ini ---"
+          docker exec chatmail cat /etc/chatmail/chatmail.ini
+          EOF
+
+      - name: Docker integration tests
+        run: ssh $VPS 'docker exec chatmail cmdeploy test --slow --ssh-host @local'
+
+      - name: Docker DNS
+        run: |
+          git checkout .github/workflows/${{ inputs.zone_file }}
+          ssh $VPS bash -s <<'EOF'
+          docker exec chatmail chown opendkim:opendkim -R /etc/dkimkeys
+          docker exec chatmail cmdeploy dns --ssh-host @local --zonefile /opt/chatmail/staging.zone --verbose
+          docker cp chatmail:/opt/chatmail/staging.zone /tmp/staging.zone
+          EOF
+          scp $VPS:/tmp/staging.zone staging-generated.zone
+          cat staging-generated.zone >> .github/workflows/${{ inputs.zone_file }}
+          cat .github/workflows/${{ inputs.zone_file }}
+          scp .github/workflows/${{ inputs.zone_file }} root@ns.testrun.org:/etc/nsd/${{ inputs.staging_host }}.zone
+          ssh root@ns.testrun.org "nsd-checkzone ${{ inputs.staging_host }} /etc/nsd/${{ inputs.staging_host }}.zone && systemctl reload nsd"
+
+      - name: Docker final DNS check
+        run: ssh $VPS 'docker exec chatmail cmdeploy dns -v --ssh-host @local'

.github/workflows/test-and-deploy-ipv4only.yaml

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ on:
   push:
     branches:
       - main
+      - j4n/docker-pr
   pull_request:
     paths-ignore:
       - 'scripts/**'
@@ -12,6 +13,11 @@ on:
       - 'LICENSE'
 
 jobs:
+  trigger-docker-build:
+    if: github.event_name == 'push'
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/trigger-docker-build.yaml
+    secrets: inherit
+
   deploy:
     name: deploy on staging-ipv4.testrun.org, and run tests
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -22,6 +28,8 @@ jobs:
     concurrency: staging-ipv4.testrun.org
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          submodules: true
 
       - name: prepare SSH
         run: |
@@ -63,13 +71,13 @@ jobs:
           # download acme & dkim state from ns.testrun.org
           rsync -e "ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new" -avz root@ns.testrun.org:/tmp/acme-ipv4/acme acme-restore || true
           rsync -avz root@ns.testrun.org:/tmp/dkimkeys-ipv4/dkimkeys dkimkeys-restore || true
-          # restore acme & dkim state to staging2.testrun.org
+          # restore acme & dkim state to staging-ipv4.testrun.org
           rsync -avz acme-restore/acme root@staging-ipv4.testrun.org:/var/lib/ || true
           rsync -avz dkimkeys-restore/dkimkeys root@staging-ipv4.testrun.org:/etc/ || true
           ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new -v root@staging-ipv4.testrun.org chown root:root -R /var/lib/acme || true
 
-      - name: run deploy-chatmail offline tests 
-        run: pytest --pyargs cmdeploy 
+      - name: run deploy-chatmail offline tests
+        run: pytest --pyargs cmdeploy
 
       - name: setup dependencies
         run: |
@@ -102,3 +110,12 @@ jobs:
       - name: cmdeploy dns
         run: ssh root@staging-ipv4.testrun.org "cd relay && scripts/cmdeploy dns -v --ssh-host localhost"
 
+  deploy-docker:
+    needs: [deploy, trigger-docker-build]
+    if: github.event_name == 'push'
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/docker-deploy.yaml
+    with:
+      staging_host: staging-ipv4.testrun.org
+      mail_domain: staging-ipv4.testrun.org
+      zone_file: staging-ipv4.testrun.org-default.zone
+    secrets: inherit

.github/workflows/test-and-deploy.yaml

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ on:
   push:
     branches:
       - main
+      - j4n/docker-pr
   pull_request:
     paths-ignore:
       - 'scripts/**'
@@ -12,6 +13,11 @@ on:
       - 'LICENSE'
 
 jobs:
+  trigger-docker-build:
+    if: github.event_name == 'push'
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/trigger-docker-build.yaml
+    secrets: inherit
+
   deploy:
     name: deploy on staging2.testrun.org, and run tests
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -95,3 +101,12 @@ jobs:
       - name: cmdeploy dns
         run: cmdeploy dns -v
 
+  deploy-docker:
+    needs: [deploy, trigger-docker-build]
+    if: github.event_name == 'push'
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/docker-deploy.yaml
+    with:
+      staging_host: staging2.testrun.org
+      mail_domain: staging2.testrun.org
+      zone_file: staging.testrun.org-default.zone
+    secrets: inherit

.github/workflows/trigger-docker-build.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+name: Trigger Docker image build
+
+on:
+  workflow_call:
+
+jobs:
+  trigger-docker-build:
+    name: Trigger Docker image build
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/github-script@v7
+        with:
+          github-token: ${{ secrets.CHATMAIL_DOCKER_DISPATCH_TOKEN }}
+          script: |
+            await github.rest.repos.createDispatchEvent({
+              owner: 'chatmail',
+              repo: 'docker',
+              event_type: 'relay-updated',
+              client_payload: {
+                relay_ref: context.ref,
+                relay_sha: context.sha,
+                relay_sha_short: context.sha.slice(0, 7)
+              }
+            })

chatmaild/src/chatmaild/config.py

@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ class Config:
         self.filtermail_smtp_port_incoming = int(
             params.get("filtermail_smtp_port_incoming", "10081")
         )
+        self.filtermail_http_port = int(params.get("filtermail_http_port", "10082"))
         self.postfix_reinject_port = int(params.get("postfix_reinject_port", "10025"))
         self.postfix_reinject_port_incoming = int(
             params.get("postfix_reinject_port_incoming", "10026")

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/basedeploy.py

@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ import io
 import os
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 
+from pyinfra import host
+from pyinfra.facts.server import Command
 from pyinfra.operations import files, server, systemd
 
 
@@ -11,6 +13,17 @@ def has_systemd():
     return os.path.isdir("/run/systemd/system")
 
 
+def is_in_container() -> bool:
+    """Return True if running inside a container (Docker, LXC, etc.)."""
+    return (
+        host.get_fact(
+            Command,
+            "systemd-detect-virt --container --quiet 2>/dev/null && echo yes || true",
+        )
+        == "yes"
+    )
+
+
 @contextmanager
 def blocked_service_startup():
     """Prevent services from auto-starting during package installation.

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/chatmail.zone.j2

@@ -1,32 +0,0 @@
-;
-; Required DNS entries for chatmail servers 
-;
-{% if A %}
-{{ mail_domain }}.                   A     {{ A }}
-{% endif %}
-{% if AAAA %}
-{{ mail_domain }}.                   AAAA  {{ AAAA }}
-{% endif %}
-{{ mail_domain }}.                   MX 10 {{ mail_domain }}.
-{% if strict_tls %}
-_mta-sts.{{ mail_domain }}.          TXT "v=STSv1; id={{ sts_id }}"
-mta-sts.{{ mail_domain }}.           CNAME {{ mail_domain }}.
-{% endif %}
-www.{{ mail_domain }}.               CNAME {{ mail_domain }}.
-{{ dkim_entry }}
-
-;
-; Recommended DNS entries for interoperability and security-hardening
-;
-{{ mail_domain }}.                   TXT "v=spf1 a ~all"
-_dmarc.{{ mail_domain }}.            TXT "v=DMARC1;p=reject;adkim=s;aspf=s"
-
-{% if acme_account_url %}
-{{ mail_domain }}.                   CAA 0 issue "letsencrypt.org;accounturi={{ acme_account_url }}"
-{% endif %}
-_adsp._domainkey.{{ mail_domain }}.  TXT "dkim=discardable"
-
-_submission._tcp.{{ mail_domain }}.  SRV 0 1 587 {{ mail_domain }}.
-_submissions._tcp.{{ mail_domain }}. SRV 0 1 465 {{ mail_domain }}.
-_imap._tcp.{{ mail_domain }}.        SRV 0 1 143 {{ mail_domain }}.
-_imaps._tcp.{{ mail_domain }}.       SRV 0 1 993 {{ mail_domain }}.

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/cmdeploy.py

@@ -108,10 +108,7 @@ 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", "@docker"]:
-        if ssh_host == "@docker":
-            env["CHATMAIL_NOPORTCHECK"] = "True"
-            env["CHATMAIL_NOSYSCTL"] = "True"
+    if ssh_host == "localhost":
         cmd = f"{pyinf} @local {deploy_path} -y"
 
     if version.parse(pyinfra.__version__) < version.parse("3"):
@@ -210,6 +207,7 @@ def test_cmd(args, out):
     """Run local and online tests for chatmail deployment."""
 
     env = os.environ.copy()
+    env["CHATMAIL_INI"] = str(args.inipath.absolute())
     if args.ssh_host:
         env["CHATMAIL_SSH"] = args.ssh_host
 
@@ -316,7 +314,7 @@ def add_ssh_host_option(parser):
     parser.add_argument(
         "--ssh-host",
         dest="ssh_host",
-        help="Run commands on 'localhost', via '@docker', or on a specific SSH host "
+        help="Run commands on 'localhost' or on a specific SSH host "
         "instead of chatmail.ini's mail_domain.",
     )
 
@@ -378,9 +376,7 @@ def get_parser():
 
 def get_sshexec(ssh_host: str, verbose=True):
     if ssh_host in ["localhost", "@local"]:
-        return LocalExec(verbose, docker=False)
-    elif ssh_host == "@docker":
-        return LocalExec(verbose, docker=True)
+        return LocalExec(verbose)
     if verbose:
         print(f"[ssh] login to {ssh_host}")
     return SSHExec(ssh_host, verbose=verbose)

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/deployers.py

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 Chat Mail pyinfra deploy.
 """
 
-import os
 import shutil
 import subprocess
 import sys
@@ -24,9 +23,11 @@ from .basedeploy import (
     Deployer,
     Deployment,
     activate_remote_units,
+    blocked_service_startup,
     configure_remote_units,
     get_resource,
     has_systemd,
+    is_in_container,
 )
 from .dovecot.deployer import DovecotDeployer
 from .external.deployer import ExternalTlsDeployer
@@ -149,33 +150,16 @@ class UnboundDeployer(Deployer):
         self.need_restart = False
 
     def install(self):
-        # Run local DNS resolver `unbound`.
-        # `resolvconf` takes care of setting up /etc/resolv.conf
-        # to use 127.0.0.1 as the resolver.
+        # Run local DNS resolver `unbound`. `resolvconf` takes care of
+        # setting up /etc/resolv.conf to use 127.0.0.1 as the resolver.
 
-        #
-        # On an IPv4-only system, if unbound is started but not
-        # configured, it causes subsequent steps to fail to resolve hosts.
-        # Here, we use policy-rc.d to prevent unbound from starting up
-        # on initial install.  Later, we will configure it and start it.
-        #
-        # For documentation about policy-rc.d, see:
-        # https://people.debian.org/~hmh/invokerc.d-policyrc.d-specification.txt
-        #
-        files.put(
-            src=get_resource("policy-rc.d"),
-            dest="/usr/sbin/policy-rc.d",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="755",
-        )
-
-        apt.packages(
-            name="Install unbound",
-            packages=["unbound", "unbound-anchor", "dnsutils"],
-        )
-
-        files.file("/usr/sbin/policy-rc.d", present=False)
+        # On an IPv4-only system, if unbound is started but not configured,
+        # it causes subsequent steps to fail to resolve hosts.
+        with blocked_service_startup():
+            apt.packages(
+                name="Install unbound",
+                packages=["unbound", "unbound-anchor", "dnsutils"],
+            )
 
     def configure(self):
         server.shell(
@@ -336,12 +320,12 @@ class TurnDeployer(Deployer):
     def install(self):
         (url, sha256sum) = {
             "x86_64": (
-                "https://github.com/chatmail/chatmail-turn/releases/download/v0.3/chatmail-turn-x86_64-linux",
-                "841e527c15fdc2940b0469e206188ea8f0af48533be12ecb8098520f813d41e4",
+                "https://github.com/chatmail/chatmail-turn/releases/download/v0.4/chatmail-turn-x86_64-linux",
+                "1ec1f5c50122165e858a5a91bcba9037a28aa8cb8b64b8db570aa457c6141a8a",
             ),
             "aarch64": (
-                "https://github.com/chatmail/chatmail-turn/releases/download/v0.3/chatmail-turn-aarch64-linux",
-                "a5fc2d06d937b56a34e098d2cd72a82d3e89967518d159bf246dc69b65e81b42",
+                "https://github.com/chatmail/chatmail-turn/releases/download/v0.4/chatmail-turn-aarch64-linux",
+                "0fb3e792419494e21ecad536464929dba706bb2c88884ed8f1788141d26fc756",
             ),
         }[host.get_fact(facts.server.Arch)]
 
@@ -474,8 +458,9 @@ class ChatmailDeployer(Deployer):
         ("iroh", None, None),
     ]
 
-    def __init__(self, mail_domain):
-        self.mail_domain = mail_domain
+    def __init__(self, config):
+        self.config = config
+        self.mail_domain = config.mail_domain
 
     def install(self):
         files.put(
@@ -500,6 +485,16 @@ class ChatmailDeployer(Deployer):
         )
 
     def configure(self):
+        # metadata crashes if the mailboxes dir does not exist
+        files.directory(
+            name="Ensure vmail mailbox directory exists",
+            path=str(self.config.mailboxes_dir),
+            user="vmail",
+            group="vmail",
+            mode="700",
+            present=True,
+        )
+
         # This file is used by auth proxy.
         # https://wiki.debian.org/EtcMailName
         server.shell(
@@ -589,7 +584,7 @@ def deploy_chatmail(config_path: Path, disable_mail: bool, website_only: bool) -
             Out().red(f"Deploy failed: mtail_address {config.mtail_address} is not available (VPN up?).\n")
             exit(1)
 
-    if not os.environ.get("CHATMAIL_NOPORTCHECK"):
+    if not is_in_container():
         port_services = [
             (["master", "smtpd"], 25),
             ("unbound", 53),
@@ -629,7 +624,7 @@ def deploy_chatmail(config_path: Path, disable_mail: bool, website_only: bool) -
     tls_deployer = get_tls_deployer(config, mail_domain)
 
     all_deployers = [
-        ChatmailDeployer(mail_domain),
+        ChatmailDeployer(config),
         LegacyRemoveDeployer(),
         FiltermailDeployer(),
         JournaldDeployer(),

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/dns.py

@@ -1,11 +1,22 @@
 import datetime
-import importlib
-
-from jinja2 import Template
 
 from . import remote
 
 
+def parse_zone_records(text):
+    """Yield ``(name, ttl, rtype, rdata)`` from standard BIND-format text."""
+    for raw_line in text.splitlines():
+        line = raw_line.strip()
+        if not line or line.startswith(";"):
+            continue
+        try:
+            name, ttl, _in, rtype, rdata = line.split(None, 4)
+        except ValueError:
+            raise ValueError(f"Bad zone record line: {line!r}") from None
+        name = name.rstrip(".")
+        yield name, ttl, rtype.upper(), rdata
+
+
 def get_initial_remote_data(sshexec, mail_domain):
     return sshexec.logged(
         call=remote.rdns.perform_initial_checks, kwargs=dict(mail_domain=mail_domain)
@@ -31,13 +42,39 @@ def get_filled_zone_file(remote_data):
     if not sts_id:
         remote_data["sts_id"] = datetime.datetime.now().strftime("%Y%m%d%H%M")
 
-    template = importlib.resources.files(__package__).joinpath("chatmail.zone.j2")
-    content = template.read_text()
-    zonefile = Template(content).render(**remote_data)
-    lines = [x.strip() for x in zonefile.split("\n") if x.strip()]
+    d = remote_data["mail_domain"]
+
+    def append_record(name, rtype, rdata, ttl=3600):
+        lines.append(f"{name:<40} {ttl:<6} IN  {rtype:<5}  {rdata}")
+
+    lines = ["; Required DNS entries"]
+    if remote_data.get("A"):
+        append_record(f"{d}.", "A", remote_data["A"])
+    if remote_data.get("AAAA"):
+        append_record(f"{d}.", "AAAA", remote_data["AAAA"])
+    append_record(f"{d}.", "MX", f"10 {d}.")
+    if remote_data.get("strict_tls"):
+        append_record(f"_mta-sts.{d}.", "TXT", f'"v=STSv1; id={remote_data["sts_id"]}"')
+        append_record(f"mta-sts.{d}.", "CNAME", f"{d}.")
+    append_record(f"www.{d}.", "CNAME", f"{d}.")
+    lines.append(remote_data["dkim_entry"])
     lines.append("")
-    zonefile = "\n".join(lines)
-    return zonefile
+    lines.append("; Recommended DNS entries")
+    append_record(f"{d}.", "TXT", '"v=spf1 a ~all"')
+    append_record(f"_dmarc.{d}.", "TXT", '"v=DMARC1;p=reject;adkim=s;aspf=s"')
+    if remote_data.get("acme_account_url"):
+        append_record(
+            f"{d}.",
+            "CAA",
+            f'0 issue "letsencrypt.org;accounturi={remote_data["acme_account_url"]}"',
+        )
+    append_record(f"_adsp._domainkey.{d}.", "TXT", '"dkim=discardable"')
+    append_record(f"_submission._tcp.{d}.", "SRV", f"0 1 587 {d}.")
+    append_record(f"_submissions._tcp.{d}.", "SRV", f"0 1 465 {d}.")
+    append_record(f"_imap._tcp.{d}.", "SRV", f"0 1 143 {d}.")
+    append_record(f"_imaps._tcp.{d}.", "SRV", f"0 1 993 {d}.")
+    lines.append("")
+    return "\n".join(lines)
 
 
 def check_full_zone(sshexec, remote_data, out, zonefile) -> int:
@@ -58,7 +95,8 @@ def check_full_zone(sshexec, remote_data, out, zonefile) -> int:
         returncode = 1
     if remote_data.get("dkim_entry") in required_diff:
         out(
-            "If the DKIM entry above does not work with your DNS provider, you can try this one:\n"
+            "If the DKIM entry above does not work with your DNS provider,"
+            " you can try this one:\n"
         )
         out(remote_data.get("web_dkim_entry") + "\n")
     if recommended_diff:

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/dovecot/deployer.py

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import os
+import io
 import urllib.request
 
 from chatmaild.config import Config
@@ -13,9 +13,11 @@ from cmdeploy.basedeploy import (
     blocked_service_startup,
     configure_remote_units,
     get_resource,
+    is_in_container,
 )
 
-DOVECOT_VERSION = "2.3.21+dfsg1-3"
+DOVECOT_ARCHIVE_VERSION = "2.3.21+dfsg1-3"
+DOVECOT_PACKAGE_VERSION = f"1:{DOVECOT_ARCHIVE_VERSION}"
 
 DOVECOT_SHA256 = {
     ("core", "amd64"): "dd060706f52a306fa863d874717210b9fe10536c824afe1790eec247ded5b27d",
@@ -40,11 +42,14 @@ class DovecotDeployer(Deployer):
         with blocked_service_startup():
             debs = []
             for pkg in ("core", "imapd", "lmtpd"):
-                deb = _download_dovecot_package(pkg, arch)
+                deb, changed = _download_dovecot_package(pkg, arch)
+                self.need_restart |= changed
                 if deb:
                     debs.append(deb)
             if debs:
                 deb_list = " ".join(debs)
+                # First dpkg may fail on missing dependencies (stderr suppressed);
+                # apt-get --fix-broken pulls them in, then dpkg retries cleanly.
                 server.shell(
                     name="Install dovecot packages",
                     commands=[
@@ -53,10 +58,24 @@ class DovecotDeployer(Deployer):
                         f"dpkg --force-confdef --force-confold -i {deb_list}",
                     ],
                 )
+                self.need_restart = True
+        files.put(
+            name="Pin dovecot packages to block Debian dist-upgrades",
+            src=io.StringIO(
+                "Package: dovecot-*\n"
+                "Pin: version *\n"
+                "Pin-Priority: -1\n"
+            ),
+            dest="/etc/apt/preferences.d/pin-dovecot",
+            user="root",
+            group="root",
+            mode="644",
+        )
 
     def configure(self):
         configure_remote_units(self.config.mail_domain, self.units)
-        self.need_restart, self.daemon_reload = _configure_dovecot(self.config)
+        config_restart, self.daemon_reload = _configure_dovecot(self.config)
+        self.need_restart |= config_restart
 
     def activate(self):
         activate_remote_units(self.units)
@@ -85,22 +104,22 @@ def _pick_url(primary, fallback):
         return fallback
 
 
-def _download_dovecot_package(package: str, arch: str):
-    """Download a dovecot .deb if needed, return its path (or None)."""
+def _download_dovecot_package(package: str, arch: str) -> tuple[str | None, bool]:
+    """Download a dovecot .deb if needed, return (path, changed)."""
     arch = "amd64" if arch == "x86_64" else arch
     arch = "arm64" if arch == "aarch64" else arch
 
     pkg_name = f"dovecot-{package}"
     sha256 = DOVECOT_SHA256.get((package, arch))
     if sha256 is None:
-        apt.packages(packages=[pkg_name])
-        return None
+        op = apt.packages(packages=[pkg_name])
+        return None, bool(getattr(op, "changed", False))
 
     installed_versions = host.get_fact(DebPackages).get(pkg_name, [])
-    if DOVECOT_VERSION in installed_versions:
-        return None
+    if DOVECOT_PACKAGE_VERSION in installed_versions:
+        return None, False
 
-    url_version = DOVECOT_VERSION.replace("+", "%2B")
+    url_version = DOVECOT_ARCHIVE_VERSION.replace("+", "%2B")
     deb_base = f"{pkg_name}_{url_version}_{arch}.deb"
     primary_url = f"https://download.delta.chat/dovecot/{deb_base}"
     fallback_url = f"https://github.com/chatmail/dovecot/releases/download/upstream%2F{url_version}/{deb_base}"
@@ -115,10 +134,10 @@ def _download_dovecot_package(package: str, arch: str):
         cache_time=60 * 60 * 24 * 365 * 10,  # never redownload the package
     )
 
-    return deb_filename
+    return deb_filename, True
 
 
-def _configure_dovecot(config: Config, debug: bool = False) -> (bool, bool):
+def _configure_dovecot(config: Config, debug: bool = False) -> tuple[bool, bool]:
     """Configures Dovecot IMAP server."""
     need_restart = False
     daemon_reload = False
@@ -153,19 +172,25 @@ def _configure_dovecot(config: Config, debug: bool = False) -> (bool, bool):
 
     # as per https://doc.dovecot.org/2.3/configuration_manual/os/
     # it is recommended to set the following inotify limits
-    if not os.environ.get("CHATMAIL_NOSYSCTL"):
-        for name in ("max_user_instances", "max_user_watches"):
-            key = f"fs.inotify.{name}"
-            if host.get_fact(Sysctl)[key] > 65535:
-                # Skip updating limits if already sufficient
-                # (enables running in incus containers where sysctl readonly)
-                continue
-            server.sysctl(
-                name=f"Change {key}",
-                key=key,
-                value=65535,
-                persist=True,
+    can_modify = not is_in_container()
+    for name in ("max_user_instances", "max_user_watches"):
+        key = f"fs.inotify.{name}"
+        value = host.get_fact(Sysctl)[key]
+        if value > 65534:
+            continue
+        if not can_modify:
+            print(
+                "\n!!!! refusing to attempt sysctl setting in containers\n"
+                f"!!!! dovecot: sysctl {key!r}={value}, should be >65534 for production setups\n"
+                "!!!!"
             )
+            continue
+        server.sysctl(
+            name=f"Change {key}",
+            key=key,
+            value=65535,
+            persist=True,
+        )
 
     timezone_env = files.line(
         name="Set TZ environment variable",

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/filtermail/deployer.py

@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@ class FiltermailDeployer(Deployer):
 
     def install(self):
         arch = host.get_fact(facts.server.Arch)
-        url = f"https://github.com/chatmail/filtermail/releases/download/v0.6.0/filtermail-{arch}"
+        url = f"https://github.com/chatmail/filtermail/releases/download/v0.6.1/filtermail-{arch}"
         sha256sum = {
-            "x86_64": "3fd8b18282252c75a5bbfa603d8c1b65f6563e5e920bddf3e64e451b7cdb43ce",
-            "aarch64": "2bd191de205f7fd60158dd8e3516ab7e3efb14627696f3d7dc186bdcd9e10a43",
+            "x86_64": "48b3fb80c092d00b9b0a0ef77a8673496da3b9aed5ec1851e1df936d5589d62f",
+            "aarch64": "c65bd5f45df187d3d65d6965a285583a3be0f44a6916ff12909ff9a8d702c22e",
         }[arch]
         self.need_restart |= files.download(
             name="Download filtermail",

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/nginx/nginx.conf.j2

@@ -73,6 +73,10 @@ http {
 
 		access_log syslog:server=unix:/dev/log,facility=local7;
 
+		location /mxdeliv/ {
+		    proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:{{ config.filtermail_http_port }};
+		}
+
 		location / {
 			# First attempt to serve request as file, then
 			# as directory, then fall back to displaying a 404.

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/remote/rdns.py

@@ -57,9 +57,10 @@ def get_dkim_entry(mail_domain, pre_command, dkim_selector):
     dkim_value_raw = f"v=DKIM1;k=rsa;p={dkim_pubkey};s=email;t=s"
     dkim_value = '" "'.join(re.findall(".{1,255}", dkim_value_raw))
     web_dkim_value = "".join(re.findall(".{1,255}", dkim_value_raw))
+    name = f"{dkim_selector}._domainkey.{mail_domain}."
     return (
-        f'{dkim_selector}._domainkey.{mail_domain}. TXT "{dkim_value}"',
-        f'{dkim_selector}._domainkey.{mail_domain}. TXT "{web_dkim_value}"',
+        f'{name:<40} 3600   IN  TXT    "{dkim_value}"',
+        f'{name:<40} 3600   IN  TXT    "{web_dkim_value}"',
     )
 
 
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ def check_zonefile(zonefile, verbose=True):
         if not zf_line.strip() or zf_line.startswith(";"):
             continue
         print(f"dns-checking {zf_line!r}") if verbose else log_progress("")
-        zf_domain, zf_typ, zf_value = zf_line.split(maxsplit=2)
+        zf_domain, _ttl, _in, zf_typ, zf_value = zf_line.split(None, 4)
         zf_domain = zf_domain.rstrip(".")
         zf_value = zf_value.strip()
         query_value = query_dns(zf_typ, zf_domain)

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/selfsigned/deployer.py

@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ def openssl_selfsigned_args(domain, cert_path, key_path, days=36500):
         "-keyout", str(key_path),
         "-out", str(cert_path),
         "-subj", f"/CN={domain}",
+        # Mark as end-entity cert so it cannot be used as a CA to sign others.
+        "-addext", "basicConstraints=critical,CA:FALSE",
         "-addext", "extendedKeyUsage=serverAuth,clientAuth",
         "-addext",
         f"subjectAltName=DNS:{domain},DNS:www.{domain},DNS:mta-sts.{domain}",

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/sshexec.py

@@ -87,9 +87,8 @@ class SSHExec:
 class LocalExec:
     FuncError = FuncError
 
-    def __init__(self, verbose=False, docker=False):
+    def __init__(self, verbose=False):
         self.verbose = verbose
-        self.docker = docker
 
     def __call__(self, call, kwargs=None, log_callback=None):
         if kwargs is None:
@@ -101,10 +100,6 @@ class LocalExec:
         if not title:
             title = call.__name__
         where = "locally"
-        if self.docker:
-            if call == remote.rdns.perform_initial_checks:
-                kwargs["pre_command"] = "docker exec chatmail "
-                where = "in docker"
         if self.verbose:
             print_stderr(f"Running {where}: {title}(**{kwargs})")
             return self(call, kwargs, log_callback=print_stderr)

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/tests/data/zftest.zone

@@ -1,17 +1,18 @@
-; Required DNS entries for chatmail servers
-zftest.testrun.org.                   A     135.181.204.127
-zftest.testrun.org.                   AAAA  2a01:4f9:c012:52f4::1
-zftest.testrun.org.                   MX 10 zftest.testrun.org.
-_mta-sts.zftest.testrun.org.          TXT "v=STSv1; id=202403211706"
-mta-sts.zftest.testrun.org.           CNAME zftest.testrun.org.
-www.zftest.testrun.org.               CNAME zftest.testrun.org.
-opendkim._domainkey.zftest.testrun.org. TXT "v=DKIM1;k=rsa;p=MIIBIjANBgkqhkiG9w0BAQEFAAOCAQ8AMIIBCgKCAQEAoYt82CVUyz2ouaqjX2kB+5J80knAyoOU3MGU5aWppmwUwwTvj/oSTSpkc5JMtVTRmKKr8NUDWAL1Yw7dfGqqPHdHfwwjS3BIvDzYx+hzgtz62RnfNgV+/2MAoNpfX7cAFIHdRzEHNtwugc3RDLquqPoupAE3Y2YRw2T5zG5fILh4vwIcJZL5Uq6B92j8wwJqOex" "33n+vm1NKQ9rxo/UsHAmZlJzpooXcG/4igTBxJyJlamVSRR6N7Nul1v//YJb7J6v2o0iPHW6uE0StzKaPPNC2IVosSRFbD9H2oqppltptFSNPlI0E+t0JBWHem6YK7xcugiO3ImMCaaU8g6Jt/wIDAQAB;s=email;t=s"
+; Required DNS entries
+zftest.testrun.org.                      3600   IN  A      135.181.204.127
+zftest.testrun.org.                      3600   IN  AAAA   2a01:4f9:c012:52f4::1
+zftest.testrun.org.                      3600   IN  MX     10 zftest.testrun.org.
+_mta-sts.zftest.testrun.org.             3600   IN  TXT    "v=STSv1; id=202403211706"
+mta-sts.zftest.testrun.org.              3600   IN  CNAME  zftest.testrun.org.
+www.zftest.testrun.org.                  3600   IN  CNAME  zftest.testrun.org.
+opendkim._domainkey.zftest.testrun.org.  3600   IN  TXT    "v=DKIM1;k=rsa;p=MIIBIjANBgkqhkiG9w0BAQEFAAOCAQ8AMIIBCgKCAQEAoYt82CVUyz2ouaqjX2kB+5J80knAyoOU3MGU5aWppmwUwwTvj/oSTSpkc5JMtVTRmKKr8NUDWAL1Yw7dfGqqPHdHfwwjS3BIvDzYx+hzgtz62RnfNgV+/2MAoNpfX7cAFIHdRzEHNtwugc3RDLquqPoupAE3Y2YRw2T5zG5fILh4vwIcJZL5Uq6B92j8wwJqOex" "33n+vm1NKQ9rxo/UsHAmZlJzpooXcG/4igTBxJyJlamVSRR6N7Nul1v//YJb7J6v2o0iPHW6uE0StzKaPPNC2IVosSRFbD9H2oqppltptFSNPlI0E+t0JBWHem6YK7xcugiO3ImMCaaU8g6Jt/wIDAQAB;s=email;t=s"
+
 ; Recommended DNS entries
-_submission._tcp.zftest.testrun.org.  SRV 0 1 587 zftest.testrun.org.
-_submissions._tcp.zftest.testrun.org. SRV 0 1 465 zftest.testrun.org.
-_imap._tcp.zftest.testrun.org.        SRV 0 1 143 zftest.testrun.org.
-_imaps._tcp.zftest.testrun.org.       SRV 0 1 993 zftest.testrun.org.
-zftest.testrun.org.                   CAA 0 issue "letsencrypt.org;accounturi=https://acme-v02.api.letsencrypt.org/acme/acct/1371472956"
-zftest.testrun.org.                   TXT "v=spf1 a:zftest.testrun.org ~all"
-_dmarc.zftest.testrun.org.            TXT "v=DMARC1;p=reject;adkim=s;aspf=s"
-_adsp._domainkey.zftest.testrun.org.  TXT "dkim=discardable"
+zftest.testrun.org.                      3600   IN  TXT    "v=spf1 a ~all"
+_dmarc.zftest.testrun.org.               3600   IN  TXT    "v=DMARC1;p=reject;adkim=s;aspf=s"
+zftest.testrun.org.                      3600   IN  CAA    0 issue "letsencrypt.org;accounturi=https://acme-v02.api.letsencrypt.org/acme/acct/1371472956"
+_adsp._domainkey.zftest.testrun.org.     3600   IN  TXT    "dkim=discardable"
+_submission._tcp.zftest.testrun.org.     3600   IN  SRV    0 1 587 zftest.testrun.org.
+_submissions._tcp.zftest.testrun.org.    3600   IN  SRV    0 1 465 zftest.testrun.org.
+_imap._tcp.zftest.testrun.org.           3600   IN  SRV    0 1 143 zftest.testrun.org.
+_imaps._tcp.zftest.testrun.org.          3600   IN  SRV    0 1 993 zftest.testrun.org.

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/tests/online/test_1_basic.py

@@ -71,6 +71,44 @@ class TestSSHExecutor:
         assert (now - since_date).total_seconds() < 60 * 60 * 51
 
 
+def test_dovecot_main_process_matches_installed_binary(sshdomain):
+    sshexec = get_sshexec(sshdomain)
+    main_pid = int(
+        sshexec(
+            call=remote.rshell.shell,
+            kwargs=dict(
+                command="timeout 10 systemctl show -p MainPID --value dovecot.service"
+            ),
+        ).strip()
+    )
+    assert main_pid != 0, "dovecot.service MainPID is 0 -- service not running?"
+
+    exe = sshexec(
+        call=remote.rshell.shell,
+        kwargs=dict(command=f"timeout 10 readlink /proc/{main_pid}/exe"),
+    ).strip()
+    status_text = sshexec(
+        call=remote.rshell.shell,
+        kwargs=dict(
+            command="timeout 10 systemctl show -p StatusText --value dovecot.service"
+        ),
+    ).strip()
+    installed_version = sshexec(
+        call=remote.rshell.shell, kwargs=dict(command="timeout 10 dovecot --version")
+    ).strip()
+
+    assert not exe.endswith("(deleted)"), (
+        f"running dovecot binary was deleted (stale after upgrade): {exe}"
+    )
+    expected_status_text = f"v{installed_version}"
+    assert status_text == expected_status_text or status_text.startswith(
+        f"{expected_status_text} "
+    ), (
+        f"dovecot status version mismatch: "
+        f"StatusText={status_text!r}, installed={installed_version!r}"
+    )
+
+
 def test_timezone_env(remote):
     for line in remote.iter_output("env"):
         print(line)

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/tests/plugin.py

@@ -35,6 +35,11 @@ def pytest_runtest_setup(item):
 
 
 def _get_chatmail_config():
+    inipath = os.environ.get("CHATMAIL_INI")
+    if inipath:
+        path = Path(inipath).resolve()
+        return read_config(path), path
+
     current = Path().resolve()
     while 1:
         path = current.joinpath("chatmail.ini").resolve()
@@ -388,12 +393,15 @@ def cmfactory(rpc, gencreds, maildomain, chatmail_config):
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def remote(sshdomain):
-    return Remote(sshdomain)
+    r = Remote(sshdomain)
+    yield r
+    r.close()
 
 
 class Remote:
     def __init__(self, sshdomain):
         self.sshdomain = sshdomain
+        self._procs = []
 
     def iter_output(self, logcmd="", ready=None):
         getjournal = "journalctl -f" if not logcmd else logcmd
@@ -403,19 +411,32 @@ class Remote:
             case "localhost": command = []
             case _: command = ["ssh", f"root@{self.sshdomain}"]
         [command.append(arg) for arg in getjournal.split()]
-        self.popen = subprocess.Popen(
+        popen = subprocess.Popen(
             command,
+            stdin=subprocess.DEVNULL,
             stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+            stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL,
         )
-        while 1:
-            line = self.popen.stdout.readline()
-            res = line.decode().strip().lower()
-            if not res:
-                break
-            if ready is not None:
-                ready()
-                ready = None
-            yield res
+        self._procs.append(popen)
+        try:
+            while 1:
+                line = popen.stdout.readline()
+                res = line.decode().strip().lower()
+                if not res:
+                    break
+                if ready is not None:
+                    ready()
+                    ready = None
+                yield res
+        finally:
+            popen.terminate()
+            popen.wait()
+
+    def close(self):
+        while self._procs:
+            proc = self._procs.pop()
+            proc.kill()
+            proc.wait()
 
 
 @pytest.fixture

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/tests/test_cmdeploy.py

@@ -23,15 +23,19 @@ class TestCmdline:
         run = parser.parse_args(["run"])
         assert init and run
 
-    def test_init_not_overwrite(self, capsys):
-        assert main(["init", "chat.example.org"]) == 0
+    def test_init_not_overwrite(self, capsys, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.delenv("CHATMAIL_INI", raising=False)
+        inipath = tmp_path / "chatmail.ini"
+        args = ["init", "--config", str(inipath), "chat.example.org"]
+        assert main(args) == 0
         capsys.readouterr()
 
-        assert main(["init", "chat.example.org"]) == 1
+        assert main(args) == 1
         out, err = capsys.readouterr()
         assert "path exists" in out.lower()
 
-        assert main(["init", "chat.example.org", "--force"]) == 0
+        args.insert(1, "--force")
+        assert main(args) == 0
         out, err = capsys.readouterr()
         assert "deleting config file" in out.lower()
 

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/tests/test_dns.py

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from copy import deepcopy
 import pytest
 
 from cmdeploy import remote
-from cmdeploy.dns import check_full_zone, check_initial_remote_data
+from cmdeploy.dns import check_full_zone, check_initial_remote_data, parse_zone_records
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
@@ -125,18 +125,49 @@ class TestPerformInitialChecks:
         assert not l
 
 
+def test_parse_zone_records():
+    text = """
+    ; This is a comment
+    some.domain. 3600 IN A 1.1.1.1
+
+    ; Another comment
+    www.some.domain. 3600 IN CNAME some.domain.
+
+    ; Multi-word rdata
+    some.domain. 3600 IN MX 10 mail.some.domain.
+
+    ; DKIM record (single line, multi-word TXT rdata)
+    dkim._domainkey.some.domain. 3600 IN TXT "v=DKIM1;k=rsa;p=MIIBIjANBgkqhkiG" "9w0BAQEFAAOCAQ8AMIIBCgKCAQEA"
+
+    ; Another TXT record
+    _dmarc.some.domain. 3600 IN TXT "v=DMARC1;p=reject"
+    """
+    records = list(parse_zone_records(text))
+    assert records == [
+        ("some.domain", "3600", "A", "1.1.1.1"),
+        ("www.some.domain", "3600", "CNAME", "some.domain."),
+        ("some.domain", "3600", "MX", "10 mail.some.domain."),
+        (
+            "dkim._domainkey.some.domain",
+            "3600",
+            "TXT",
+            '"v=DKIM1;k=rsa;p=MIIBIjANBgkqhkiG" "9w0BAQEFAAOCAQ8AMIIBCgKCAQEA"',
+        ),
+        ("_dmarc.some.domain", "3600", "TXT", '"v=DMARC1;p=reject"'),
+    ]
+
+
+def test_parse_zone_records_invalid_line():
+    text = "invalid line"
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Bad zone record line"):
+        list(parse_zone_records(text))
+
+
 def parse_zonefile_into_dict(zonefile, mockdns_base, only_required=False):
-    for zf_line in zonefile.split("\n"):
-        if zf_line.startswith("#"):
-            if "Recommended" in zf_line and only_required:
-                return
-            continue
-        if not zf_line.strip():
-            continue
-        zf_domain, zf_typ, zf_value = zf_line.split(maxsplit=2)
-        zf_domain = zf_domain.rstrip(".")
-        zf_value = zf_value.strip()
-        mockdns_base.setdefault(zf_typ, {})[zf_domain] = zf_value
+    if only_required:
+        zonefile = zonefile.split("; Recommended")[0]
+    for name, ttl, rtype, rdata in parse_zone_records(zonefile):
+        mockdns_base.setdefault(rtype, {})[name] = rdata
 
 
 class MockSSHExec:

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/tests/test_dovecot_deployer.py

@@ -0,0 +1,238 @@
+from contextlib import nullcontext
+from types import SimpleNamespace
+
+import pytest
+
+from cmdeploy.dovecot import deployer as dovecot_deployer
+from pyinfra.facts.deb import DebPackages
+
+
+def make_host(*fact_pairs):
+    """Build a mock host; get_fact(cls) dispatches to the provided facts mapping.
+
+    Args:
+        *fact_pairs: tuples of (fact_class, fact_value) to register
+
+    Returns:
+        SimpleNamespace with get_fact that raises a clear error if an
+        unexpected fact type is requested.
+    """
+    facts = dict(fact_pairs)
+
+    def get_fact(cls):
+        if cls not in facts:
+            registered = ", ".join(c.__name__ for c in facts)
+            raise LookupError(
+                f"unexpected get_fact({cls.__name__}); "
+                f"only registered: {registered}"
+            )
+        return facts[cls]
+
+    return SimpleNamespace(get_fact=get_fact)
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def deployer():
+    return dovecot_deployer.DovecotDeployer(
+        SimpleNamespace(mail_domain="chat.example.org"),
+        disable_mail=False,
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def patch_blocked(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(dovecot_deployer, "blocked_service_startup", nullcontext)
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def mock_files_put(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        dovecot_deployer.files,
+        "put",
+        lambda **kwargs: SimpleNamespace(changed=False),
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def track_shell(monkeypatch):
+    calls = []
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        dovecot_deployer.server,
+        "shell",
+        lambda **kwargs: calls.append(kwargs) or SimpleNamespace(changed=False),
+    )
+    return calls
+
+
+def test_download_dovecot_package_skips_epoch_matched_install(monkeypatch):
+    epoch_version = dovecot_deployer.DOVECOT_PACKAGE_VERSION
+    downloads = []
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        dovecot_deployer,
+        "host",
+        make_host((DebPackages, {"dovecot-core": [epoch_version]})),
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        dovecot_deployer,
+        "_pick_url",
+        lambda primary, fallback: primary,
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        dovecot_deployer.files,
+        "download",
+        lambda **kwargs: downloads.append(kwargs),
+    )
+
+    deb, changed = dovecot_deployer._download_dovecot_package("core", "amd64")
+
+    assert deb is None, f"expected no deb path when version matches, got {deb!r}"
+    assert changed is False, "should not flag changed when version already installed"
+    assert downloads == [], "should not download when version already installed"
+
+
+def test_download_dovecot_package_uses_archive_version_for_url_and_filename(
+    monkeypatch,
+):
+    downloads = []
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        dovecot_deployer,
+        "host",
+        make_host((DebPackages, {})),
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        dovecot_deployer,
+        "_pick_url",
+        lambda primary, fallback: primary,
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        dovecot_deployer.files,
+        "download",
+        lambda **kwargs: downloads.append(kwargs),
+    )
+
+    deb, changed = dovecot_deployer._download_dovecot_package("core", "amd64")
+
+    archive_version = dovecot_deployer.DOVECOT_ARCHIVE_VERSION.replace("+", "%2B")
+    expected_deb = f"/root/dovecot-core_{archive_version}_amd64.deb"
+
+    # Verify the returned path uses archive version, not package version (with epoch)
+    assert changed is True, "should flag changed when package not yet installed"
+    assert deb == expected_deb, f"deb path mismatch: {deb!r} != {expected_deb!r}"
+    assert dovecot_deployer.DOVECOT_PACKAGE_VERSION not in deb, (
+        f"deb path should use archive version (no epoch), got {deb!r}"
+    )
+    assert len(downloads) == 1, "files.download should be called exactly once"
+
+
+def test_install_skips_dpkg_path_when_epoch_matched_packages_present(
+    deployer, patch_blocked, mock_files_put, track_shell, monkeypatch
+):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        dovecot_deployer,
+        "host",
+        make_host(
+            (
+                dovecot_deployer.DebPackages,
+                {
+                    "dovecot-core": [dovecot_deployer.DOVECOT_PACKAGE_VERSION],
+                    "dovecot-imapd": [dovecot_deployer.DOVECOT_PACKAGE_VERSION],
+                    "dovecot-lmtpd": [dovecot_deployer.DOVECOT_PACKAGE_VERSION],
+                },
+            ),
+            (dovecot_deployer.Arch, "x86_64"),
+        ),
+    )
+    downloads = []
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        dovecot_deployer.files,
+        "download",
+        lambda **kwargs: downloads.append(kwargs),
+    )
+
+    deployer.install()
+
+    assert downloads == [], "should not download when all packages epoch-matched"
+    assert track_shell == [], "should not run dpkg when all packages epoch-matched"
+    assert deployer.need_restart is False, (
+        "need_restart should be False when nothing changed"
+    )
+
+
+def test_install_unsupported_arch_falls_back_to_apt(
+    deployer, patch_blocked, mock_files_put, track_shell, monkeypatch
+):
+    # For unsupported architectures, all fact lookups return the arch string.
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        dovecot_deployer,
+        "host",
+        SimpleNamespace(get_fact=lambda cls: "riscv64"),
+    )
+    apt_calls = []
+
+    # Mirrors apt.packages() return value: OperationMeta with .changed property.
+    # Only lmtpd triggers a change to verify |= accumulation of changed flags.
+    def fake_apt(**kwargs):
+        apt_calls.append(kwargs)
+        changed = "lmtpd" in kwargs["packages"][0]
+        return SimpleNamespace(changed=changed)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(dovecot_deployer.apt, "packages", fake_apt)
+
+    deployer.install()
+
+    actual_pkgs = [c["packages"] for c in apt_calls]
+    assert actual_pkgs == [["dovecot-core"], ["dovecot-imapd"], ["dovecot-lmtpd"]], (
+        f"expected apt install of core/imapd/lmtpd, got {actual_pkgs}"
+    )
+    assert track_shell == [], "should not run dpkg for unsupported arch"
+    assert deployer.need_restart is True, (
+        "need_restart should be True when apt installed a package"
+    )
+
+
+def test_install_runs_dpkg_when_packages_need_download(
+    deployer, patch_blocked, mock_files_put, track_shell, monkeypatch
+):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        dovecot_deployer,
+        "host",
+        make_host(
+            (dovecot_deployer.DebPackages, {}),
+            (dovecot_deployer.Arch, "x86_64"),
+        ),
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        dovecot_deployer,
+        "_pick_url",
+        lambda primary, fallback: primary,
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        dovecot_deployer.files,
+        "download",
+        lambda **kwargs: SimpleNamespace(changed=True),
+    )
+
+    deployer.install()
+
+    assert len(track_shell) == 1, (
+        f"expected one server.shell() call for dpkg install, got {len(track_shell)}"
+    )
+    cmds = track_shell[0]["commands"]
+    assert len(cmds) == 3, f"expected 3 dpkg/apt commands, got: {cmds}"
+    assert cmds[0].startswith("dpkg --force-confdef --force-confold -i ")
+    assert "apt-get -y --fix-broken install" in cmds[1]
+    assert cmds[2].startswith("dpkg --force-confdef --force-confold -i ")
+    assert deployer.need_restart is True, (
+        "need_restart should be True after dpkg install"
+    )
+
+
+def test_pick_url_falls_back_on_primary_error(monkeypatch):
+    def raise_error(req, timeout):
+        raise OSError("connection timeout")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(dovecot_deployer.urllib.request, "urlopen", raise_error)
+    result = dovecot_deployer._pick_url("http://primary", "http://fallback")
+    assert result == "http://fallback", (
+        f"should fall back when primary fails, got {result!r}"
+    )

doc/source/getting_started.rst

@@ -98,6 +98,13 @@ steps. Please substitute it with your own domain.
    configure at your DNS provider (it can take some time until they are
    public).
 
+Docker installation
+-------------------
+
+There is experimental support for running chatmail via Docker Compose.
+See the `chatmail/docker README <https://github.com/chatmail/docker>`_
+for full setup instructions.
+
 Other helpful commands
 ----------------------