Requisitos de hardware para Forward Email: RAM, CPU, almacenamiento y servidor de correo
Planifica el hardware de Forward Email para vCPU, RAM, MongoDB, Redis, buzones SQLite, IP/DNS públicos y recomendaciones prácticas de implementación de ZimaOS.
Forward Email hardware requirements at a glance
Size Forward Email from verified upstream requirements first, then add headroom for workload and persistent data.
- RAM
- 2 GB official requirement
- CPU
- 1 vCPU official requirement
- Storage
- No minimum on the core self-hosted page; 20 GB is recommended in the current self-hosted blog guide
- Databases
- MongoDB + Redis + encrypted SQLite mailbox stores
- Networking
- Public IP, port 25, reverse PTR, IPv4 and IPv6
- Best Zima starting point
- ZimaBoard 2 832
From official requirements to the right setup
Start with current upstream facts for Forward Email, then size the real workload rather than copying generic container or app-store labels.
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Official requirements
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Confirm your needs
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Leave room to grow
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Run it on ZimaOS
Check every playback client
- Mailbox/user count
- Mail volume
- Port 25 availability
- PTR/rDNS
- IP reputation
- SQLite mailbox storage
- MongoDB/Redis backups
- IPv4/IPv6
Official minimum requirements
Forward Email publishes explicit self-hosted CPU and RAM requirements.
The current official self-hosted page lists 1 vCPU and 2 GB RAM. A current step-by-step blog guide recommends 20 GB storage and additional production headroom, but storage growth ultimately follows mailbox volume and backups.
| Requirement | Official minimum | What this supports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 vCPU | Current self-hosted page. | |
| 2 GB | Current self-hosted page. | |
| Linux; currently Ubuntu 22.04+ supported | Self-hosting baseline. | |
| Public IP with port 25; reverse PTR; IPv4 + IPv6 | Required for mail infrastructure. | |
| MongoDB + Redis + SQLite | SQLite stores encrypted mailboxes. | |
| 443, 4000, 465/587, 2525, 993/2993, 995/2995 and others | Mail/web/service ports. | |
| Not required | No GPU workload. |
When to upgrade your hardware
Mailbox growth
Mail volume growth
Reputation/network issues
Plan hardware growth with confidence
Fast mailbox storage
Keep SQLite mailbox data and DB state on SSD.
SSD/NVMeMore RAM
Useful for higher mail volume and background jobs.
ZimaBoard 2 1664Mailbox capacity
Expand storage for mailbox and backups.
ZimaCube 2 StandardExternal backup
Use S3-compatible backup target as documented.
Remote object storageCan it run on ZimaOS?
Custom install Forward Email in ZimaOS
No specific public ZimaOS Forward Email per-app page was verified, so use Custom Install.
Custom install Forward Email in the ZimaOS app ↗Verify mail-server networking before deployment
Public port 25, reverse PTR, DNS, and IP reputation are mandatory concerns.
Open Forward Email self-hosted docs ↗Persist all state and recovery secrets
MongoDB, Redis, SQLite mailbox data, SSL keys, and .env are critical for recovery.
Open Forward Email self-hosted guide ↗Zima hardware for Forward Email
Forward Email's compute minimum is modest, but running a reliable mail server is primarily a networking, DNS, reputation, and data-durability problem.
Choose by workload
ZimaBoard 2 832 exceeds the 1-vCPU/2-GB baseline.
Add storage and memory as mailbox data and background jobs grow.
Do not recommend self-hosting on a connection that cannot provide port 25, stable public addressing, and reverse PTR.
| Zima hardware | Best for | Example workload | Core configuration | Recommended boundary | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZimaBoard 2 832 | Light self-hosted services and small databases | Single-app or small multi-app workloads |
|
8 GB RAM can limit larger CRM, mail, database, or platform stacks | Get Now |
| ZimaBoard 2 1664 | Memory-heavier self-hosted services | Moderate multi-container and database workloads |
|
CPU remains the 4-core N150, so heavy build/search/CRM workloads can still be CPU-limited | Get Now |
| ZimaCube 2 Standard | Storage-heavy file, mail, attachment, and archive workloads | Large persistent data sets |
|
8 GB RAM is less suitable for memory-heavy multi-service stacks | Get Now |
What the Press Says
Highlights from trusted reviewers worldwide.
“ZimaCube 2: Not just another NAS, tested with 25TB storage, local AI agents, 4K transcoding, and real homelab workflows.”Read full review
“The ZimaBoard 2 is a compact x86 server board that can be turned into a mini NAS, home server, media box, or self-hosting hub.”Read full review
“ZimaCube 2: A modern, high-performance NAS with plenty of room to grow—built for users who want more than basic storage.”Read full review
“Coverage focused on ZimaCube 2's open hardware foundation, no monthly fee, and self-hosting flexibility.”Read full review
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Stories and reviews from people who build with Zima every day.
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Very good!!
I use ZimaCube Pro as 5th Proxmox cluster node. It runs several VMs and containers, including a VM with GPU passthrough to run a self-hosted LLM. A specific LXC container runs a Samba server for NAS capabilities using four of six RAID 6 SATA HDDs with ZFS.
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Frequently asked questions
What are Forward Email's official CPU and RAM requirements?
1 vCPU and 2 GB RAM.
What OS is currently supported?
The self-hosted page states a Linux server and currently supports Ubuntu 22.04+.
Does it require port 25?
Yes, a public IP with port 25 support is required.
Is reverse PTR required?
Yes.
Which data services are used?
MongoDB, Redis, and encrypted SQLite mailbox stores.
Can ZimaBoard 2 832 run Forward Email?
Yes from a compute perspective.
Does Forward Email need a GPU?
No.
What is the biggest non-hardware risk?
Mail deliverability: port 25, DNS/PTR, public IP stability, and IP reputation.
