To forward mail from a self-hosted server, first identify how the recipient is delivered: use a Postfix virtual alias for a hosted address, a .forward file for a locally delivered Unix account, or a Dovecot Sieve redirect for mailbox-level rules. These are distinct delivery paths, not interchangeable settings. Configure only the forwarding layer you need, keep relay access restricted, and test external delivery for authentication problems.
Choose the forwarding method that matches your delivery path
Forwarding is not usually a DNS change. DNS helps other mail servers find your server; the forwarding rule is applied by the mail software handling the recipient. Postfix and Dovecot document three common places to apply that rule:
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| Need | Mechanism | Scope and consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Forward selected addresses in a hosted domain | Postfix virtual alias map | Domain address mappings; rebuild the map after editing and classify the domain as virtual. Postfix Virtual Domain Hosting Howto |
| Forward mail delivered to a local Unix account | User’s .forward file |
Applies to local-account delivery. Postfix Address Rewriting |
| Filter or redirect messages in a mailbox | Dovecot Sieve | Requires delivery through Dovecot LDA or LMTP and Sieve/Pigeonhole integration; forwarding can affect SPF checks. Dovecot Sieve and Dovecot Sieve autoforward |
Choose one rule location for a given message flow. Accidentally configuring forwarding at multiple layers can cause duplicate delivery or a loop.
Set up a Postfix virtual alias
Use a virtual alias map when a hosted domain has addresses that should map to local or remote destinations. Postfix describes these as domains whose “main purpose … is to forward mail elsewhere.” See the Postfix Virtual Domain Hosting Howto for the full configuration and current-version details.
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Configure the domain and map
A simplified example, assuming the installed Postfix build supports the LMDB map type shown, is:
# /etc/postfix/main.cf
virtual_alias_domains = example.com
virtual_alias_maps = lmdb:/etc/postfix/virtual
# /etc/postfix/virtual
[email protected] postmaster
[email protected] [email protected]The left side is the hosted address; the right side is its destination. A destination can be a local or remote address. Do not also list example.com in mydestination; Postfix says a virtual alias domain should not be handled as a local destination domain.
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Rebuild the map and apply the configuration
After changing the source map, rebuild its indexed database with postmap using the map type configured on your server. The example uses LMDB, but installations may use another supported backend, so do not copy the prefix without checking your setup. After changing main.cf, reload Postfix so it reads the updated configuration.
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Use catch-all forwarding only deliberately
An entry such as @example.com [email protected] forwards otherwise-unlisted recipients. Postfix warns that catch-alls may attract spam and bounces for messages forged from guessed addresses. Prefer explicit mappings when unknown recipients should be rejected.
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Use a local user’s .forward file
For mail Postfix delivers to a local Unix account, its local delivery agent supports user-controlled forwarding through a file named .forward in that account’s home directory. This is separate from the virtual-domain map: use it for the local user’s delivery path, not as a substitute for domain-wide address mappings. Consult the installed Postfix documentation for the account’s local delivery configuration and applicable permissions.
Redirect mailbox messages with Dovecot Sieve
If mail is delivered through Dovecot LDA or LMTP and Pigeonhole Sieve is installed, a Sieve rule can filter messages or redirect them. Follow the documentation matching your installed Dovecot and Pigeonhole versions; examples and configuration details can differ between releases. The official references include Dovecot Sieve documentation and the autoforward guidance.
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Forwarding an unchanged envelope sender can cause SPF checks to fail farther along the delivery path. Dovecot’s autoforward example also relies on the correct order of header changes and the redirect. There is no universal fix established for every mail flow: the appropriate handling depends on your configuration and the receiving provider’s authentication behavior.
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- Trace delivery first. Determine whether the address is handled by a Postfix virtual alias, local account delivery, or Dovecot LDA/LMTP with Sieve. Avoid adding a second forwarding rule at another layer.
- Add only intended recipients. With a Postfix virtual map, rebuild the indexed map after editing it. Reload Postfix after relevant
main.cfchanges, and use the map backend configured on your server. - Keep relay authorization narrow. Postfix documents controlling which client networks may relay and where messages may be relayed. Do not broaden authorization without understanding its effect; an exposed open relay can be abused. If direct Internet delivery is blocked or unsuitable, Postfix documents using a
relayhostinstead. Check the relay provider’s mail policies before relying on it. See the Postfix Basic Configuration guide. - Test from outside your server. Send a message from an external account to each forwarded address. Check whether it arrives, and inspect authentication results at the destination, especially for externally forwarded messages.
- Test unknown recipients if using a catch-all. Confirm what happens to an address with no explicit mapping, then monitor for spam and bounces.
What forwarding does—and does not—change
A forwarding rule changes where a message is delivered after your server receives it; it does not by itself make the destination trust the message. SPF evaluates whether the sending server is authorized for the envelope sender’s domain, so forwarding through your server with the original envelope sender can produce an SPF failure at the next recipient. Inspect the destination’s authentication results rather than assuming that successful local acceptance guarantees final delivery.
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These methods differ mainly by where their rules live: a domain mapping in Postfix, a local account’s delivery settings, or a mailbox’s Sieve rules. The relevant project documentation establishes those scopes and the SPF caveat, but does not establish one approach as best for every installation.
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