Dovecot Not Starting

[vwebb]

SYSTEM INFORMATION
OS type and version	Alma 9.4
Webmin version	2.202
Virtualmin version	7.20.2
Webserver version	NO CLUE WHAT THIS IS
Related packages	SUGGESTED

I setup a new Alma Linux server and am getting the following error when trying to start Dovecot.

Aug 21 09:30:42 alma.XXXXX.local systemd[1]: Starting Dovecot IMAP/POP3 email server…
Aug 21 09:30:42 alma.XXXXX.local dovecot[3340940]: doveconf: Fatal: Error in configuration file /etc/dovecot/dovecot.conf line 104: ssl_cert: Can’t open file /etc/ssl/virtualmin/171863499615899/ssl.combined: No such file or directory
Aug 21 09:30:42 alma.sgpharma.local systemd[1]: dovecot.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=89/n/a
Aug 21 09:30:42 alma.XXXXX.local systemd[1]: dovecot.service: Failed with result ‘exit-code’.
Aug 21 09:30:42 alma.XXXXX.local systemd[1]: Failed to start Dovecot IMAP/POP3 email server.

[shoulders]

I had this exact issue and I fixed it

It was caused by an issue with my hostnames SSL.

These fixes assume it is your hostname SSL causing the issue.

Fix 1

• Run System Settings --> Re-Check configuration and this should fix it.

Fix2

• turn off the SSL for your hostname
  System Settings --> Virtualmin Configuration --> Configuration category: Setup Let's Encrypt SSL certificate for hostname = No
• Run System Settings --> Re-Check configuration
• turn ON the SSL for your hostname
  System Settings --> Virtualmin Configuration --> Configuration category: Setup Let's Encrypt SSL certificate for hostname = No

[vwebb]

I keep getting this message when I try to enable it, as it was not enabled:

Setting up Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate for the alma.XXXXX.local hostname …
… failed : Failed to set up Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate for the alma.XXXXX.local hostname

[shoulders]

@vwebb

Fatal: Error in configuration file /etc/dovecot/dovecot.conf line 104

Edit the file above and figure out what domain is causing the issue. the offendder will be on line 104

[vwebb]

Believe it or not there are 103 lines…

[shoulders]

the last line that is blank is 104, that means the entry just before is the problem. it should even tell you the domain name

[vwebb]

There are no domains added yet as it’s a brand new server. And the last line of the file says:

!include_try local.conf

[shoulders]

Are you that you looked at the right field.

Did you do them instructions I gave you above.

[ID10T]

@vwebb

I setup a new Alma Linux server and am getting the following error when trying to start Dovecot.

This should work out of the box. Let’s start with how you installed Virtualmin?

@vwebb

Aug 21 09:30:42 alma.XXXXX.local systemd[1]: Starting Dovecot IMAP/POP3 email server…
Aug 21 09:30:42 alma.XXXXX.local dovecot[3340940]: doveconf: Fatal: Error in configuration file /etc/dovecot/dovecot.conf line 104: ssl_cert: Can’t open file /etc/ssl/virtualmin/171863499615899/ssl.combined: No such file or directory

Is this a private server?

Does this file exist?
/etc/ssl/virtualmin/171863499615899/ssl.combined

Try this command from a terminal window:
ls -lath /etc/ssl/virtualmin

If it is a private server and you tried to set up a let’s encrypt cert then it probably failed.

This is what my dovecot ssl setup looks like:

I’m thinking you/Virtualmin tried to set up an ssl cert for the default domain and it failed.

Try setting up a self signed cert and see if dovecot starts.

[vwebb]

That did it thanks