Initial Configuration
Once installation is finished, DeepFilter is not yet ready to process email. The step that makes the server usable is the setup wizard, which runs once in the management panel. The wizard has four steps: License, Administrator Account, Hostname and Complete.
You open the wizard in a browser at this address:
https://<SUNUCU_IP>:9443/setup
Because the installation starts with a self-signed certificate, the browser shows a security warning the first time you open the page. This is expected; you can proceed and open the wizard. Switching to a trusted certificate is done after the wizard.
Step 1 — License
In the first step you enter the license key that was sent to you. The server connects to
central.deepfilter.io to validate the key, so outbound 443/tcp traffic must be open. For
the full list of connectivity requirements, see the
Network Requirements page.
When validation succeeds, the scope of your license (validity period and the number of domains covered) is summarised on screen. If validation fails, first check the server's internet access and DNS resolution.
If you are scaling out, every DeepFilter server requires its own license key. The same key cannot be used on more than one server.
Step 2 — Administrator Account
In this step you create the first administrator account that will sign in to the panel. You choose the email address, name and password yourself.
The product has no fixed default administrator password. You set the password entirely yourself, so there is no "change the default password" step to perform after installation.
The email address you enter is used not only for signing in but also for system notifications. For example, if a Let's Encrypt certificate renewal fails, the alert is sent to this address. For that reason, use an address that is genuinely monitored.
Password recommendations:
| Topic | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Length | At least 12 characters |
| Content | A mix of upper and lower case letters, digits and symbols |
| Storage | Keep it in your corporate password manager |
| Sharing | Create a separate account for each administrator instead of a shared account |
After the wizard, you can create additional administrator accounts from the panel.
Step 3 — Hostname
In the third step you enter the server's fully qualified domain name (for example
mail.alanadi.com). This is the most critical step of the wizard.
The value you enter sets two things at once: the operating system level hostname, and the identity DeepFilter presents when exchanging email. Remote email servers check this identity.
An incorrect or inconsistent hostname leads to the following:
- Remote email servers may reject the email you send.
- Your email may be marked as spam.
- Reverse DNS (PTR) verification fails.
The hostname, the A record defined in DNS and the PTR record you request from your service provider must be exactly the same. As long as the three do not match, you should expect problems with outbound email delivery.
A correct configuration looks like this:
| Record | Value |
|---|---|
| Hostname (wizard) | mail.alanadi.com |
| A record | mail.alanadi.com → server IP address |
| PTR record | Server IP address → mail.alanadi.com |
For the complete set of required DNS records, see the DNS Records section on the Network Requirements page.
Step 4 — Complete
The final step shows a summary of the information you entered. Once you confirm it, the configuration is applied and the wizard closes. The wizard runs only once; subsequent sign-ins take you straight to the panel.
Changes made after this step (including the hostname) are handled from the relevant settings pages in the panel.
First Sign-In
After the wizard closes you are redirected to the sign-in screen. Sign in with the email address and password you created in the second step.
| Interface | Address |
|---|---|
| Management panel | https://<SUNUCU_IP>:9443 |
| End user portal | https://<SUNUCU_IP>:9445 |
The management panel and the end user portal run on different ports. The portal is there for users to see their own quarantine records; you do not need to sign in to the portal with an administrator account. Quarantined email is not kept indefinitely: by default it is deleted automatically after 30 days. This period can be changed from the panel; the lowest value is 1 day.
Interface Language and Theme
The DeepFilter interface determines its language and theme automatically the first time it is opened:
- The language follows your browser's language preference. If the browser is set to Turkish the interface opens in Turkish, otherwise in English.
- The theme (light/dark) follows your operating system's appearance setting.
Both can be changed from the user menu at the top right. Your choice is tied to your account; it does not affect other administrators working on the same server, and it is preserved when you sign in from a different computer.
Next Steps
When the wizard is complete the server is up, but it is not yet configured to accept email. Do the following, in order:
- Add the domain you want to protect from the panel and approve it.
- Add the IP addresses of the servers that will send outbound email to the relay list in the panel.
- Replace the self-signed certificate with a Let's Encrypt certificate.
- Verify the flow with a test email before pointing the MX record at the DeepFilter server.