Deployment overview

Dispatch runs anywhere .NET 10 and SQL Server reach. Pick the path that fits:

Method	Best for	Guide
🐳 Docker	Trying it, or container-native hosts	Docker
🐧 Linux	A Linux server (systemd)	Linux
🪟 Windows	A Windows server (service)	Windows
📦 Virtual appliance	A hypervisor - nothing to install	Appliance

Every path ends the same way: open https://<host>:8420, set the admin password, add a relay. The SQL schema is created and migrated automatically on first start.

• Docker, Linux, and Windows installers can set up SQL Server Express for you, or point at an existing SQL Server / Azure SQL.
• The virtual appliance is a prebuilt Ubuntu VM with SQL + Dispatch already installed - import, power on, done.

Recommended

Dispatch listens on the standard SMTP ports 25 and 587. Install it on a host with no other SMTP software (Postfix, Sendmail, Exim, …) so those ports are free - otherwise it falls back to 2525. See SMTP listener.

Already running? See Upgrading for in-place upgrades.