Deployment overview

Dispatch runs anywhere .NET 10 reaches, using its bundled SQLite database by default - no database server to install. Download the latest builds, then 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
☁️ Azure (one-click)	Trying it on Azure fast	Azure
📦 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 database schema is created and migrated automatically on first start.

• Docker, Linux, and Windows all default to the bundled SQLite database - no server to install, configure, or patch. Point any of them at a PostgreSQL, MariaDB/MySQL, or SQL Server you already run instead if you’d rather use one.
• The virtual appliance is a prebuilt Ubuntu VM with Dispatch and its bundled SQLite database 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.