---
url: /relyai-acellemail/requirements.md
description: >-
  What your server and account need before you install RelyAI for AcelleMail —
  AcelleMail 4.0.24+, PHP 8.2+, the ionCube Loader, an AI provider, outbound
  HTTPS, and an active license.
---

# Requirements

Before you install RelyAI, take two minutes to confirm your AcelleMail server can run it. RelyAI is
an AcelleMail plugin, so if your install already runs AcelleMail you are most of the way there — the
one thing to double-check is the **ionCube Loader**, plus deciding which AI provider you'll connect.

## Server and software

| Requirement | Minimum |
| --- | --- |
| **AcelleMail** | 4.0.24 or newer |
| **PHP** | 8.2 or newer (runs on 8.2, 8.3, 8.4 and 8.5) |
| **ionCube Loader** | 13.0.2 or newer (see below) |
| **An AI provider** | An OpenAI or Anthropic API key, or a self-hosted / Ollama Cloud endpoint |
| **Outbound HTTPS** | To your AI provider and to relyweb.co for licensing and updates |
| **License** | An active RelyAI license |

## The ionCube Loader

RelyAI ships as an ionCube-encoded build, so your server needs the **ionCube Loader** — a small,
standard PHP extension that runs protected commercial software. It is the *same* loader AcelleMail
itself requires, so a server already running AcelleMail almost always has it and you rarely need to
install anything new.

You need **ionCube Loader 13.0.2 or newer**. The exact version tracks your PHP version, but one
encoded build runs on every supported PHP and loader version, so there is nothing to match up.

::: danger RelyAI will not run without ionCube
RelyAI's files are encoded, so without the ionCube Loader they cannot execute and the plugin will
not load at all. If RelyAI fails to appear or activate after upload, enable the **ionCube Loader
13.0.2 or newer** for your PHP version and try again.
:::

## Why an AI provider and a license

RelyAI does the plumbing, but the intelligence comes from an AI **engine** you connect — an OpenAI
or Anthropic API key, or a self-hosted / Ollama Cloud endpoint. You need at least one engine before
any AI feature can respond. Local Ollama models carry no per-token cost; OpenAI and Anthropic bill
you directly through their own consoles.

Every AI feature is also gated behind your **license**. Until a valid key is Active on this domain,
AI stays off and admins are prompted to enter a key. See [Licensing](/relyai-acellemail/licensing).

## How to check

* **AcelleMail version** — check your admin area's About / version page.
* **PHP and ionCube** — your host's PHP info page lists both the PHP version and whether the ionCube
  Loader is enabled.
* **Outbound HTTPS** — confirm your server can reach your AI provider and relyweb.co.
* **AI provider** — have an OpenAI or Anthropic API key ready, or an Ollama endpoint you can reach.

## Related pages

* [Installation](/relyai-acellemail/installation)
* [Connect an engine](/relyai-acellemail/guides/connect-an-engine)
* [Licensing](/relyai-acellemail/licensing)
* [Configuration](/relyai-acellemail/configuration)