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For a clean Coolify installation, start with a fresh Linux server, confirm SSH access and supported hardware, then run Coolify’s official installer over SSH. Coolify recommends a fresh server to avoid conflicts with existing applications. Reimaging is handled through your server provider’s operating-system reinstall or provisioning controls; it is not a Coolify feature.
Before you reimage or provision the server
Coolify’s self-hosting guide recommends a fresh server. If you plan to reuse a VPS or dedicated server, first back up anything you need: reinstalling its operating system can erase data. The exact reinstall process depends on the provider and machine, so use the provider’s control panel or documented recovery procedure.
Make sure you can reach the server over SSH before installing Coolify. The manual server guide calls for a reachable Linux server, console or password access, and an open SSH port—usually port 22. Its setup example uses root access and also links to guidance for setting up a non-root user. See the Coolify manual server guide.
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Coolify supports Linux-based systems. Its self-hosting guide lists Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS, Fedora, Red Hat, AlmaLinux, Rocky, TencentOS, Asahi, SLES, SUSE, openSUSE, Arch Linux, Alpine Linux, and 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS. Ubuntu non-LTS releases require manual installation, and some Red Hat-based variants may need Docker installed manually first. Raspberry Pi OS installations require arm64. The documented architectures are amd64 and arm64.
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| Requirement | Coolify’s stated minimum | What to plan for |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 2 cores | More capacity may be needed for application builds and deployments. |
| Memory | 2 GB RAM | Hosted applications and builds add to the load. |
| Disk | 10 GB free space | Leave additional room for Docker images, volumes, and backups. |
| Architecture | amd64 or arm64 | Raspberry Pi OS installations require arm64. |
These are Coolify’s documented minimums, not a guarantee that a particular production workload will fit. The project says smaller systems may run but are not recommended. Its guide gives one rough workload example—a Hetzner CAX11 with 4 GB memory, 2 vCPU, and 40 GB storage running a specific optimized mix of apps and services—but that is not a universal capacity recommendation. Check the official self-hosting guide for current requirements and operating-system notes.
Install Coolify over SSH
- Provision a fresh server with a supported Linux image, or use your provider’s documented process to reinstall the operating system on an existing machine.
- Confirm SSH connectivity and review your firewall or network rules so you can reach the server.
- Check the distribution, architecture, CPU, RAM, and free disk space against Coolify’s requirements. Allow extra room for your planned workloads.
- Connect to the server over SSH and run the official self-hosting installer:
curl -fsSL https://cdn.coollabs.io/coolify/install.sh | bash - Follow the next steps printed by the installer.
What server validation does
When you add or validate a server, Coolify tests SSH access, inspects the operating system and available tools, installs or verifies Docker Engine and Docker Compose, records server information, and starts the proxy. Validation on a new server can take several minutes. The manual server guide explains the process.
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Validation can install Docker or restart the Docker service. That may temporarily interrupt containers already running on the server, another reason to prefer a fresh machine rather than one hosting live applications.
Choose where the Coolify control plane runs
Reimaging prepares a workload server; it does not determine who operates the Coolify control plane. With self-hosted Coolify, the instance runs on infrastructure you control. It starts with a localhost server that can also run deployed resources, so dashboard activity and application workloads share resources. For production workloads, Coolify suggests considering a separate remote server so application activity does not affect the Coolify instance.
Rank #3
- Adjustable Depth: 23-40'' adjustable depth is used for servers and network equipment, ensuring enough space for AV equipment, components, and cabling, while allowing you to access ports and equipment from multiple sides.
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- Complete Accessories: We provide the accessories you need, including 2 x Pallets, 145 x M5*10 Cross Head Screws, 4 x Casters, 4 x M10*50 Expansion Screws,10 x M6*12 Cage Nuts, 1 x Grounding Wire, 1 x User Manual.
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With Coolify Cloud, the Coolify team operates the control plane, but you still provide and manage the servers that run your applications. You remain responsible for those servers’ operating-system updates, firewall policy, application and database data, and workload backups. Cloud therefore avoids operating the Coolify control plane yourself; it does not provide the server for your workloads. See the Coolify Cloud overview.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Pick a server image based on your setup
Coolify’s guide does not rank supported distributions or providers as universally best. Choose an image that fits your server’s architecture and that you can maintain, then check its SSH access and Docker prerequisites. If you use Ubuntu, note the manual-installation caveat for non-LTS releases; on some Red Hat-based distributions, plan to install Docker manually if needed.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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