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Yes—you can run Campfire on your own VPS. The supported choices are ONCE’s guided installer or the official Docker image. ONCE is the easier route because it combines installation, HTTPS setup, updates, and backups. Docker gives you finer control over image tags, environment variables, storage, and TLS, but you must operate each of those pieces yourself.
This guide covers sizing, DNS, both deployment methods, persistent storage, HTTPS, first-run administration, upgrades, backups, and the operational limits that matter before you put a Campfire instance into service.
What self-hosted Campfire provides
Campfire is ONCE’s installable, self-hosted group chat system. It runs on infrastructure you control rather than on a shared hosted service. The application includes rooms, direct messages, mentions, search, file attachments, mobile web and progressive web app support, and an HTTP API for bots. It is released as open-source software under the MIT License.
A VPS from a cloud provider is a suitable host. ONCE specifically identifies AWS, DigitalOcean, and Hetzner as locations where Campfire can run. You need a server with a public IP address, a domain name you control, and a way to connect to the machine with administrative privileges.
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Campfire is single-tenant. Every user in one installation can see that installation’s public rooms. If two customer groups must be isolated from one another, deploy separate Campfire instances rather than trying to divide one installation into private tenants.
Choose a VPS size before installing
ONCE publishes the following concurrent-user guidance. “Concurrent users” means users connected and active at the same time, not the total number of accounts in the database.
| Published concurrency | RAM | CPU | Planning interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 concurrent users | 2 GB | 1 CPU | Small team or pilot installation |
| 1,000 concurrent users | 8 GB | 4 CPU | Mid-sized team with regular file and message activity |
| 5,000 concurrent users | 32 GB | 16 CPU | Large deployment with substantial simultaneous traffic |
| 10,000 concurrent users | 64 GB | 32 CPU | Very large installation; plan capacity and monitoring carefully |
These are ONCE’s published figures, not a guarantee for every workload. Leave additional capacity for the operating system, Docker or ONCE services, monitoring, backups, indexing, file uploads, and traffic spikes. A team that expects 250 connected users should not treat a 2 GB machine as having 2 GB available exclusively to Campfire.
Storage planning
Campfire stores its SQLite database and uploaded attachments in the persistent storage directory. Select a VPS disk large enough for current attachments, database growth, temporary backup archives, and at least one local recovery copy. The published sizing table specifies memory and CPU, but it does not prescribe a universal disk size; attachment retention and backup policy determine that number.
Network and access requirements
- A stable public IPv4 address, and IPv6 if your users require it.
- Inbound TCP access to port 80 for HTTP and certificate challenges.
- Inbound TCP access to port 443 for HTTPS when Campfire handles TLS.
- SSH or equivalent administrative access for installation and maintenance.
- A DNS record such as
chat.example.compointing to the VPS address.
ONCE versus manual Docker
Both methods run the same Campfire application. The difference is who owns the operational work.
| Decision area | ONCE | Manual Docker |
|---|---|---|
| Initial setup | Guided installer and setup flow | You create the container, storage mount, secrets, and environment variables |
| Updates | Installation checks for updates daily; automatic behavior can be disabled | You pull an image and recreate the container; migrations run at boot |
| Backups | Backups are integrated into the ONCE operating model | You run the documented backup preparation command and copy archives off-server |
| Image and configuration control | Less low-level control | Choose image tags and set environment variables directly |
| TLS | Handled as part of the ONCE deployment experience | Campfire can obtain certificates itself, or you can put it behind another reverse proxy |
| Operational burden | Lowest; ONCE coordinates common tasks | Higher; you own secrets, storage, TLS, upgrades, and recovery |
Choose ONCE when the priority is a maintained installation with minimal infrastructure work. Choose Docker when you already operate containers, need explicit version pinning, or must integrate Campfire with an existing proxy, network, and backup system.
Deploy with the ONCE CLI
1. Provision the VPS and DNS
- Create a VPS with enough memory and CPU for your expected concurrent population, plus operational headroom.
- Point a DNS A or AAAA record such as
chat.example.comat the server’s address. Wait for the record to resolve before requesting a certificate. - Confirm that you can log in to the machine and that required firewall ports are reachable.
2. Install ONCE
Run the official installer on the VPS:
curl https://get.once.com | shThe installer adds the ONCE command-line tooling. Review the shell output and keep the installation account’s administrative access protected.
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3. Select Campfire in the setup flow
Start the ONCE setup process and choose Campfire when prompted. ONCE guides the initial configuration and provides the integrated operating path for updates and backups.
4. Deploy directly from the command line when needed
If you prefer an explicit command, deploy the Campfire image with:
once deploy ghcr.io/basecamp/once-campfire --host chat.example.comReplace the host value with the DNS name that resolves to this VPS. The host name is also the name users will use to reach the service.
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Open the host in a browser and finish the admin-account wizard. Create the initial administrator account and use an address that your team monitors. Campfire displays that email address on the login page as the contact for password-help requests, so entering a dormant address creates an avoidable support problem.
6. Verify the installation
- Load the site over HTTPS and confirm that the browser reports a valid certificate.
- Sign in with the new administrator account.
- Create a test room, send a message, attach a small file, and verify search.
- Test the mobile web or PWA experience from a phone on a different network.
- Confirm that the VPS disk has free space and that ONCE reports the instance as healthy.
Deploy the official Docker image manually
The official image is ghcr.io/basecamp/once-campfire:latest. It bundles the web application, background jobs, caching, file serving, and SSL support. Manual deployment requires a Docker-capable machine, persistent storage, and the required environment variables.
1. Install and secure Docker
Install a supported Docker Engine on the VPS using your operating system’s documented package source. Restrict Docker administration to trusted operators: access to the Docker socket is effectively host-level access.
2. Generate the instance secrets
Generate secrets from the image:
docker run --rm ghcr.io/basecamp/once-campfire:latest script/admin/generate-secretsRecord the values in a password manager or another protected secret store. Keep SECRET_KEY_BASE, VAPID_PRIVATE_KEY, and VAPID_PUBLIC_KEY unchanged across restarts and upgrades. Replacing them can invalidate encrypted data or browser push subscriptions.
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3. Create persistent storage
Mount a persistent volume at /rails/storage. This directory contains the SQLite database and uploaded attachments. Without the mount, replacing the container can remove the data that makes the installation useful.
4. Let Campfire terminate HTTPS
For Campfire to obtain and renew a Let’s Encrypt certificate, publish ports 80 and 443 and set TLS_DOMAIN to the public DNS name. A complete example is:
docker run
--name campfire
--publish 80:80 --publish 443:443
--restart unless-stopped
--volume campfire:/rails/storage
--env SECRET_KEY_BASE=$YOUR_SECRET_KEY_BASE
--env VAPID_PUBLIC_KEY=$YOUR_PUBLIC_KEY
--env VAPID_PRIVATE_KEY=$YOUR_PRIVATE_KEY
--env TLS_DOMAIN=chat.example.com
ghcr.io/basecamp/once-campfire:latestReplace each shell variable with the generated value and replace chat.example.com with your real domain. The VPS firewall and any provider-level firewall must allow inbound ports 80 and 443. DNS must resolve to this server before certificate issuance can succeed.
5. Put Campfire behind an existing reverse proxy
If another reverse proxy already terminates TLS, set DISABLE_SSL=true and publish the application’s HTTP port instead:
docker run
--name campfire
--publish 80:80
--restart unless-stopped
--volume campfire:/rails/storage
--env SECRET_KEY_BASE=$YOUR_SECRET_KEY_BASE
--env VAPID_PUBLIC_KEY=$YOUR_PUBLIC_KEY
--env VAPID_PRIVATE_KEY=$YOUR_PRIVATE_KEY
--env DISABLE_SSL=true
ghcr.io/basecamp/once-campfire:latestConfigure the proxy to forward the public HTTPS hostname to the container and preserve WebSocket or upgrade headers if your proxy requires explicit handling. Keep the container’s HTTP port private to the proxy or firewall; it does not need to be exposed broadly on the internet.
6. Finish first run
Browse to the configured hostname and complete the admin wizard. The same email-address behavior applies: the address entered for the first administrator is shown to users who need password help.
HTTPS and DNS checks
HTTPS protects credentials, messages, attachments, and API traffic in transit. Before troubleshooting the application, verify the lower layers:
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- Resolve
chat.example.comfrom a public DNS resolver and confirm it returns the VPS address. - Check that no old A or AAAA record sends some users to a different server.
- Allow TCP 80 and 443 through the VPS firewall and cloud firewall.
- Ensure no other process is already bound to the ports Campfire must publish.
- If Campfire manages TLS, leave
TLS_DOMAINset to the exact public hostname. - If a proxy manages TLS, set
DISABLE_SSL=trueand verify the proxy forwards requests to the container’s HTTP listener.
Certificate issuance can fail when DNS still points elsewhere, port 80 is blocked, or a proxy intercepts the challenge path. Correct those conditions and restart or recreate the container according to the deployment method.
Persistence, upgrades, and version control
Protect the storage volume
The /rails/storage mount is the critical state boundary for a Docker deployment. Back it up, monitor its disk usage, and do not replace it casually during container maintenance. It contains both structured application data and user-uploaded files.
Upgrade a Docker installation
Pull a newer image and recreate the container with the same volume and the same secret values. Pending database migrations run automatically at boot. Reusing the volume and secrets is essential; changing either can make the upgraded container appear empty or unable to decrypt existing data.
Use latest when you want the most recent tagged release supplied by the image stream. Pin a specific version tag when you need predictable change control and a scheduled upgrade process. Before changing versions, make a verified backup and record the currently running tag.
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ONCE installations check for updates daily by default. The product documentation says this behavior can be disabled when you require manual update approval. Whichever policy you choose, define an owner for security updates and test restoration before a major change.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Back up Campfire correctly
Campfire uses SQLite, so copying the live database file while the application is running can produce an inconsistent backup. Prepare a snapshot first.
- Run the backup-preparation command inside the running container:
docker exec campfire script/admin/prepare-backupThe command creates a consistent snapshot under storage/backups/ inside the mounted storage volume.
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- Archive the full storage volume, including the prepared backup and uploaded attachments.
- Copy the resulting archive off the VPS to storage that is not dependent on the same server or disk.
- Protect the archive because it contains messages, account data, and uploaded files.
- Periodically perform a test restore on a separate machine or isolated volume. A backup that has never been restored is an assumption, not a recovery plan.
For an ONCE-managed installation, use the integrated backup workflow, then ensure copies are retained away from the VPS. An off-server copy limits the damage from disk failure, accidental deletion, or a compromised host.
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- Capacity: Monitor RAM, CPU, disk space, and concurrent connections against the published sizing level.
- Storage: Track attachment growth and the size of backup archives; schedule retention so the disk cannot fill silently.
- Security: Apply operating-system security updates, restrict SSH, use key-based access, and limit Docker administration.
- Secrets: Store the three generated secrets outside shell history and keep them identical during every restart and upgrade.
- HTTPS: Check certificate renewal and test access from outside the VPS network.
- Recovery: Document the VPS provider, DNS records, deployment command, image tag, volume name, secret location, and restore procedure.
- Application tests: Periodically exercise login, room messaging, direct messages, file uploads, search, mentions, PWA access, and any bot using the HTTP API.
Troubleshoot common failures
The domain opens the wrong server
Check A and AAAA records, DNS caching, and the VPS public address. Remove stale records or update them before attempting certificate issuance.
Let’s Encrypt cannot issue a certificate
Confirm that the hostname resolves publicly, port 80 reaches this VPS, and no other service occupies ports 80 or 443. If a separate proxy already owns TLS, use DISABLE_SSL=true rather than running two competing certificate terminators.
The site is empty after recreating the container
Inspect the container definition and verify that the original persistent volume is mounted at exactly /rails/storage. A new anonymous volume or a misspelled volume name creates a fresh database.
Users lose access to push notifications
Verify that the original VAPID_PUBLIC_KEY and VAPID_PRIVATE_KEY are still configured. Do not generate replacement keys during an ordinary restart or upgrade.
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An upgrade fails during startup
Review container logs, confirm that the storage volume is writable and has free space, and verify that all required environment variables are present. Restore the last known-good image tag and backup if the failure is caused by the new release.
Backups do not restore correctly
Do not rely on a live SQLite file copied during activity. Recreate the prepared snapshot with script/admin/prepare-backup, archive the complete storage volume, and test the archive on an isolated instance.
Which deployment path should you use?
Use ONCE when
- You want the shortest path from a fresh VPS to a working Campfire site.
- You prefer integrated update and backup handling.
- You do not need to tune every container and proxy setting.
- Your team wants a guided operational model rather than a custom platform build.
Use Docker when
- You already maintain Docker workloads and standardize deployments through image tags.
- You need to place Campfire behind an existing HTTPS reverse proxy.
- You require explicit control over environment variables, volumes, firewall exposure, and release timing.
- You have staff responsible for backups, upgrades, monitoring, and incident recovery.
For most first-time self-hosters, start with ONCE on a properly sized VPS and a dedicated hostname. Move to a manually managed Docker deployment only when the additional control solves a real networking, compliance, or release-management requirement.
