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You can run YaCy on a VPS either as a Docker container or from source. Docker is the shortest repeatable route: publish YaCy’s web ports, mount /opt/yacy_search_server/DATA on persistent storage, and keep the container configured to restart. A source build gives you more control but requires JDK 17 or newer, Git, and Ant.

For a private search portal, keep the interface reachable only from trusted networks. For a public service, place YaCy behind a domain, Nginx, and Certbot so visitors use HTTPS, change the default remote password before exposure, and back up the DATA directory before upgrades.

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What YaCy does on a VPS

YaCy is a distributed Web Search Engine based on a peer-to-peer network. Each peer can crawl and index content, search its own index, and exchange index information with other YaCy installations. You can therefore operate it as a private search portal for your own material, an organization-wide search service, or a participant in a decentralized web index.

A VPS supplies an always-on Unix-like host, a public network address, storage, and administrative access. YaCy’s official materials describe it as resource hungry when it is used for indexing and searching. They do not publish a current numeric minimum for CPU, memory, disk, or bandwidth, so there is no universally correct VPS size. Capacity depends on crawl scope, document volume, query traffic, peer participation, and how quickly you expect indexing to proceed.

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Before choosing a plan, decide whether the service is private or public and whether the peer-to-peer network is part of your design. Those choices determine firewall rules, authentication, privacy expectations, and how much work the VPS performs.

Choose an operating mode before installing

Private or public portal

Decision Private operation Public operation
Network exposure Limit access to localhost, a VPN, or trusted source networks. Publish a domain endpoint and put YaCy behind an HTTPS reverse proxy.
Administration Keep the administration interface reachable only from operators. Separate public search access from administration access and restrict administrative paths.
Authentication Local access does not require a password; remote access does. Change the default remote credentials before allowing network access.
Infrastructure A domain and certificate are optional when users connect through a private network. The Unix deployment guide calls for Nginx, Certbot, a domain name, and a service manager such as systemd or runit.
Resource profile Usually limited by your own crawl and query workload. Public queries, broader crawling, and peer traffic can increase CPU, memory, storage, and bandwidth demand.

Local index or peer-to-peer participation

Mode Index ownership Network sharing Practical implication
Local-only indexing You control the content crawled and retained by your peer. Keep peer exchange disabled or limited according to your operating policy. Best when privacy and predictable scope matter more than distributed discovery.
Peer-to-peer participation Your peer maintains its own index while exchanging index information through YaCy’s built-in protocol. Search breadth can benefit from other peers, but your host also performs network and indexing work. Review what content and metadata your installation shares before enabling public participation.

Neither mode has a published capacity guarantee. Treat crawl scope and peer settings as workload controls, then watch the VPS rather than assuming a fixed plan will handle every index.

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VPS prerequisites and preparation

Common requirements

  • A Unix-like VPS with administrator access for installing Docker or the source-build dependencies.
  • Persistent storage for YaCy’s DATA directory. A container’s writable layer is not a safe place for an index you need to keep.
  • Inbound firewall control so you can expose only the ports and source networks required by your design.
  • A backup method for the persistent DATA storage.

Additional requirements for a public HTTPS service

  • A domain name pointing to the VPS.
  • Nginx to act as the reverse proxy.
  • Certbot to obtain and renew a TLS certificate.
  • A service manager such as systemd or runit if you are following the Unix service layout.

The reverse-proxy guide also lists Wget and OpenJDK 17 among its Unix-host requirements. Those requirements apply to that source-oriented deployment path; a Docker deployment does not need Java installed on the VPS host because Java runs inside the image.

Plan the ports

YaCy’s web interface uses port 8090 by default. The official Docker pattern publishes host ports 8090 and 8443, with the container serving the corresponding YaCy endpoints. Port 8090 is the normal HTTP administration and search interface. If you publish 8443, restrict it to the source networks that need it, or place the service behind your reverse proxy instead of exposing every interface directly.

The interface port can be changed in YaCy’s administration pages. If you change it, update the Docker port mapping, reverse-proxy target, firewall rules, monitoring checks, and any bookmarks together.

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Install YaCy with Docker

Docker is the most repeatable VPS installation because the official image bundles the Java runtime and application. The published image is yacy/yacy_search_server:latest for an amd64 VPS; the official installation page also lists arm64v8 and arm32v7 image tags for those architectures. Confirm the tag that matches your VPS architecture before starting.

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1. Create a persistent volume and start the container

The following pattern follows the official settings: publish ports 8090 and 8443, mount a named volume at YaCy’s DATA path, and restart unless stopped.

docker volume create yacy_data
docker run -d 
  --name yacy 
  -p 8090:8090 
  -p 8443:8443 
  -v yacy_data:/opt/yacy_search_server/DATA 
  --restart unless-stopped 
  yacy/yacy_search_server:latest

The official images are hosted on Docker Hub. The named volume is the important part: it keeps the index, configuration, and other DATA contents outside the replaceable container layer.

2. Check startup locally

  1. Wait for the first startup to finish, then inspect the container output with docker logs yacy.
  2. From the VPS itself, open http://localhost:8090. A working installation presents YaCy’s web interface.
  3. If the VPS is remote, use your existing private access method or reverse proxy rather than opening the administration interface broadly just to test it.

A container that is running but has no usable page usually indicates a port collision, an incomplete startup, or a firewall path that does not reach the host. Check the logs and the host’s port ownership before changing YaCy settings.

3. Change the default remote password

The Docker instructions specify the default remote account as admin with password yacy. Change it before allowing remote access. In the web interface, use /ConfigAccounts_p.html. For a headless installation, the documented command is:

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bin/passwd.sh <password>

Local access does not require a password, while remote access does. This distinction is useful for an operator working on the VPS, but it is not a substitute for firewall restrictions.

4. Confirm the data mount

Use docker inspect yacy and verify that the named volume is mounted at /opt/yacy_search_server/DATA. If you later recreate the container with a different volume name or omit the mount, YaCy will start with a new DATA directory and appear to have lost its index even though the old volume still exists.

Install YaCy from source

Building from source is useful when you need direct control over the checkout, build process, or service integration. It requires JDK 17 or newer, Git, and Ant. YaCy can run under a normal user account; root is not required for the application process.

1. Install the build dependencies on Debian or Ubuntu

sudo apt update
sudo apt install openjdk-17-jdk-headless ant git

On another Unix-like distribution, install equivalent packages that provide JDK 17 or newer, Ant, and Git. Keep the application files and DATA directory owned by the account that will run YaCy rather than running the search engine as root.

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2. Clone and build the project

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/yacy/yacy_search_server.git
cd yacy_search_server
ant clean all dist

The source repository is available at github.com/yacy/yacy_search_server.git. The documented build sequence cleans previous artifacts, compiles the project, and creates the distribution.

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3. Start the peer

./startYACY.sh

After startup, open http://localhost:8090. For a long-running VPS service, connect this process to your chosen service manager and keep its DATA directory on persistent storage. The source instructions do not prescribe one universal service unit, so match the service account, working directory, restart behavior, and log handling to your operating system.

Docker versus source

Axis Docker Source build
Reproducibility Pin and recreate the documented image with the same run options. Reproduce the checkout and Ant build with the required JDK, Git, and Ant versions.
Host dependencies No Java installation is needed on the VPS host. Requires JDK 17 or newer, Git, and Ant.
Persistence Mount /opt/yacy_search_server/DATA on a named or host-mounted volume. Keep the application’s DATA directory on durable storage outside disposable build artifacts.
Upgrade procedure Stop and remove the old container, pull the desired image, and recreate it with the same volume. Build and restart the selected source revision using your service process.
Rollback Recreate the container with the previous image tag and the same DATA volume. Check out and rebuild the earlier source revision, taking care to preserve compatible DATA contents.

Put a public YaCy service behind HTTPS

A public search portal should not expose an unprotected administration surface directly on the VPS. The official Unix deployment model places YaCy behind Nginx and uses Certbot for HTTPS. YaCy listens on its local interface port, while Nginx accepts the domain request, terminates TLS, and proxies the search page to YaCy.

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Recommended traffic flow

  1. Point a domain’s DNS record at the VPS address.
  2. Run YaCy on its local web port, normally 8090.
  3. Configure Nginx as the public reverse proxy for that domain and forward requests to YaCy’s local endpoint.
  4. Use Certbot to obtain and renew the certificate for the domain.
  5. Allow only the public web traffic and the private administration access your design requires. Keep direct access to YaCy’s 8090 and 8443 ports restricted unless a specific operator or integration needs them.

The exact Nginx server block and firewall syntax depends on your distribution, DNS arrangement, and whether another service already occupies the public web ports. What should not change is the boundary: users reach the domain over HTTPS, while the YaCy administration interface remains limited to trusted operators.

When to publish 8443

The Docker pattern includes host port 8443 for YaCy’s HTTPS endpoint. You can use it for a controlled direct connection, but publishing it to the entire internet is not automatically safer than using a reverse proxy. If 8443 is enabled, limit the firewall to the source networks that need it and keep your certificate, hostname, and authentication plan consistent with the rest of the deployment.

Secure the installation before crawling or sharing

  • Replace the default password: change admin/yacy through /ConfigAccounts_p.html or run bin/passwd.sh <password> before remote access.
  • Restrict administration: expose search traffic and administration through separate access controls where possible.
  • Use TLS for public users: terminate HTTPS at Nginx with a certificate managed by Certbot.
  • Minimize open ports: expose only the interface and proxy ports your topology needs, and restrict 8443 if it is published.
  • Protect the DATA directory: include it in backups and limit filesystem access to the YaCy service account and trusted administrators.
  • Decide what to share: peer-to-peer exchange can broaden discovery, but it also means your peer participates in a distributed network. Use local-only operation when your content or metadata should remain under your control.
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Keep the index through upgrades

Container replacement is safe only when the DATA directory survives it. The official Docker upgrade pattern is to stop and remove the old container, pull the newer image, and recreate the container with the same persistent volume.

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Upgrade sequence

  1. Record the current image tag and container options, including both port mappings, the restart policy, and the DATA volume name.
  2. Back up the DATA volume using your VPS provider’s snapshot/export facility or your established volume-backup process.
  3. Stop the running container:
docker stop yacy
  1. Remove the container without removing the volume:
docker rm yacy
  1. Pull the desired image tag:
docker pull yacy/yacy_search_server:latest
  1. Recreate the container with the same volume, ports, and restart policy:
docker run -d 
  --name yacy 
  -p 8090:8090 
  -p 8443:8443 
  -v yacy_data:/opt/yacy_search_server/DATA 
  --restart unless-stopped 
  yacy/yacy_search_server:latest
  1. Open the interface on port 8090, review docker logs yacy, and verify that the existing index and configuration are present before restoring public traffic.

For controlled rollbacks, replace latest with the previously recorded image tag and recreate the container against the same backed-up or verified volume. Keeping a tag record matters because a moving tag can point to a different image later.

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Common persistence mistakes

  • Starting the first container without a DATA mount, then adding a volume during the upgrade. The original index remains inside the removed container layer.
  • Creating a new volume name during recreation. YaCy sees an empty DATA directory even though the old volume still contains the index.
  • Deleting the volume while cleaning up the old container. Removing a container and removing its volume are separate actions; preserve the volume until the replacement has been validated.

Indexing, crawling, and capacity expectations

A YaCy peer can crawl pages, build a local index, answer searches against that index, and exchange index information with other peers. The work is continuous rather than a one-time installation step: larger crawl scopes create more storage and processing demand, while public queries add concurrent search work.

There is no current authoritative table of minimum VPS specifications in the official material used here. Do not treat a particular CPU count, memory amount, disk size, or bandwidth figure as a YaCy guarantee. Instead, choose a plan with enough persistent storage for the corpus you intend to retain, then observe the host while crawling and serving queries. Increase resources or narrow the crawl when the VPS cannot keep up.

Practical sizing questions

  • How many pages and documents will be crawled, and will that set grow continuously?
  • Will the peer answer only your users’ searches or a public audience?
  • Will it exchange index information with other peers?
  • How long can indexing take before the result is useful?
  • How much spare storage is available for growth, logs, and backups?

Answering these questions is more reliable than selecting a fixed plan based on an unsupported “minimum” specification.

Operate and troubleshoot the VPS deployment

The page on port 8090 does not load

  • Confirm the container or source process is running.
  • Check the application output with docker logs yacy for Docker deployments.
  • Test locally at http://localhost:8090 to separate YaCy startup problems from firewall or reverse-proxy problems.
  • Check whether another process already occupies the host port. If you changed YaCy’s interface port, update the host mapping and proxy target together.

Remote access works locally but not over the network

  • Review the VPS firewall and provider-level network rules.
  • Confirm that the domain resolves to the correct VPS address.
  • Verify that Nginx is forwarding to the actual YaCy port.
  • Do not solve the problem by opening every port; expose only the path required by your private or public design.

The index appears empty after an upgrade

  • Inspect the recreated container’s mount and confirm it points to /opt/yacy_search_server/DATA.
  • Compare the volume name with the one recorded before the upgrade.
  • Check that the backup or snapshot was taken before the old container was removed.
  • If the old volume still exists, stop the replacement and recreate it against that original volume rather than starting a second fresh index.

Remote login is rejected

Verify that you are using the changed remote password. The documented default is admin/yacy, and relying on it after opening network access is unsafe. Local access and remote access follow different authentication behavior, so test from the same network path your users will use.

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The VPS becomes resource constrained

Reduce crawl scope or peer activity, review query traffic, and monitor storage growth. YaCy’s official FAQ cautions that indexing and searching are resource hungry, but it does not define a universal threshold at which a VPS is sufficient. Treat sustained resource pressure as a sizing or workload decision, not as a missing configuration switch.

Deployment checklist

  1. Choose private versus public access and local-only versus peer-to-peer operation.
  2. Select Docker for a repeatable image-based deployment or source for direct build control.
  3. Prepare persistent storage for /opt/yacy_search_server/DATA.
  4. Install the required host dependencies: Docker for the container path, or JDK 17+, Git, and Ant for source.
  5. Start YaCy and verify http://localhost:8090.
  6. Change the remote administrator password before enabling network access.
  7. For public use, configure a domain, Nginx, Certbot, and restricted firewall rules.
  8. Back up DATA and record the image tag or source revision before each upgrade.
  9. After upgrades, verify logs, the web interface, the existing index, and the reverse-proxy path before reopening public traffic.

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