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To reimage a server for Cloudron, provision it with a fresh, supported Ubuntu installation first, then run Cloudron’s setup script. Cloudron’s installation guide currently specifies Ubuntu Resolute 26.04, x64; a reimage is not itself a Cloudron installation. If you are replacing an existing server, protect its backup and follow the separate restore or migration process before retiring the old system.

What does Cloudron require on the reimaged server?

Cloudron’s current installation guide specifies a fresh Ubuntu Resolute 26.04 x64 server, at least 2 GB of RAM, and 20 GB of disk space. Ports 80 (HTTP) and 443 (HTTPS) must be reachable. Cloudron says it does not support ARM, LXC, Docker, or OpenVZ. Check the official installation requirements before provisioning, since supported releases and setup instructions can change.

The 20 GB disk figure is a minimum, not a guarantee that a server has room for your workload or a restored installation. Docker and app images, app and platform data, and mail all use storage. Check the old server’s actual usage and provision enough capacity for it to grow; Cloudron’s server documentation describes storage considerations.

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How do you reimage the server and install Cloudron?

  1. Choose the right path. If this is a new installation, continue with a fresh-server setup. If you need to preserve an existing Cloudron system, make a backup first and use the restore or migration steps below.
  2. Provision fresh Ubuntu. In your hosting provider’s control panel, select its fresh Ubuntu Resolute 26.04 x64 image or equivalent provisioning option. The exact reimage controls vary by provider; Cloudron does not supply a universal reimage control or a prebuilt Cloudron disk image. Confirm the architecture, RAM, disk, public IP, and firewall configuration.
  3. Prepare network access and DNS. Make sure ports 80 and 443 are not blocked. Cloudron requires a domain. If you manage DNS manually, point the my subdomain to the server’s public IP and prepare app subdomain records before installing apps. Port 80 is needed for HTTP certificate validation. See Cloudron’s domain and certificate guidance.
  4. Run the setup script. Connect to the server and run the commands shown in Cloudron’s installation guide:
wget https://cloudron.io/cloudron-setup
chmod +x cloudron-setup
./cloudron-setup
  1. Complete initial setup. When the script finishes, visit https://<IP> in a browser. Cloudron documents accepting the initial self-signed certificate prompt, then completing domain and administrator setup. Choose an automated DNS provider or a wildcard/manual configuration as appropriate; existing DNS records are not changed during installation.

Will reimaging delete your Cloudron apps and data?

Reimaging replaces the server’s operating system and can erase data on its disks. Treat it as destructive: do not start until you have confirmed that anything you need is backed up and that the backup is available independently of the server being reimaged. Cloudron warns that backups stored only on the same server should be downloaded before server changes.

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For an existing system, the correct follow-up depends on whether the old server is still accessible:

  • Old server unavailable; backups remain: use Cloudron’s Restore Cloudron procedure.
  • Old Cloudron installation accessible: use Move Cloudron to another server.

Cloudron documents a restored server as a clone of users, groups, email, apps, DNS settings, and certificates. The installed Cloudron version must match the version of the backup. If you installed the wrong version, Cloudron’s instructions say to start over with a fresh Ubuntu installation. Follow the applicable steps in Cloudron’s backup and restore documentation.

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How should you test a restore before switching DNS?

A dry-run restore skips DNS updates, so you can test the restored server without immediately directing live traffic to it. Cloudron documents using local /etc/hosts overrides to check the server. After the restore, verify that the Network view shows the new server’s IP and test the apps and data you depend on. When you are ready to switch, sync DNS or update records for the new IP as required by your DNS configuration.

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For wildcard, manual, or no-op DNS configurations, Cloudron says to update the dashboard domain to the new IP and ensure app domains point correctly for app restores. Keep the old server until the new installation and restored data are verified; only then shut it down or delete it.

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What should you check before starting?

  • The server will boot into a fresh, supported Ubuntu x64 installation, not a container or unsupported virtualization environment.
  • RAM and disk meet the documented minimums, and disk capacity also accounts for your existing data and expected growth.
  • Ports 80 and 443 are available through the provider firewall and any other network controls.
  • Your domain and DNS plan are ready, including records for the dashboard and app subdomains if you manage DNS manually.
  • If replacing an installation, a complete backup is accessible off-server, and you know whether you will restore from backup or move an accessible installation.
  • You know the Cloudron version associated with the backup and will install a matching version before restoring.

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