How To Install and Configure Coolify on Linux (Ubuntu) on Hetzner

Coolify is a free and open-source platform that simplifies hosting web applications, databases, and various services (such as WordPress, Formbricks, and Grafana) without the need for direct server management.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to install and set up Coolify on a Hetzner Cloud Server running Ubuntu. The steps provided should also work on other Linux distributions supported by Coolify.

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1. Prerequisites

A fresh Ubuntu Server

• Preferably Ubuntu 20.04 or 22.04 (64-bit/AMD64 or ARM64).
• Make sure you have at least 2 vCPUs, 2 GB RAM, and 30 GB storage available for comfortable Coolify usage. These servers will be perfect.

Root access

• You can either be logged in as the root user or use sudo for administrative privileges.

SSH key (recommended)

Strongly recommended for secure server access.

A custom domain (optional but recommended)

• If you want to set up HTTPS with a proper domain name, you’ll need DNS records pointing to your server’s IP.

2. Update and Prepare Your Ubuntu Server

2.1 — Log in as Root or Use sudo

• If you’re not already the root user, switch to root:

sudo -i

2.2 — Update Your Packages

• Let’s keep the server tidy and up to date:

apt update && apt dist-upgrade -y

2.3 — Install curl

• If curl is not already installed, make sure to install it:

apt install curl -y

Tip: It’s always good practice to keep your server updated and well-maintained to avoid unexpected issues.

3. Install Coolify

Installing Coolify on Ubuntu is straightforward thanks to its provided install script.

Run the Installation Script:

curl -fsSL https://cdn.coollabs.io/coolify/install.sh | bash

Verify Installation:

• If everything goes well, you’ll see a success message similar to:

Congratulations, Your Coolify instance is ready to use. Please visit http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:8000 to get started.

• This means the Coolify services are up and running on your server.

4. Create Your Coolify Account

1. Access the Coolify Dashboard

• Open a web browser and go to:

http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:8000

• For example: http://203.0.113.1:8000 (replace with your actual IP).

2. Register a New Account

Provide an email address and password of your choice. Make sure to keep this information safe; you’ll need it to log in later.

5. (Optional) Configure a Domain with HTTPS

If you want to access Coolify via a secure HTTPS connection (which is recommended for production setups), you’ll need a domain name.

5.1 — Configure Your DNS

• In your DNS registrar or hosting provider’s dashboard (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, etc.), create the following A records:

• Replace 203.0.113.1 with the actual IP of your server.
• @ typically represents your root domain (e.g., example.com).
• * (wildcard record) allows using any subdomain (e.g., app.example.com).

5.2 — Point Coolify to Your Domain

1. Go to Settings in the Coolify dashboard.
2. Under Instance Domain, enter your domain (e.g., example.com).
3. Wait a few minutes for DNS propagation.
4. Visit https://example.com in your browser once the SSL certificate is set up. Coolify handles SSL automatically.

Using Hetzner Firewall

If you’re on Hetzner, you can also use their Cloud Firewall feature instead of UFW:

1. Go to Firewalls in the Hetzner Cloud Console.
2. Create inbound rules for ports 22, 80, and 443.
3. Attach the firewall configuration to your server.
4. Disable local firewall (UFW) if it’s conflicting with Hetzner’s firewall.

Conclusion

Congrats! You’ve successfully installed Coolify on Ubuntu, created your account, optionally set up a custom domain, and enabled a firewall. With this setup, you have a flexible, user-friendly platform for deploying various applications without manually handling complicated server configurations.

Feel free to explore Coolify’s features:

• Deploy containerized applications (Docker images, Node.js apps, etc.).
• Set up databases like PostgreSQL, MySQL, or MongoDB with a few clicks.
• Monitor logs and scale your services.

Remember to keep your server updated, manage your DNS records properly, and maintain secure credentials. Good luck, have fun, and enjoy the simplicity Coolify brings to application hosting!

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