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Step 1Open the server Apps tab
Select the tutorial-vps VPS, open the Apps tab, and start a new app deployment. Keep sensitive server details hidden before capturing or sharing screenshots.
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Docling Serve
Development2048MB+ RAM
IBM's open-source document parser — convert PDF/DOCX/PPTX/HTML/images into structured Markdown or JSON via a REST API
developmentdevtoolsdoclingserveopen-sourceself-hosteddocker
Deploy Docling Serve in 3 Steps
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Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
2
Select Docling Serve
Choose from our template library
3
Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy Docling Serve on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the Docling Serve template in Server Compass to deploy a self-hosted document conversion API and playground UI on your VPS, then verify the OpenAPI interface.
About 10 minutesBrowser verified
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Step 2Choose an app template
Click New App and choose the template deployment path so Server Compass can load the built-in catalog.
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Step 3Search for Docling Serve
Use the template picker search to find Docling Serve in the Server Compass template catalog.
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Step 4Select the Docling Serve template
Choose the Docling Serve template. Server Compass fills the API service, playground UI flag, and public web port.
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Step 5Review the Docling Serve settings
Confirm the app name and compose service. In this run, the app was named docling-serve-demo and used host port 4249.
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Step 6Deploy Docling Serve
Review the generated compose settings, confirm the Docling Serve web port is available, and click Deploy.
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Step 7Watch the deployment progress
Keep the deployment modal open while Server Compass uploads the compose file, pulls the Docling Serve image, starts the container, and verifies the stack.
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Step 8Confirm Docling Serve is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the Docling Serve app is marked Running with its application URL available.
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Step 9Open Docling Serve in the browser
Open the application URL in a browser. The Docling Serve playground or OpenAPI page confirms the document conversion API is reachable.
After Docling Serve Opens
- Place Docling Serve behind HTTPS, a VPN, or an authenticated reverse proxy before handling private documents.
- Pre-warm the service with a harmless sample conversion so the first real request does not pay the model download cost.
- Avoid sending sensitive documents over plain HTTP.
- Pin the Docling Serve image in production if you need repeatable conversion behavior.
- Monitor disk usage because first-run model downloads can be large.
- Test with harmless sample documents before routing private files through the API.
- Keep the Docling Serve image updated for parser and dependency fixes.
Verified Result
The Docling Serve interface loaded successfully from the deployed container.
Docling Serve deployment questions
What does the Docling Serve template deploy?
It deploys IBM Docling Serve as a REST API with the optional playground/OpenAPI interface enabled.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host port 4249, which maps to the Docling Serve API and UI on container port 5001.
Does Docling Serve need setup after deployment?
No account setup is required. Open the playground or OpenAPI docs and test with a harmless sample file or URL.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the Docling Serve template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
After Deployment
After deploying Docling Serve with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
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Open http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:{{PORT}}/ui to see the in-browser playground
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Upload a sample PDF or paste a URL and convert it to Markdown
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Check the /docs endpoint for the full OpenAPI spec
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Wire it into your RAG / document pipeline by POSTing to /v1alpha/convert/source
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Pre-warm the models by running one conversion immediately after deployment to avoid cold-start delays for real users
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
Docling Serve FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting Docling Serve
How do I deploy Docling Serve with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Docling Serve from the templates list. Fill in the required configuration and click Deploy. The entire process takes under 3 minutes.
What are the system requirements for Docling Serve?
Docling Serve requires a minimum of 2048MB RAM. We recommend a VPS with at least 4096MB RAM for optimal performance. Any modern Linux server with Docker support will work.
Can I migrate my existing Docling Serve data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Docling Serve backup and restore procedures.
How do I update Docling Serve to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Docling Serve image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is Docling Serve free to self-host?
Docling Serve is open-source software. You only pay for your VPS hosting (typically $5-20/month) and optionally Server Compass ($29 one-time). No subscription fees or per-seat pricing.
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