EMQX

Development512MB+ RAM

Scalable MQTT broker for IoT

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mqttiotmessaging

Deploy EMQX in 3 Steps

Connect Your VPS

Add your server credentials to Server Compass

Select EMQX

Choose from our template library

Deploy & Configure

Fill in settings and click Deploy

No Docker knowledge required

CLI Deployment

Deploy EMQX Yourself

Want full control? Here's how to deploy EMQX yourself using Docker Compose.

Establish SSH Connection

Connect to your remote server using SSH. Make sure you have your server credentials ready.

terminal

# Log into your server
ssh root@<your-server-ip>

# If using key-based auth
ssh -i ~/.ssh/my-key root@<your-server-ip>

First time? Docker not installed? Run: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh

Create Project Directory

Set up a directory to store your Docker configuration.

terminal

# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/emqx
cd ~/apps/emqx

Configure Docker Compose

Add this configuration to your docker-compose.yml file:

docker-compose.yml

services:
  emqx:
    image: emqx/emqx:latest
    ports:
      - "1883:1883"
      - "8083:8083"
      - "18083:18083"
    volumes:
      - emqx_data:/opt/emqx/data
      - emqx_log:/opt/emqx/log
    restart: unless-stopped

volumes:
  emqx_data:
  emqx_log:

Required Settings

PORTMQTT port(default: 1883)

WS_PORTWebSocket port(default: 8083)

DASHBOARD_PORTDashboard port(default: 18083)

Start the Services

Execute the deployment and check the container status.

terminal

# Deploy the application
docker compose up -d

# Check container health
docker compose ps

# Monitor logs
docker compose logs -f --tail=100

Allow Incoming Connections

Enable network access by updating your firewall rules.

terminal

# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 1883/tcp
sudo ufw reload

# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:1883

Skip the Terminal

Too complicated? Let Server Compass handle it.

Skip the terminal and deploy EMQX with a visual interface. Configure everything with clicks, not commands.

Intuitive dashboard
Deploy in 3 minutes
Free SSL included
Blue-green deploys
Real-time logs
Version history

Download Server Compass$29 one-time • Lifetime license

After Deployment

After deploying EMQX with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup

Access dashboard

Change admin password

Configure authentication

Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.

EMQX FAQ

Common questions about self-hosting EMQX

How do I deploy EMQX with Server Compass?

Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select EMQX 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 EMQX?

EMQX requires a minimum of 512MB RAM. We recommend a VPS with at least 1024MB RAM for optimal performance. Any modern Linux server with Docker support will work.

Can I migrate my existing EMQX data?

Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard EMQX backup and restore procedures.

How do I update EMQX to the latest version?

Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest EMQX image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.

Is EMQX free to self-host?

EMQX 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.