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Step 1Open the server Apps tab
Select your 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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Excalidraw
Application128MB+ RAM
Collaborative virtual whiteboard for sketching hand-drawn like diagrams
whiteboarddiagramscollaborationdrawingsketching
Deploy Excalidraw in 3 Steps
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Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
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Select Excalidraw
Choose from our template library
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Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy Excalidraw on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the Excalidraw template in Server Compass to deploy a self-hosted diagramming app for flowcharts, UML, network diagrams, and whiteboards on your VPS, then verify the Excalidraw web UI in a browser.
About 7 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 Excalidraw
Use the template picker search to find Excalidraw in the Server Compass template catalog.
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Step 4Select the Excalidraw template
Choose the Excalidraw template. Server Compass fills in the single Excalidraw web service and maps the browser port.
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Step 5Review the Excalidraw settings
Confirm the app name and compose services. In this run, the app was named excalidraw-demo and used host port 3030.
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Step 6Deploy Excalidraw
Review the generated environment values, confirm the port is available, and click Deploy Now.
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Step 7Watch the deployment progress
Keep the deployment modal open while Server Compass uploads the compose file, pulls the Excalidraw image, starts the container, and verifies the stack.
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Step 8Confirm Excalidraw is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the Excalidraw app is marked Running with its application URL available.
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Step 9Open Excalidraw in the browser
Open the application URL in a browser. The Excalidraw web UI confirms the site is reachable.
After Excalidraw Opens
- Add a domain and HTTPS before using Excalidraw for sensitive diagrams.
- Remember that drawings are stored locally in the browser by default.
- Restrict access with a reverse proxy or private network if the instance should not be public.
Excalidraw deployment questions
What does the Excalidraw template deploy?
It deploys the self-hosted Excalidraw web application so users can create flowcharts, UML diagrams, network diagrams, and other diagrams in a browser.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host port 3030, which maps to the Excalidraw web service on container port 80.
Why does the guide stop at the login or setup web UI?
The tutorial verifies the clean Excalidraw web UI because diagram storage, sharing, HTTPS, and access-control choices depend on the production setup.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the Excalidraw template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
Do It Yourself
Deploy Excalidraw via Command Line
Prefer the command line? Follow this step-by-step guide to deploy Excalidraw manually on your VPS.
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Start a Secure Shell Session
Open your terminal and connect to your server. Replace the IP address with your VPS IP.
terminal
# SSH into your server
ssh root@your-server-ip
# Using a custom SSH key
ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa root@your-server-ipFirst time? Need Docker? Install it: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
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Prepare Your Workspace
Set up a clean directory for your application.
terminal
# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/excalidraw
cd ~/apps/excalidraw3
Set Up Container Configuration
Set up the container stack using this Docker Compose configuration:
docker-compose.yml
services:
excalidraw:
image: excalidraw/excalidraw:latest
ports:
- "3030:80"
restart: unless-stopped
Configuration Variables
PORTHost port to expose(default: 3030)4
Bring Up the Application
Launch your application stack in the background.
terminal
# Start the containers in detached mode
docker compose up -d
# Check if containers are running
docker compose ps
# View logs
docker compose logs -f5
Configure Firewall
Configure your firewall to permit external connections.
terminal
# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 3030/tcp
sudo ufw reload
# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:3030Skip the Terminal
Prefer a visual interface? Use Server Compass.
Deploy Excalidraw with a beautiful UI instead. No SSH, no YAML editing, no terminal commands. Just click, configure, and deploy in under 3 minutes.
- Visual configuration UI
- One-click deployment
- Automatic SSL setup
- Zero-downtime updates
- Built-in monitoring
- One-click rollbacks
Download Server Compass$29 one-time • Lifetime license
After Deployment
After deploying Excalidraw with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
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Open the Excalidraw URL in your browser
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Start drawing!
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For real-time collaboration, share the room link with others
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
Excalidraw FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting Excalidraw
How do I deploy Excalidraw with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Excalidraw 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 Excalidraw?
Excalidraw requires a minimum of 128MB 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 Excalidraw data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Excalidraw backup and restore procedures.
How do I update Excalidraw to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Excalidraw image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is Excalidraw free to self-host?
Excalidraw 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.
Ready to Self-Host Excalidraw?
Download Server Compass and deploy Excalidraw to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.
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