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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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FileFlows
Infrastructure1024MB+ RAM
Automated media file processing pipeline - transcode video and audio, manage tracks and reorganize libraries via a visual flow editor
infrastructurestoragefileflowsopen-sourceself-hosteddocker
Deploy FileFlows in 3 Steps
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Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
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Select FileFlows
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 FileFlows on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the FileFlows template in Server Compass to deploy a self-hosted media processing dashboard on your VPS, then verify the web UI loads.
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 FileFlows
Use the template picker search to find FileFlows in the Server Compass template catalog.
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Step 4Select the FileFlows template
Choose the FileFlows template. Server Compass fills the web service, data/log/temp/media volumes, timezone, user IDs, and public web port.
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Step 5Review the FileFlows settings
Confirm the app name and compose service. In this run, the app was named fileflows-demo and used host port 4088.
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Step 6Deploy FileFlows
Review the generated compose settings, confirm the FileFlows 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 FileFlows image, starts the container, and verifies the stack.
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Step 8Confirm FileFlows is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the FileFlows app is marked Running with its application URL available.
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Step 9Open FileFlows in the browser
Open the application URL in a browser. The FileFlows dashboard confirms the media processing app is reachable.
After FileFlows Opens
- Enable FileFlows authentication or place it behind an authenticated reverse proxy before exposing it.
- Mount real media directories before building production flows.
- Point the temp path at fast storage for transcode-heavy workflows.
- Use harmless sample media before processing a real library.
- Back up the FileFlows data volume because it stores libraries, flows, and settings.
- Plan hardware acceleration devices before enabling video transcoding at scale.
- Keep the FileFlows image updated for codec, workflow, and dependency fixes.
Verified Result
The FileFlows dashboard loaded successfully from the deployed container.
FileFlows deployment questions
What does the FileFlows template deploy?
It deploys FileFlows as a media automation dashboard with persistent data, logs, temp, and media volumes.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host port 4088, which maps to the FileFlows web UI on container port 5000.
Does FileFlows need setup after deployment?
Open the dashboard, configure authentication, mount media paths, and create a harmless test flow before processing a real library.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the FileFlows template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
After Deployment
After deploying FileFlows with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
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Open the URL to reach the FileFlows dashboard
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Mount your media directories into /media (edit the compose to add bind mounts) and add libraries pointing at them
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Create a Flow that describes how files should be processed (transcode, rename, move, etc.)
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Install and connect a FileFlows Node container if you want to scale processing onto additional servers
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
FileFlows FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting FileFlows
How do I deploy FileFlows with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select FileFlows 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 FileFlows?
FileFlows requires a minimum of 1024MB RAM. We recommend a VPS with at least 2048MB RAM for optimal performance. Any modern Linux server with Docker support will work.
Can I migrate my existing FileFlows data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard FileFlows backup and restore procedures.
How do I update FileFlows to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest FileFlows image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is FileFlows free to self-host?
FileFlows 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 FileFlows?
Download Server Compass and deploy FileFlows to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.
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