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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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Kimai
Application512MB+ RAM
Open-source time-tracking app for teams of all sizes
applicationcrmkimaiopen-sourceself-hosteddocker
Deploy Kimai in 3 Steps
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Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
2
Select Kimai
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 Kimai on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the Kimai template in Server Compass to deploy a self-hosted time-tracking app with MySQL storage on your VPS, then verify the Kimai login page 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 Kimai
Use the template picker search to find Kimai in the Server Compass template catalog.
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Step 4Select the Kimai template
Choose the Kimai template. Server Compass fills the Kimai web service, MySQL database service, initial admin email, admin password, and database passwords.
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Step 5Review the Kimai settings
Confirm the app name and compose services. In this run, the app was named kimai-demo and used host port 4043.
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Step 6Deploy Kimai
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 Kimai image, starts the container, and verifies the stack.
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Step 8Confirm Kimai is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the Kimai app is marked Running with its application URL available.
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Step 9Open Kimai in the browser
Open the application URL in a browser. The Kimai web UI confirms the site is reachable.
After Kimai Opens
- Sign in with the initial admin account and change the password after first login.
- Configure customers, projects, activities, time zones, and billing/export settings before production use.
- Add a domain and HTTPS before exposing Kimai to users.
- Back up the Kimai app and MySQL volumes before relying on them for production time tracking.
Kimai deployment questions
What does the Kimai template deploy?
It deploys the Kimai Apache web application with a MySQL database for time tracking data.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host port 4043, which maps to the Kimai web service on container port 8001.
Why does the guide stop at the login or setup web UI?
The tutorial verifies the clean Kimai login page because customers, projects, activities, and team settings are workspace-specific.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the Kimai template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
After Deployment
After deploying Kimai with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
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Visit the application URL
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Log in with the admin credentials
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Configure customers, projects, and activities
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Invite team members and start tracking time
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
Kimai FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting Kimai
How do I deploy Kimai with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Kimai 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 Kimai?
Kimai 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 Kimai data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Kimai backup and restore procedures.
How do I update Kimai to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Kimai image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is Kimai free to self-host?
Kimai 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 Kimai?
Download Server Compass and deploy Kimai to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.
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