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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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Seafile
Infrastructure1024MB+ RAM
File sync and share with versioning
storagefilesversioningsync
Deploy Seafile in 3 Steps
1
Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
2
Select Seafile
Choose from our template library
3
Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy Seafile on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the Seafile template in Server Compass to deploy file sync and sharing with versioning on your VPS, then verify the login page in a browser.
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 Seafile
Use the template picker search to find Seafile in the Server Compass template catalog.
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Step 4Select the Seafile template
Choose the Seafile template. Server Compass fills the Seafile service, MariaDB database, Memcached service, persistent volumes, generated passwords, and public port.
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Step 5Review the Seafile settings
Confirm the app name, hostname, admin email, generated secrets, and compose services. In this run, the app was named seafile-demo and used host port 3001.
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Step 6Deploy Seafile
Review the generated compose settings, confirm the Seafile 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 Seafile, MariaDB, and Memcached images, starts the containers, and verifies the stack.
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Step 8Confirm Seafile is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the Seafile app is marked Running with its application URL available.
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Step 9Open Seafile in the browser
Open the application URL in a browser. The Seafile login page confirms the file sync service is reachable.
After Seafile Opens
- Log in with the generated admin credentials and change or rotate them according to your access policy.
- Use a VPN, IP allowlist, firewall rule, or authenticated reverse proxy for production access.
- Put Seafile behind HTTPS before real file sync or sharing.
- Create libraries, configure sharing policy, and review storage quotas before onboarding users.
- Back up both the Seafile data volume and the MariaDB volume.
- Keep the Seafile, MariaDB, and Memcached images updated for dependency and security fixes.
Verified Result
The Seafile login page loaded successfully from the deployed stack.
Seafile deployment questions
What does the Seafile template deploy?
It deploys Seafile with a MariaDB database, Memcached service, persistent Seafile data, and persistent database storage.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host port 3001, which maps to the Seafile web UI on container port 80.
Does Seafile need HTTPS?
Use HTTPS for production. The raw HTTP tutorial check is only to verify the stack is reachable after deployment.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the Seafile template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
Command Line Setup
Install Seafile Manually
Set up Seafile yourself using Docker Compose and the command line.
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Remote into Your Server
Initiate a secure shell connection to your server using the command below.
terminal
# Connect to your VPS
ssh root@your-server-ip
# Or with a specific SSH key
ssh -i ~/.ssh/your-key root@your-server-ipFirst time? Docker required! Install it with: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
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Create the App Directory
Organize your deployment by creating a dedicated project folder.
terminal
# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/seafile
cd ~/apps/seafile3
Write Your docker-compose.yml
Create a new docker-compose.yml file and paste this configuration:
docker-compose.yml
services:
seafile:
image: seafileltd/seafile-mc:latest
ports:
- "80:80"
environment:
- DB_HOST=db
- DB_ROOT_PASSWD=<your-db-root-password>
- SEAFILE_ADMIN_EMAIL=<your-admin-email>
- SEAFILE_ADMIN_PASSWORD=<your-admin-password>
- SEAFILE_SERVER_HOSTNAME=<your-hostname>
volumes:
- seafile_data:/shared
restart: unless-stopped
depends_on:
- db
- memcached
db:
image: mariadb:11
environment:
- MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD=<your-db-root-password>
volumes:
- mysql_data:/var/lib/mysql
restart: unless-stopped
memcached:
image: memcached:latest
restart: unless-stopped
volumes:
seafile_data:
mysql_data:
Configuration Options
PORTHost port(default: 80)HOSTNAMEHostnameADMIN_EMAILAdmin emailADMIN_PASSWORDAdmin passwordDB_ROOT_PASSWORDDB root password4
Launch the Containers
Start the services and tail the logs to verify startup.
terminal
# Spin up containers
docker compose up -d
# Verify deployment
docker compose ps
# Check logs for errors
docker compose logs -f5
Open Firewall Ports
Open the required port in your firewall to allow access.
terminal
# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 80/tcp
sudo ufw reload
# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:80Skip the Terminal
Want the easy way? Try Server Compass.
No terminal needed. Deploy Seafile through a visual dashboard with automatic configuration.
- Visual config editor
- Instant deployment
- Automatic HTTPS
- Smooth updates
- Live monitoring
- Quick rollbacks
Download Server Compass$29 one-time • Lifetime license
After Deployment
After deploying Seafile with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
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Login with admin credentials
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Create libraries
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Install sync clients
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
Seafile FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting Seafile
How do I deploy Seafile with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Seafile 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 Seafile?
Seafile 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 Seafile data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Seafile backup and restore procedures.
How do I update Seafile to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Seafile image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is Seafile free to self-host?
Seafile 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 Seafile?
Download Server Compass and deploy Seafile to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.
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