Seafile

Infrastructure1024MB+ RAM

File sync and share with versioning

Download Server Compass View Documentation

storagefilesversioningsync

Deploy Seafile in 3 Steps

Connect Your VPS

Add your server credentials to Server Compass

Select Seafile

Choose from our template library

Deploy & Configure

Fill in settings and click Deploy

No Docker knowledge required

Command Line Setup

Install Seafile Manually

Set up Seafile yourself using Docker Compose and the command line.

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-ip

First time? Docker required! Install it with: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh

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/seafile

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)

HOSTNAMEHostname

ADMIN_EMAILAdmin email

ADMIN_PASSWORDAdmin password

DB_ROOT_PASSWORDDB root password

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 -f

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:80

Skip 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

Create libraries

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.