Self-hosting
Self-Hosted Admin Guide
Install, configure, and maintain your own Barazo forum instance with Docker Compose.
This is the self-hosting side of running a Barazo forum: getting it onto your own server and keeping it running. The day-to-day management of the forum itself (categories, moderation, branding, and the rest) is the same wherever it's hosted, and lives under Administration.
Getting started
Barazo runs as a set of Docker containers orchestrated with Docker Compose. You need a Linux server with Docker installed, a domain name, and about 15 minutes.
In this section
- Installation: requirements, Docker Compose setup, environment variables
- Configuration: SSL (Caddy), email (SMTP), storage, and community settings
- Backup and restore: database backups, restore procedures, and disaster recovery
- Monitoring: error tracking, structured logging, health checks
- Upgrading: version upgrades, migration procedures, and changelog
- Global aggregator: connecting your instance to the Barazo network
Managing the forum itself
Running the community (categories, topics, moderation, rules, branding, maturity, onboarding) is handled in the admin area. See Administration.