Getting Started with Cosmos Server: Docker Setup Guide

Quick Start with Cosmos Server

Cosmos Server makes self-hosting incredibly simple. Whether you are running a Raspberry Pi, an old laptop, or a cloud VPS, you can have your own secure home server up and running in minutes. This guide walks you through the Docker setup from scratch.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have Docker installed on your machine. You will need at least 1 CPU core, 512 MB of RAM, and 10 GB of free disk space. A domain name pointing to your server is recommended for full functionality with SSL certificates.

Step 1 — Pull the Cosmos Server Image

Start by pulling the latest Cosmos Server Docker image:

docker pull azukaar/cosmos-server:latest

Step 2 — Run Cosmos Server

Run the container with a persistent data volume to keep your configuration across restarts:

docker run -d \\
  --name cosmos-server \\
  -p 8080:8080 \\
  -v ./data/cosmos-server:/data \\
  --restart unless-stopped \\
  azukaar/cosmos-server:latest

The web interface will be available at http://your-server-ip:8080.

Step 3 — Initial Configuration

When you first access Cosmos Server, you will be guided through an initial setup wizard:

1. Create an admin account — set up your username and password
2. Configure your domain — enter your domain name for automatic SSL via Let's Encrypt
3. Set up the reverse proxy — Cosmos Server will automatically configure itself as a reverse proxy for your applications
4. Explore the dashboard — view system resources, connected services, and available applications

Deploying Your First Application

Once Cosmos Server is running, deploying applications is a breeze:

1. Navigate to the Applications section in the dashboard
2. Browse the available apps catalog
3. Click on any app and configure its name, subdomain, and port
4. Click Deploy — Cosmos Server handles networking, SSL, and storage automatically

Your application will be accessible at https://your-app.your-domain.com with full SSL protection.

Why Use Docker for Cosmos Server?

Running Cosmos Server via Docker provides isolation, easy updates, and portability. You can migrate your entire setup to a different machine by copying the data directory and running the same Docker command. Updates are as simple as pulling the latest image and restarting the container.

Next Steps

After getting Cosmos Server running, explore the settings panel to customize security rules, set up automatic backups, and integrate with monitoring tools. The Cosmos Server community on Discord is active and helpful for troubleshooting.