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Installation

Nebulae can be installed in several ways depending on your environment and preferences. All methods result in the same application — pick whichever fits your setup best.

Not sure which to choose?

Choose Your Installation Method

  • Linux (Native)

    Run Nebulae directly on any Linux server or desktop without Docker. Uses Gunicorn + systemd for production-quality reliability.

    Best for: Ubuntu/Debian servers, pizza-box home servers, anyone who'd rather not run Docker.

    Linux install guide

  • Raspberry Pi

    Native install optimised for Pi 4 and Pi 5. Same approach as Linux but with Pi-specific notes on dependencies and performance tuning.

    Best for: Low-power always-on home servers.

    Raspberry Pi install guide

  • Docker / Podman

    The container-based install. Pre-built images for amd64 and arm64 are available from GHCR. Supports Docker Compose, Portainer, Podman, and Kubernetes.

    Best for: Anyone already running Docker, NAS devices, cloud VMs.

    Container install guide

Prerequisites Common to All Methods

Regardless of how you install Nebulae, you will need:

  • A domain name or static IP address that other nodes (and your users) can reach. For home users, a free dynamic DNS service such as DuckDNS works well.
  • HTTPS for federation. Nebulae nodes sign and verify requests; HTTP-only deployments cannot federate with other nodes. Nginx Proxy Manager is the easiest way to get a Let's Encrypt certificate if you don't have one already.
  • Enough storage for your media. SQLite and the application code are tiny; your photos and videos are not.

After Installation

Once Nebulae is running, head to the Post-Install Setup guide to:

  • Change the default admin password
  • Create user accounts
  • Configure media paths
  • Set up email and push notifications
  • Connect to other Nebulae nodes