Add a Custom Server (SSH)
You can connect any Linux server to Appliku, regardless of the hosting provider. This works with Hetzner, Linode, Vultr, OVH, bare-metal providers, or any other infrastructure where you have SSH access.
Server Requirements
Before adding a custom server, make sure it meets these requirements:
- Operating System: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, or Debian 12
- Architecture: x86_64 (AMD64) or arm64 (Apple Silicon, Graviton, etc.)
- Access: Root or sudo-enabled SSH access
- State: A fresh OS installation is strongly recommended
Appliku installs and configures Docker, Nginx, firewall rules, and other system-level software during setup. Using a server that already has these components installed may cause conflicts. Start with a clean OS installation for the best results.
Step 1: Provision a Server at Your Provider
Create a server at your chosen hosting provider. For example:
- Hetzner Cloud -- create a cloud server from the Hetzner Console
- Linode/Akamai -- create a Linode from the Cloud Manager
- Vultr -- deploy a new instance from the Vultr dashboard
- OVH -- order a VPS or dedicated server
- Any other provider -- as long as you get SSH access to a supported OS
Make sure you have the server's IP address and SSH credentials (root password or SSH key) ready.
Step 2: Add the Server in Appliku
- Open the Appliku dashboard
- Navigate to the Servers tab in your team dashboard
- Click Add Server
- Select Custom Server
- Enter the server's IP address
- Provide the SSH credentials (root user and password, or select an SSH key)
- Click Add Server
Step 3: Wait for Setup
Appliku will connect to the server via SSH and begin the server setup process. During setup, Appliku installs and configures:
- Docker -- container runtime for running your applications
- Nginx -- reverse proxy for HTTP routing and SSL termination
- Firewall (UFW) -- configured to allow only SSH, HTTP, and HTTPS traffic
- Let's Encrypt -- automatic SSL certificate provisioning for your domains
Setup takes a few minutes. You can monitor progress on the server detail page. Once complete, the server status will change to Active and you can start deploying applications to it.
Supported Providers
Appliku works with any provider that gives you SSH access to a supported Linux distribution. Some popular options include:
| Provider | Notes |
|---|---|
| Hetzner Cloud | Excellent price-to-performance ratio, EU and US regions |
| Linode (Akamai) | Wide range of regions, straightforward pricing |
| Vultr | Global locations, bare-metal and cloud options |
| OVH | European provider, dedicated and VPS options |
| UpCloud | High-performance cloud servers |
| Oracle Cloud | Free tier available with ARM instances |
| On-premises | Works with physical servers in your own data center |
Important Notes
- Appliku does not manage the server lifecycle for custom servers. You are responsible for keeping the server running and paying your hosting provider.
- If you remove a custom server from Appliku, it only removes it from the Appliku dashboard. Applications already running on the server will not be stopped. See Server Settings for details.