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What Happens During Server Setup

When you add a server to Appliku -- whether it is a DigitalOcean droplet, an AWS EC2 instance, or a custom server -- Appliku connects via SSH and runs an automated setup process.

Setup Steps​

Appliku performs the following steps during server setup:

1. OS Package Updates​

Appliku updates the system package index and upgrades installed packages to their latest versions. This ensures the server has the latest security patches.

apt-get update && apt-get upgrade -y

2. Docker Installation​

Docker is installed and configured as the container runtime. Appliku uses Docker to run your applications in isolated containers. Docker Compose is also installed for managing multi-container deployments on standalone servers.

3. Nginx Installation​

Nginx is installed and configured as a reverse proxy. It handles:

  • HTTP routing -- directing traffic to the correct application container based on the domain name
  • SSL termination -- handling HTTPS connections so your application only needs to serve HTTP
  • Static file serving -- serving static assets efficiently

4. Firewall Configuration​

Appliku configures UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) to secure the server. The default rules allow:

  • SSH (port 22, or your custom SSH port)
  • HTTP (port 80)
  • HTTPS (port 443)

All other incoming traffic is blocked by default.

5. Let's Encrypt Configuration​

Let's Encrypt integration is configured for automatic SSL certificate provisioning. When you add a domain to your application, Appliku automatically obtains and renews SSL certificates through Let's Encrypt.

No agent installed

Appliku does not install any management agent on your server. All ongoing management -- deployments, monitoring, and configuration -- is performed entirely over SSH, with no footprint on server resources.

Monitoring Setup Progress​

You can monitor the setup process on the server detail page in the Appliku dashboard. The page shows the current step and any output from the setup process.

Setup typically takes 2 to 5 minutes, depending on the server's location and performance.

After Setup​

Once setup is complete, the server status changes to Active. You can then:

Troubleshooting​

If the setup process fails or gets stuck:

  • Make sure the server meets the requirements (supported OS, SSH access, fresh installation)
  • Check that no firewall on the provider side is blocking SSH access from Appliku
  • Verify the SSH credentials are correct
  • Try removing the server and adding it again

For persistent issues, check the Troubleshooting section or contact support.