Why Self-Host?
Deployment Options
Docker
Quick setup with Docker or Docker Compose. Best for most deployments.
Bare Metal
Direct installation on Linux servers. Maximum control.
Requirements
Minimum Requirements
| Resource | Requirement |
|---|---|
| CPU | 2 cores |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Storage | 20 GB SSD |
| Network | 100 Mbps |
| OS | Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 11+, or RHEL 8+ |
Recommended for Production
| Resource | Requirement |
|---|---|
| CPU | 4+ cores |
| RAM | 8+ GB |
| Storage | 100 GB SSD |
| Network | 1 Gbps |
| Database | PostgreSQL 15+ |
If running local AI models (Ollama):
- Add 8+ GB RAM per model
- GPU recommended for better performance
- Consider dedicated GPU instances
Architecture Options
Single Server
Simplest deployment for small teams or personal use.High Availability
For production workloads requiring uptime guarantees.Security Considerations
Cost Estimation
Cloud Provider Costs (Monthly)
| Provider | Instance Type | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| AWS | t3.medium | ~$30 |
| GCP | e2-standard-2 | ~$25 |
| Azure | Standard_D2s_v3 | ~$35 |
| DigitalOcean | 4GB Droplet | ~$24 |
| Hetzner | CX21 | ~$5 |
- Use spot/preemptible instances for non-critical workloads
- Consider reserved instances for long-term deployments
- Monitor and right-size based on actual usage