continuwuity/docs/deploying/docker.mdx

# Continuwuity for Docker

## Preparation

### Choose an image

The following OCI images are available for Continuwuity:

| Image                                                                                        | Notes                                                                                                     |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [https://forgejo.ellis.link/continuwuation/continuwuity:**latest**][latest]                 | Latest tagged release. (recommended)                                                                      |
| [https://forgejo.ellis.link/continuwuation/continuwuity:**main**][main]                     | Latest `main` branch commit.                                                                              |
| [https://forgejo.ellis.link/continuwuation/continuwuity:**latest-maxperf**][latest-maxperf] | Latest tagged release, [performance optimised version](./generic.mdx#performance-optimised-builds).       |
| [https://forgejo.ellis.link/continuwuation/continuwuity:**main-maxperf**][main-maxperf]     | Latest `main` branch commit, [performance optimised version](./generic.mdx#performance-optimised-builds). |

[latest]: https://forgejo.ellis.link/continuwuation/-/packages/container/continuwuity/latest
[main]: https://forgejo.ellis.link/continuwuation/-/packages/container/continuwuity/main
[latest-maxperf]: https://forgejo.ellis.link/continuwuation/-/packages/container/continuwuity/latest-maxperf
[main-maxperf]: https://forgejo.ellis.link/continuwuation/-/packages/container/continuwuity/main-maxperf

If you want a specific version or commit hash, you can browse for them [here][oci-all-versions].

Images are also mirrored to these locations automatically, on a schedule:

- `ghcr.io/continuwuity/continuwuity` ([Github Registry][ghcr-io])
- `docker.io/jadedblueeyes/continuwuity` ([Docker Hub][docker-hub])
- `registry.gitlab.com/continuwuity/continuwuity` ([Gitlab Registry][gitlab-registry])
- `git.nexy7574.co.uk/mirrored/continuwuity` ([Nexy's forge][nexy-forge]. Releases only, no `main` tags)

[oci-all-versions]: https://forgejo.ellis.link/continuwuation/-/packages/container/continuwuity/versions
[ghcr-io]: https://github.com/continuwuity/continuwuity/pkgs/container/continuwuity/versions?filters%5Bversion_type%5D=tagged
[docker-hub]: https://hub.docker.com/r/jadedblueeyes/continuwuity/
[gitlab-registry]: https://gitlab.com/continuwuity/continuwuity/container_registry/8871720
[nexy-forge]: https://git.nexy7574.co.uk/mirrored/-/packages/container/continuwuity/versions

### Prerequisites

Continuwuity requires HTTPS for Matrix federation. You'll need:

- A domain name pointing to your server's IP address - we will be using `example.com` in this guide.
- A reverse proxy with SSL/TLS certificates (Traefik, Caddy, nginx, etc.) - see [Docker Compose](#docker-compose) for complete examples.
- Port `:443` (for Client-Server traffic) and `:8448` (for federation traffic) opened on your server's firewall.

:::tip Alternative setups
For setups with `.well-known` delegation, different ports, and/or split-domain deployments, consult the [Delegation/Split-domain](../advanced/delegation) page.
:::


## Docker - Quick Run

:::note For testing only
The instructions below are only meant for a quick demo of Continuwuity.
For production deployment, we recommend using [Docker Compose](#docker-compose)
:::

Get a working Continuwuity server with an admin user in four steps:

1. Pull the image

    ```bash
    docker pull forgejo.ellis.link/continuwuation/continuwuity:latest
    ```

2. Start the server for the first time. Replace `example.com` with your actual server name.

    ```bash
    docker run -d \
      -p 8008:8008 \
      -v continuwuity_db:/var/lib/continuwuity \
      -e CONTINUWUITY_SERVER_NAME="example.com" \
      -e CONTINUWUITY_DATABASE_PATH="/var/lib/continuwuity" \
      -e CONTINUWUITY_ADDRESS="0.0.0.0" \
      -e CONTINUWUITY_ALLOW_REGISTRATION="false" \
      --name continuwuity \
      forgejo.ellis.link/continuwuation/continuwuity:latest \
      /sbin/conduwuit
    ```

3. Fetch the one-time initial registration token

    ```bash
    docker logs continuwuity 2>&1
    ```

    You'll see output as below.

    ```
    In order to use your new homeserver, you need to create its
    first user account.
    Open your Matrix client of choice and register an account
    on example.com using registration token x5keUZ811RqvLsNa . 
    Pick your own username and password!
    ```

4. Configure your reverse proxy to forward HTTPS traffic to Continuwuity at port 8008. See [Docker Compose](#docker-compose) for examples.

Once configured, log in to your server with any Matrix client, and register for an account with the registration token from step 3. You'll automatically be invited to the admin room where you can [manage your server](../reference/admin).

## Docker Compose

Docker Compose is the recommended deployment method for Continuwuity containers. The following environment variables will be set:

- `CONTINUWUITY_SERVER_NAME` - Your Matrix server's domain name.
- `CONTINUWUITY_DATABASE_PATH` - Where to store your database. This must match the docker volume mount.
- `CONTINUWUITY_ADDRESS` - Bind address (use `0.0.0.0` to listen on all interfaces).

Alternatively, you can specify a path to mount the configuration file using the `CONTINUWUITY_CONFIG` environment variable.

See the [reference configuration](../reference/config) page for all config options, and the [Configuration page](../configuration#environment-variables) on how to convert them into Environment Variables.

### Choose Your Reverse Proxy

These examples include reverse proxy configurations for Matrix federation, which will route your Matrix domain (and optionally .well-known paths) to Continuwuity.

:::note Docker DNS Performance
Docker's default DNS resolver are [known to cause issues](../troubleshooting#dns-issues) for Matrix federation such as very slow federation or DNS timeouts. As a workaround, we will mount a custom `/etc/resolv.conf` config file into the Continuwuity service, in order to bypass Docker and use a more performant resolver.

```yaml title='docker-compose.yml'
services:
  homeserver:
    # ...
    configs:
      - source: continuwuity-resolv.conf
        target: /etc/resolv.conf

configs:
  continuwuity-resolv.conf:
    content: |
      nameserver 1.0.0.1
      nameserver 1.1.1.1
```

It is strongly recommended to consult the [**DNS tuning guide**](../advanced/dns) for full solutions to this issue.
:::

#### Caddy (using Caddyfile)

<details>
<summary>docker-compose.with-caddy.yml ([view raw](/deploying/docker-compose.with-caddy.yml))</summary>

```yaml file="../public/deploying/docker-compose.with-caddy.yml"

```

</details>

#### Caddy (using labels)

<details>
<summary>docker-compose.with-caddy-labels.yml ([view raw](/deploying/docker-compose.with-caddy-labels.yml))</summary>

```yaml file="../public/deploying/docker-compose.with-caddy-labels.yml"

```

</details>

#### Traefik (for existing setup)

<details>
<summary>docker-compose.for-traefik.yml ([view raw](/deploying/docker-compose.for-traefik.yml))</summary>

```yaml file="../public/deploying/docker-compose.for-traefik.yml"

```

</details>

#### Traefik included

<details>
<summary>docker-compose.with-traefik.yml ([view raw](/deploying/docker-compose.with-traefik.yml))</summary>

```yaml file="../public/deploying/docker-compose.with-traefik.yml"

```

</details>

#### Traefik (as override file)

<details>
<summary>docker-compose.override.yml ([view raw](/deploying/docker-compose.override.yml))</summary>

```yaml file="../public/deploying/docker-compose.override.yml"

```

</details>

#### For other reverse proxies

<details>
<summary>docker-compose.yml ([view raw](/deploying/docker-compose.yml))</summary>

```yaml file="../public/deploying/docker-compose.yml"

```

</details>

You will then need to point your reverse proxy towards Continuwuity at `127.0.0.1:8008`

### Starting Your Server

1. Choose your compose file from the above, and rename it to `docker-compose.yml`. Edit values as you see fit.
2. If using the override file, rename it to `docker-compose.override.yml` and
   edit your values.
3. Start the server:

    ```bash
    docker compose up -d
    ```

4. Check your server logs for a registration token:

    ```bash
    docker-compose logs continuwuity 2>&1
    ```

    You'll see output as below.

    ```
    In order to use your new homeserver, you need to create its
    first user account.
    Open your Matrix client of choice and register an account
    on example.com using registration token x5keUZ811RqvLsNa . 
    Pick your own username and password!
    ```

5. Log in to your server with any Matrix client, and register for an account with the registration token from step 4. You'll automatically be invited to the admin room where you can [manage your server](../reference/admin).

See the [generic deployment guide](generic.mdx) for more deployment options.

## (Optional) Building Custom Images

For information on building your own Continuwuity Docker images, see the
[Building Docker Images](../development/index.mdx#building-docker-images)
section in the development documentation.

## Next steps

- For smooth federation, set up a caching resolver according to the [DNS tuning guide](../advanced/dns)
- To set up Audio/Video communication, see the [Calls](../calls.mdx) page.