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smack
Get Smack

SELF-HOSTING

One server. Your server.

Smack runs as a Docker Compose stack on a Linux server you choose: in your office, your data centre or your cloud account. You own the box, the data and the update schedule.

Get SmackAsk about installation

What you need.

What you need
NeedDetails
A Linux server4 vCPU and 8 GB RAM to start; more for larger teams and parallel recordings1
DockerDocker Engine with the Compose plugin
A domaine.g. chat.yourcompany.com, with TLS at your reverse proxy
StorageMinIO on the same server, or any S3-compatible bucket
Email (optional)Your SMTP server, for invites and notification email
Open portsHTTPS, plus the UDP range for calls (we give you the list)

WHAT RUNS

Everything in one Compose stack.

  • web

    the Smack app (Next.js)

  • api

    business logic (Laravel)

  • reverb

    realtime connections

  • postgres

    messages, users, audit log

  • redis

    queues and presence

  • minio

    files and recordings (optional if you use your own bucket)

  • livekit

    calls and meetings

  • egress

    recording

  • coturn

    the TURN relay for calls behind firewalls

Sized from real installs.

4 vCPU · 8 GB1

Runs Smack with one recording at a time. Production ran on this, shared with another app.

8 vCPU · 24 GB2

Runs three recordings at once. Add recorder workers on other servers as you grow.

We size your server with you before installation.

Install, update, back up.

  1. Install.

    Clone the release, set your domain and storage in .env, then make up and make smack-install. The installer creates your company and the first admin.

    make upmake smack-install

  2. Update.

    Pull the new release and run make up. Migrations run automatically. Desktop apps pick up new versions from your server.

    make up

  3. Back up.

    Back up the Postgres database and your storage bucket with the tools you already use. That’s all of Smack’s state.

What you own vs. what we do.

You run

  • the server and its operating system
  • TLS certificates
  • backups
  • when to update

We provide

  • releases and release notes
  • an installation service if you want it
  • help sizing your server
Prefer not to do it yourself? We can install Smack on your server for you, so your team can be working in it the same day. Ask about the installation service.

Questions.

Something else? Talk to us →

Can Smack run without internet access?

It runs on your network. Some features use the internet: Web Push for browser notifications, link previews and email to outside addresses. Talk to us about closed-network setups.

Which Linux distributions work?

Any that runs current Docker Engine with Compose.

Do we get the source code?

Talk to us about your requirements.

Can we use our own Postgres or S3?

Storage, yes: any S3-compatible bucket. The database runs in the stack.

Who updates it?

You do, when you choose. Each release has notes and an upgrade step.

INSTALL ONCE. OWN IT.

Talk to us about sizing, installation and your first day.

Get SmackTalk to us

Docker Compose · Postgres · your S3 bucket · your domain