Self-hosting overview
The native release workflow currently targets Linux x64 (Intel/AMD). When a compatible package is available, it brings its own database and application runtime. Check the download centre before planning an install: configured targets and source-built launcher support do not guarantee published assets. Windows, macOS and Linux ARM native release targets are disabled.
What you end up with
Section titled “What you end up with”- A systemd service on the native Linux package that starts at boot and comes back after a crash. Windows Service and LaunchDaemon instructions cover separately built reference deployments only.
- An embedded PostgreSQL inside the install directory, so backing up the folder backs up the instance.
- A status panel at
localhost:9090for setup, health, updates and logs, so most care never needs a terminal. - Overnight updates, on by default and switchable off.
Sizing
Section titled “Sizing”Plugboard is not demanding. The dominant cost is the database, and school-sized data is small.
| School size | Suggested |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,000 devices | 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 40 GB disk |
| 1,000 to 5,000 devices | 4 vCPU, 8 GB RAM, 100 GB disk |
| Above 5,000 devices | 4 to 8 vCPU, 16 GB RAM, 200 GB or more |
Size a separately configured local AI model for its own requirements. The native bundle does not include a model; container deployments can use the model sidecar.
Disk grows with the audit log more than anything else, and its retention is configurable.
What you own
Section titled “What you own”Running it yourself means owning five things. None is hard, and all five are yours.
- The certificate, and its renewal. See HTTPS and certificates.
- Backups, and having restored one. See backups and restore.
SECRETS_MASTER_KEY, kept somewhere other than the server. See secrets and keys.- Deciding when to update, though the default is that it handles this overnight. See updating.
- Noticing when it is down before your users tell you. See keeping an eye on it.
What is different from managed hosting
Section titled “What is different from managed hosting”| You host it | We host it | |
|---|---|---|
| Installing and updating | Yours, mostly automatic | Ours |
| The certificate | Yours | Ours |
| Backups | Yours to take off the machine | Taken and tested for you |
SECRETS_MASTER_KEY |
Yours alone | Held per deployment and escrowed |
| Systems on your network | Reached directly | Reached through a connector agent |
| Vendor-hosted AI | Use a configured local model or your own external-provider key | Available on plans that include it |
See choosing a deployment if you have not decided yet.
What you need, then installing it.