ServerKit's backend manages the host it runs on -- it creates app dirs under /var/serverkit/apps, drives the host Docker daemon (one container per app), and reloads nginx. The default compose containerized the backend, so it ran as a non-root user into a root-owned /var/serverkit/apps with no host docker.sock: WordPress/app creation failed with `Permission denied: /var/serverkit/apps/...`. It also contradicted install.sh, which runs the backend on the host via systemd and expects compose to bring up only the frontend. - docker-compose.yml: frontend-only; the frontend reaches the host backend via extra_hosts ["backend:host-gateway"]. - backend/Dockerfile: chown /var/serverkit to appuser (latent EACCES on the apps dir for dev/demo container use) + header noting it cannot manage host. - frontend/nginx.conf: document the backend:host-gateway upstream. - docs/DEPLOYMENT.md: add a Deployment model note; fix build/start + data paths. - scripts/test/test_install.sh: T12 guards against re-adding a backend service. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
ServerKit Documentation
Welcome to the ServerKit documentation. This guide will help you install, configure, and use ServerKit effectively.
Quick Links
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
| Installation Guide | Complete setup instructions for Docker and manual installation |
| Architecture | System design, request flow, and diagrams |
| Deployment Guide | Production deployment, CLI commands, and configuration |
| Local Development | Run the panel locally for development |
| API Reference | REST API documentation with examples |
| Multi-Environment Guide | Set up prod/dev WordPress pairs with shared database |
| Multi-Server & Agent | Install the agent and connect remote servers (see also pairing) |
Getting Started
1. Installation
Choose your preferred installation method:
- Docker Installation (Recommended) - Get started in minutes
- Manual Installation - Full control over the setup
- One-Line Install - One-line installer for Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and RHEL/Rocky/AlmaLinux
2. Initial Setup
After installation:
- Access ServerKit at
http://your-server-ip - Create your admin account (first user becomes admin)
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication
- Configure Notifications
3. Start Managing
- Add your first application from the Applications page
- Configure domains and SSL certificates
- Set up monitoring alerts
- Enable security scanning
Feature Guides
Application Management
ServerKit supports multiple application types:
| Type | Runtime | Process Manager |
|---|---|---|
| PHP / WordPress | PHP-FPM 8.x | Nginx |
| Python (Flask/Django) | Python 3.x | Gunicorn |
| Node.js | Node 18+ | PM2 |
| Docker | Containers | Docker Engine |
Each application includes:
- Environment variable management (encrypted)
- Log viewing and streaming
- Start/stop/restart controls
- Domain and SSL configuration
Multi-Environment Support
ServerKit supports multi-environment linking for WordPress and other applications:
- Production/Development Pairs - Link apps as prod/dev environments
- Shared Database - Both environments can share the same MySQL database with different table prefixes
- Environment Badges - Visual indicators (PROD/DEV/STAGING) in the UI
- Quick Navigation - One-click switching between linked environments
- Credential Propagation - Automatically share database credentials between linked apps
Common use case: WordPress theme development
- Production WordPress serves live traffic
- Development WordPress shares the database (separate tables)
- Develop themes in dev without affecting production
See the Multi-Environment Setup Guide for detailed instructions.
Domain & SSL
- Nginx Virtual Hosts - Automatic configuration generation
- Let's Encrypt SSL - Free certificates with auto-renewal
- Custom Certificates - Upload your own SSL certificates
Database Management
Supported databases:
- MySQL / MariaDB
- PostgreSQL
Features:
- Create/delete databases
- User management
- Basic query interface
Monitoring & Alerts
Real-time monitoring includes:
- CPU, RAM, disk usage
- Network traffic
- Server uptime history
- Process monitoring
Alert channels:
- Discord webhooks
- Slack webhooks
- Telegram bot
- Generic HTTP webhooks
Security
- Two-Factor Authentication - TOTP-based (Google Authenticator, Authy)
- Malware Scanning - ClamAV integration
- File Integrity Monitoring - Detect unauthorized changes
- Firewall Management - UFW rule configuration
Scheduled Tasks
- Visual cron job editor
- Execution history
- Enable/disable jobs
- Common schedule presets
Configuration
Environment Variables
ServerKit is configured via environment variables. See .env.example for all options.
Required variables:
SECRET_KEY=your-secret-key
JWT_SECRET_KEY=your-jwt-secret
Database options:
# SQLite (default)
DATABASE_URL=sqlite:///serverkit.db
# PostgreSQL (production)
DATABASE_URL=postgresql://user:pass@localhost/serverkit
Notification Setup
Configure webhooks in Settings > Notifications or via environment:
DISCORD_WEBHOOK_URL=https://discord.com/api/webhooks/...
SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL=https://hooks.slack.com/services/...
TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN=your-bot-token
TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID=your-chat-id
CLI Reference
ServerKit includes a management CLI:
# Service Management
serverkit start|stop|restart|status
serverkit logs [backend|frontend]
serverkit update
# User Management
serverkit create-admin
serverkit reset-password
serverkit list-users
# Database
serverkit init-db
serverkit migrate-db # Apply schema updates
serverkit backup-db
serverkit restore-db <file>
# App Management
serverkit list-apps # List all installed apps
# Cleanup Commands
serverkit cleanup-apps # Delete all apps and containers
serverkit cleanup-apps --delete-volumes # Also delete Docker volumes
serverkit factory-reset # Complete reset (delete everything)
# Utilities
serverkit generate-keys
serverkit config
See Deployment Guide for complete CLI documentation.
API Reference
ServerKit provides a REST API for automation and integration.
Base URL: http://localhost:47927/api/v1
Authentication: JWT Bearer tokens
Quick example:
# Login
curl -X POST http://localhost:47927/api/v1/auth/login \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"username": "admin", "password": "password"}'
# Use token
curl http://localhost:47927/api/v1/system/stats \
-H "Authorization: Bearer <token>"
See API Reference for complete documentation.
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
Container won't start:
docker compose logs backend
sudo lsof -i :47927
502 Bad Gateway:
sudo systemctl status serverkit
sudo tail -f /var/log/serverkit/error.log
ClamAV not working:
sudo freshclam
sudo systemctl restart clamav-daemon
See Installation Guide - Troubleshooting for more solutions.
Additional Resources
- Main README - Project overview and quick start
- Roadmap - Development plans and upcoming features
- Contributing Guide - How to contribute
- GitHub Issues - Report bugs or request features
Support
- Bug Reports: GitHub Issues
- Feature Requests: GitHub Issues with
enhancementlabel - Security Issues: Please report privately via GitHub Security Advisories
ServerKit Documentation
Version 1.6.7