Docker Full disk: Real occupancy is recognized before cleanup
A safe, step-by-step. Docker Disk takes the diagnostic guide. Learn how to distinguish mirrors, layers, volumes, and logs to prevent data loss during clean-up.
FIELD GUIDE · SERVERS & DEPLOYMENT
Servers & Deployment
Choose, secure, deploy and troubleshoot servers without skipping the operational details.
- Decisions before commands
- Checks after every critical step
- Limitations and update dates kept visible
19 guides
What a 2 vCPU / 4 GB Server Can Realistically Run
Assess the real-world capacity of a 2 vCPU and 4 GB RAM server. Learn how to divide resources for static sites, dynamic applications, databases, and container platforms.
Design a Single-Server Setup: Reverse Proxy, App, and Database
Draw the boundaries between the public entry point, reverse proxy, application, database, files, and backups so fewer ports are exposed and incidents are easier to diagnose.
Run a Web Application as a systemd Service
Move an app out of a temporary terminal session. Define a dedicated user, working directory, environment file, restart behavior, and logs, then verify the service safely.
Host Multiple Websites on One Server with Caddy
Route each domain to its own local service with Caddy. Check DNS, upstream addresses, HTTPS, configuration validation, safe reloads, and every affected site.
Docker Compose Production Readiness Checklist
Before moving a working Compose project into production, check image versions, builds, ports, internal networks, persistent volumes, health checks, restarts, and rollback.
Manage Production Secrets and Environment Files Safely
Separate ordinary configuration from secrets. Choose where to store .env files and service credentials, restrict access, avoid logging secrets, and plan rotation and incident response.
Back Up and Restore SQLite and PostgreSQL Databases
Choose a consistent backup method for SQLite or PostgreSQL, then document encryption, off-site storage, retention, verification, and a restore rehearsal in isolation.
Deploy on One Server with Health Checks and a Rollback Plan
Prepare and back up before release, start a candidate version, verify its health, switch traffic, observe the result, and keep a clear route back to the previous version.
What to Monitor on a Small Website Server
Start with user-visible availability, then watch application health, CPU, memory, disk, backup age, and logs. Set alerts that reflect sustained problems rather than brief spikes.
Troubleshoot 502, 504, and HTTPS Errors Layer by Layer
Trace faults through DNS, network access, TLS, Caddy, the local upstream, application, and database using evidence at each layer instead of blindly restarting the server.
Keep a Website Server Running with a Maintenance Checklist
Organize daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly checks for availability, patches, capacity, backups, accounts, certificates, dependencies, and recovery drills.
Why I Use RainYun for an Early-stage Website
My first-hand notes on using RainYun for an early-stage content website: what feels stable in my workload, why the price is manageable and what I still check before recommending it.
Deploy Open WebUI with Docker and Persistent Storage
Run Open WebUI in Docker, persist application data, connect it to Ollama and add the production safeguards recommended by the project documentation.
Install Ollama on Linux and Expose It Safely
Install Ollama on Linux, run a first model, verify the local API and understand why port 11434 should not be exposed to the public internet without authentication.
Deploy Dify with Docker Compose: A Production-minded Guide
Install Dify with its official Docker Compose workflow, verify the services, protect the installation screen and prepare a reverse proxy before exposing it publicly.
Ollama vs Open WebUI: Different Roles in a Self-hosted AI Stack
Ollama runs models and exposes an API; Open WebUI provides the user interface and application experience. Learn when you need one or both.
Dify Server Requirements Explained: From Evaluation to Production
Understand Dify's documented minimum, why a complete Compose stack needs headroom and which measurements should drive production sizing.
How to Choose a Server for Self-hosted AI Applications
A practical framework for separating application hosting from model inference, estimating resources and avoiding the most common AI server buying mistakes.