How to Self-Host Umami on a VPS (Complete Guide)

Umami is a self-hosted web analytics solution that prioritizes privacy and simplicity. This guide will take you through the process of self-hosting Umami on a Virtual Private Server (VPS) using Docker, providing a complete walkthrough for developers and homelab enthusiasts.

Prerequisites

Before diving in, ensure you have the following requirements:

1. An active VPS from a reliable provider. Here’s a comparison of popular options:

For detailed comparisons, visit our full VPS comparison.

2. Basic command-line knowledge.
3. A domain name pointing to your VPS.
4. Installed Docker and Docker Compose.

Step 1: Setting Up Your VPS

First, access your VPS via SSH. Replace username and vps_ip with your actual username and VPS IP address:

ssh username@vps_ip

Update your package index:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Docker

If Docker is not installed, follow these steps:

sudo apt install apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl software-properties-common -y
curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo apt-key add -
add-apt-repository "deb [arch=amd64] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs) stable"
sudo apt update
sudo apt install docker-ce -y

Verify Docker installation:

sudo systemctl status docker

Step 3: Install Docker Compose

Docker Compose simplifies managing multi-container applications. Install it with:

sudo curl -L "https://github.com/docker/compose/releases/latest/download/docker-compose-$(uname -s)-$(uname -m)" -o /usr/local/bin/docker-compose
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/docker-compose

Check your installation:

docker-compose --version

Step 4: Running Umami

Create a directory for Umami:

mkdir umami && cd umami

Create a docker-compose.yml file:

version: '3'

services:
  umami:
    image: umami/umami
    restart: always
    environment:
      DATABASE_URL: postgres://umami:umami_password@db:5432/umami
      NEXT_PUBLIC_USERNAME: admin
      NEXT_PUBLIC_PASSWORD: admin_password
    ports:
      - "3000:3000"

  db:
    image: postgres
    restart: always
    environment:
      POSTGRES_USER: umami
      POSTGRES_DB: umami
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: umami_password
    volumes:
      - db_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    networks:
      - umami-network

volumes:
  db_data:

networks:
  umami-network:

Replace umami_password and admin_password with strong, unique passwords.

Step 5: Launch Umami

Run the following command to start Umami:

docker-compose up -d

Confirm all containers are running:

docker-compose ps

Step 6: Configure Umami

Access Umami by navigating to http://your_domain_or_vps_ip:3000 in your browser. Complete the setup by adding sites to monitor.

FAQs

How do I secure Umami with HTTPS?

To secure your Umami installation, you should set up a reverse proxy using Nginx or Traefik to handle HTTPS through Let’s Encrypt. Ensure your domain points to your server, then install the reverse proxy and configure SSL certificates following documentation for either Nginx or Traefik.

Can I monitor multiple websites with Umami?

Yes, Umami allows you to track multiple websites from the same dashboard. Simply log in, click on “Add a new site,” and follow the prompts to enter your site’s URL and other relevant details. Once added, you’ll be able to view analytics for each site separately from your Umami dashboard.

What are the system requirements for running Umami?

Umami does not have strict system requirements, but for a smooth experience, a VPS with at least 1 GB of RAM and 1 CPU core is recommended. More significant traffic levels may require additional resources, and using a SSD can substantially improve performance.

Conclusion

Self-hosting Umami on a VPS is a straightforward process that allows you to maintain control over your analytics data while enjoying the benefits of a powerful, open-source platform. With Docker, the setup is even more accessible and manageable. Now, you’re ready to analyze your website’s performance without compromising your privacy. Happy self-hosting!