The Self-Host Playbook - Step by Step Guide

Welcome to the Self-Host Playbook! This guide will help you set up your own automation server using one simple script.

By the end, you'll have a fully functional server with Portainer (for managing Docker containers), n8n (for workflow automation), and Baserow (a no-code database)—all ready to use, no Linux expertise required!

For more info on the Self Host Playbook please have a look at this page.

Prerequisites

Before you start, you need Nix installed on your local computer (Windows, Linux, or Mac). Nix is a tool that makes your server setup reliable and repeatable.

• Check if Nix is installed: Open your terminal and type nix --version. If you see a version number, you're good to go!

If Nix isn’t installed: Run this command in your terminal to install it:

curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf -L https://install.determinate.systems/nix | sh -s -- install

Follow the on-screen instructions, then restart your terminal.

Now you can run the install script:

bash <(curl -L https://code.m3tam3re.com/m3tam3re/self-host-playbook/raw/branch/master/starter/install.sh)

Step 1: Generate an SSH Key

The script will create an SSH key for you. This key lets you securely connect to your server later.

• What happens: When you run the script, it checks if you have an SSH key at ~/.ssh/self-host-playbook.
  • If you don’t, it generates a new one automatically.
  • If you do, it uses the existing one.
• What you’ll see: The script shows your public key (a long string) and its file location (e.g., ~/.ssh/self-host-playbook.pub).

Note: Keep your SSH key safe! Don’t share it with anyone. You’ll need it to access your server later.

Step 2: Prepare Your Cloud Server