Install Dokku on a fresh Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04, or 26.04 VPS by running Dokku’s tagged bootstrap script as a sudo-capable user, then import an SSH key and set a global virtual host. Dokku’s documentation lists AMD64 (x86_64) and arm64 (armv8) support, requires at least 1GB of memory for its Docker scheduler, and recommends a domain with wildcard DNS for the cleanest application URLs.
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What Dokku installs and why the order matters
Dokku is an extensible, open-source platform as a service that runs on one server. It builds applications from a Dockerfile or detects a supported language with buildpacks, creates an image, and starts containers from it. Web processes are routed through the host’s web proxy, while background processes and scheduled tasks are managed by Dokku.
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A package installation by itself is not a deployable Dokku host. The installation is complete only after you configure a deployment SSH key and a global virtual host. Do those two tasks before attempting the first application deployment.
Check the VPS requirements first
| Requirement | Supported or recommended value | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04, or 26.04 | These are the Ubuntu releases listed by Dokku’s 2026 documentation. |
| CPU architecture | AMD64 (x86_64) or arm64 (armv8) | The bootstrap and platform components must match the VPS architecture. |
| Memory | At least 1GB RAM | Dokku identifies 1GB as the minimum for the Docker scheduler. |
| User account | A user that can run sudo |
The bootstrap command needs administrative access. |
| Server state | Fresh, compatible VPS | A clean host avoids conflicts with existing web servers, Docker settings, and deployment tooling. |
| Domain | Recommended, but optional | A domain enables stable application hostnames; an IP address or an sslip.io hostname can be used when necessary. |
The 1GB figure is operational guidance from Dokku’s documentation, not a performance benchmark. Builds can need more headroom depending on dependency size and the number of processes running at once.
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Prepare a fresh Ubuntu VPS
Choose the release and architecture
Select Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04, or 26.04 on AMD64 or arm64. Confirm the image’s architecture in your VPS provider’s control panel before creating the server. Dokku also documents Debian 11 and later, but this guide is for the supported Ubuntu releases in the title.
Use a sudo-capable account
Connect with the account that will run the installation. It must be able to execute commands with sudo. The deployment key you import later does not have to be the same key used to log in to the VPS, although using a controlled administrative key simplifies initial setup.
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The documented path is the Dokku bootstrap script. The procedure below does not require you to install Docker independently first. Avoid layering an unrelated Docker installation or an existing application stack onto a fresh server unless you have a specific, tested reason to do so.
Install Dokku with the stable tagged bootstrap
Dokku’s stable installation example uses release tag v0.38.31. Release tags change, so check the current official installation page immediately before copying a command. The commands below are the tagged example documented for this installation procedure:
wget -NP . https://dokku.com/install/v0.38.31/bootstrap.sh
sudo DOKKU_TAG=v0.38.31 bash bootstrap.shThe first line downloads the bootstrap script into the current directory. The second runs it with administrative privileges and explicitly selects the same Dokku tag. If you change the tag, change both references together.
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Dokku estimates that installation generally takes five to ten minutes, depending on the connection speed. The process downloads packages and platform components, so a slow VPS connection can take longer. Keep the SSH session open and read the output for errors instead of assuming that a returned shell prompt means every configuration step is finished.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFor the exact tagged script, use Dokku’s v0.38.31 bootstrap file. That URL is version-specific; it should not be treated as a permanent “latest” address.
Import the SSH key Dokku will use for deployments
After the bootstrap completes, add the public key whose holder will push applications to Dokku. The documented command reads the current user’s authorized keys and registers them under the name admin:
cat ~/.ssh/authorized_keys | sudo dokku ssh-keys:add adminWhat this command does
cat ~/.ssh/authorized_keysoutputs the public keys authorized for the account running the command.sudo dokku ssh-keys:add adminimports that output into Dokku and labels the imported keyadmin.- The key must already be present in the account’s
authorized_keysfile; this command does not create a new key pair.
Use a deliberate key choice
On a shared server, review ~/.ssh/authorized_keys first so you do not grant deployment access to an unintended key. If several keys are present, the command imports all of them from that file. Keep the label meaningful if you later manage multiple deployment identities.
Set the global virtual host
Set the hostname suffix Dokku will use when it routes applications. Replace example.com with a domain whose DNS record points to the VPS:
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dokku domains:set-global example.comThe global value is a routing default for applications that do not have a different hostname configured. Setting it before the first deployment prevents confusing URLs and makes the host ready for normal Dokku application workflows.
Choose the DNS layout that fits your apps
| DNS approach | Result | Best fit | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildcard record | A record such as *.domain.tld sends app hostnames to the VPS, producing addresses like $APP.domain.tld. |
Multiple applications on one Dokku server | Requires control of wildcard DNS at the domain provider. |
| Single domain | Applications are reached as domain.tld:$RANDOM_PORT. |
One application or a constrained DNS setup | Port-based URLs are less readable and less convenient to share. |
| Server IP | The VPS address is used as the virtual-host value. | Temporary testing when no DNS name is available | No friendly hostname and less flexibility for several apps. |
sslip.io hostname |
An IP-derived hostname resolves without registering a domain. | Short-lived experiments or evaluation servers | It is less suitable as a long-term public identity. |
Wildcard DNS: the clean multi-app setup
Create a wildcard A record such as *.domain.tld pointing to the VPS address, then set the global domain to domain.tld. Dokku can then route an application named store at store.domain.tld. The wildcard record covers new application subdomains without requiring a DNS change for each deployment.
One domain without a wildcard
A single domain is valid, but Dokku’s documented behavior uses a random port in the application URL, for example domain.tld:$RANDOM_PORT. This can be adequate for one app or a restricted DNS environment, but it is usually harder to communicate and maintain than per-app hostnames.
No registered domain yet
Use the server IP or an sslip.io hostname while testing. The domain is recommended rather than mandatory, so you can finish the installation without purchasing or transferring a domain. Replace the temporary value with a real domain later when you need durable public URLs.
Know when the host is ready to deploy
Dokku considers the installation ready for an application after the SSH key and virtual host are configured. A successful bootstrap alone is not that milestone. Before you push anything, confirm that:
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- The VPS is running one of the supported Ubuntu releases and a supported architecture.
- The installation command completed without an error.
- The intended deployment key appears in the key file from which you imported it.
- The key was added with
dokku ssh-keys:add. - The global domain is set to the DNS name, IP address, or temporary
sslip.iohostname you intend to use. - DNS records point to the VPS when you selected a domain-based setup.
Only after these checks should you configure and deploy the first application. The exact application deployment method depends on whether the project uses a Dockerfile or a buildpack-detected language, but both paths rely on the same host-level SSH and virtual-host configuration.
Keep small VPSs from failing during builds
Dokku warns that less than 1GB of available memory can cause unexpected build or deployment errors. One reported symptom is a pre-receive-hook failure while dependencies are being installed. The failure may appear to be an application problem even though the underlying limit is host memory.
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Additional RAM provides predictable headroom for Docker, the build process, and running containers. It is the better choice for regular builds, large dependency trees, or several applications sharing one VPS.
Use swap as a safety margin
The advanced Dokku guidance suggests increasing Linux swap to as much as twice the physical memory. Its example expands a 512MB machine’s swap file to 1GB. Swap can prevent an immediate out-of-memory failure, but it is slower than RAM and does not turn a small VPS into a high-capacity build host.
- Check the provider’s memory allocation and the operating system’s available memory, not only the plan’s advertised total.
- Increase swap before diagnosing dependency-installation failures as application defects.
- Expect slower builds when the system is actively paging.
- Move to a larger VPS if builds remain unreliable after adding swap.
Stable bootstrap versus advanced installation paths
| Approach | Use it when | Main consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Tagged stable bootstrap | You want the normal, supportable installation on a fresh VPS. | Use the release tag shown on the current official page; the example here is v0.38.31. |
master branch installation |
You need unreleased changes or are testing Dokku development code. | The branch may be unstable and is not the straightforward route for a production host. |
| Repository override | You maintain or test a customized Dokku package source. | Supportability and update behavior differ from the standard repository. |
| Skip recommended Herokuish dependencies | Your environment deliberately replaces or omits those build components. | Buildpack-based applications may lose expected compatibility. |
| Unattended installation | You are automating repeatable provisioning. | All SSH and virtual-host inputs must be supplied non-interactively and validated by your automation. |
These advanced options are documented for customization and automation. For a normal Ubuntu VPS, the tagged stable bootstrap minimizes variables and makes troubleshooting easier.
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Troubleshoot the common failure points
The bootstrap stops or takes much longer than ten minutes
The five-to-ten-minute estimate depends on internet speed. Check the VPS connection and the command output first. If the script reports a package or repository error, capture that specific message before retrying. Re-running blindly can leave you unsure which components completed.
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Check available memory. Dokku specifically associates sub-1GB systems with unexpected build errors, including pre-receive-hook failures. Add swap according to the advanced guidance or resize the VPS, then retry the build.
The application has no usable hostname
Verify that dokku domains:set-global was run and that the chosen A record or CNAME points to the VPS. If you configured only a base domain without wildcard DNS, expect the documented random-port form rather than a clean subdomain.
The deployment key is rejected
Confirm that the public key was present in the account’s ~/.ssh/authorized_keys when you ran the import command, and that the command completed with sudo. If multiple keys were present, review which identities were imported under the admin label.
The VPS is not on a supported image
Rebuild or replace it with Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04, or 26.04 on AMD64 or arm64. Starting from a fresh supported image is safer than trying to retrofit an unsupported operating system.
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Installation checklist
- Provision a fresh Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04, or 26.04 VPS on AMD64 or arm64.
- Ensure the administrative account can run
sudo. - Allocate at least 1GB RAM; plan swap or a larger server for heavier builds.
- Check the current Dokku page for the supported release tag.
- Run the tagged bootstrap command, keeping the tag consistent in both lines.
- Import the intended deployment key with
dokku ssh-keys:add. - Set the global virtual host with
dokku domains:set-global. - Point a wildcard or single-domain DNS record to the VPS, or use an IP/
sslip.iovalue for testing. - Confirm SSH and virtual-host configuration before deploying the first application.
What to revisit when Dokku changes
Dokku’s supported operating systems, release tags, dependencies, and installation switches can change. Treat v0.38.31 as the documented example for this guide’s 2026 context, not as a timeless latest version. Before provisioning a new server, check the current official instructions and substitute the current stable tag in both the download URL and DOKKU_TAG value.
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