FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Pixelfed Hosting
1. Can I run PixelFed on shared hosting?
No, PixelFed requires a Virtual Private Server (VPS) or dedicated server. Shared hosting doesn't provide the necessary resources or control over system configurations, which are essential for running PixelFed.
2. What are the minimum hardware requirements for hosting PixelFed?
For a basic setup, PixelFed needs at least:
- 2 GB of RAM
- A multi-core CPU (2+ cores recommended)
- At least 10 GB of SSD storage (more as your media files grow) However, for larger instances, you may need additional RAM and storage depending on user activity.
3. What software stack is needed to run PixelFed?
PixelFed requires:
- PHP 8.0 or higher
- PostgreSQL 12 or higher
- Redis for caching
- Supervisor for queue management
- Composer for dependency management
- Nginx or Apache for serving web requests
4. Do I need root access to run PixelFed?
Yes, root or sudo access is necessary to install and configure the required software components and to ensure proper server setup and maintenance.
5. Can I use Docker to host PixelFed?
Yes, PixelFed can be run using Docker containers, which simplifies dependency management and deployment. This method is recommended for users familiar with Docker and containerized environments.
6. How much bandwidth do I need for PixelFed?
The bandwidth requirements depend on the amount of media uploaded and shared. If you're hosting a public instance with many users, a minimum of 1TB of bandwidth per month is recommended. For personal or small instances, smaller bandwidth may suffice.
7. Is a domain name required for hosting PixelFed?
Yes, to make your PixelFed instance accessible to users on the internet, you'll need a domain name, along with SSL/TLS certificates to secure the connection (Let's Encrypt provides free certificates).
8. Can I scale my PixelFed instance?
Yes, you can scale by upgrading your VPS or adding more server resources such as CPU, RAM, and storage as your instance grows in users and media uploads.
9. What is the recommended VPS provider for PixelFed hosting?
Choose a VPS provider from the list above that offers flexibility, reliability, and full root access. Some popular options are DigitalOcean, Vultr and Hostarmada