Self-Hosting Overview
Last updated: May 29, 2026
xltrail can be self-hosted in your own infrastructure, giving you full control over data, networking, and access. There are two supported deployment methods:
- Docker Compose — the simplest way to get started. Runs all services on a single Linux or Windows server. Ideal for small to mid-size teams or environments without Kubernetes.
- Kubernetes / Helm — for teams that already run a Kubernetes cluster. Supports horizontal scaling, rolling updates, and integrates with existing cluster tooling (ingress controllers, cert-manager, monitoring). Also available on OpenShift with additional security context configuration.
Both methods deploy the same application — the choice depends on your infrastructure and operational preferences.
Deployment Comparison
| Docker Compose | Kubernetes / Helm | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Single-server, small teams | Clusters, scaling, HA |
| Setup complexity | Low | Medium |
| Scaling | Vertical (bigger server) | Horizontal (more pods) |
| Upgrades | xltrail update CLI | helm uninstall + helm upgrade --install |
| Data storage | Host bind mounts | PersistentVolumeClaims |
| Air-gapped support | ✅ Offline bundle | ✅ Private registry |
System Requirements
Docker Compose (Linux)
| Requirement | Minimum |
|---|---|
| OS | Linux (any distribution supporting Docker) |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| CPU | 4 cores |
| Disk | 50 GB (100 GB recommended) |
| Docker | v18.06+ |
| Docker Compose | v2+ |
Docker Compose (Windows)
| Requirement | Minimum |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows Server 2019 version 1809+ |
| Hyper-V | Required (nested virtualization on VMs) |
| Recommended | D4s_v3 on Azure (4 vCPUs / 16 GB RAM) |
Note: Linux is the recommended platform. The Windows installation relies on Linux containers on Windows (LCOW), which is experimental.
Kubernetes
| Requirement | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Kubernetes | 1.18.14 – 1.29.9 (tested range) |
| Helm | v3+ |
| Ingress | Ingress controller (e.g., nginx-ingress) |
| Storage | PersistentVolume provisioner |
OpenShift
| Requirement | Minimum |
|---|---|
| OpenShift | 4.x |
| Helm | v3+ |
Requires xltrail ≥ v4.1.6 for non-root UID compatibility.
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