Zulip is an open-source chat and collaboration platform that allows teams to communicate efficiently with threaded conversations. In this guide, we will show you how to install Zulip Chat Server using Docker on Rocky Linux 9. Hosting your Zulip server on a WindowsVPS provides the dedicated resources needed to handle your communication platform efficiently using a VPS server.

Step 1: Update Your VPS Server

Before installing Docker and Zulip, ensure your VPS server is up to date. Run the following commands to update your Rocky Linux system:

sudo dnf update -y

Running Zulip on a WindowsVPS ensures that your chat platform benefits from the power and scalability of dedicated resources, providing a smooth communication experience for your users.

Step 2: Install Docker

Docker is required to run Zulip in containers. Install Docker on Rocky Linux 9 by running the following commands:

sudo dnf install dnf-plugins-core -y
sudo dnf config-manager --add-repo https://download.docker.com/linux/centos/docker-ce.repo
sudo dnf install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io -y

After installation, start Docker and enable it to run on boot:

sudo systemctl start docker
sudo systemctl enable docker

To verify the installation, run:

sudo docker --version

Step 3: Install Docker Compose

Docker Compose is necessary to manage multi-container applications like Zulip. Install Docker Compose with the following commands:

sudo curl -L "https://github.com/docker/compose/releases/download/2.1.1/docker-compose-$(uname -s)-$(uname -m)" -o /usr/local/bin/docker-compose
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/docker-compose

Verify the installation by checking the version:

docker-compose --version

Step 4: Download the Zulip Docker Compose Configuration

Now that Docker and Docker Compose are installed, create a directory for Zulip and download the Docker Compose configuration file:

mkdir ~/zulip-docker
cd ~/zulip-docker
sudo curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/zulip/docker-zulip/main/docker-compose.yml

This will download the necessary docker-compose.yml file to configure Zulip.

Step 5: Configure Zulip

Before running Zulip, you need to configure it. Open the docker-compose.yml file to configure the database and settings:

nano docker-compose.yml

Edit the following settings according to your needs, including database credentials and other Zulip configuration parameters:

• Set the ZULIP_DB_HOST to the hostname or IP address of your database server (if external).
• Set the SECRETS_email_password for your email configuration.
• Update RABBITMQ_DEFAULT_USER and RABBITMQ_DEFAULT_PASS if needed.

Save the file and exit the editor.

Step 6: Start Zulip with Docker Compose

Now, start Zulip using Docker Compose:

sudo docker-compose up -d

This command will start all the necessary services, including Zulip, PostgreSQL (for the database), Redis, and RabbitMQ. The -d flag runs the containers in detached mode, allowing them to run in the background.

Step 7: Access Zulip Web Interface

Once the containers are running, you can access the Zulip web interface by navigating to your server’s IP address or domain name:

http://your-server-ip

The default port is 80, so you do not need to specify it unless you changed the configuration. On the first visit, you will be prompted to create an admin account and configure the Zulip server settings.

Step 8: Configure Firewall for Zulip

If you have a firewall enabled on your VPS, you will need to allow traffic on port 80 (HTTP) or 443 (HTTPS) for secure connections. Run the following commands to open the necessary ports:

sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=http
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=https
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

Step 9: Manage Zulip with Docker

You can manage your Zulip containers using Docker commands. To stop the containers, run:

sudo docker-compose down

To restart them, simply use:

sudo docker-compose up -d

Step 10: Optimize Your VPS Server for Zulip

Running Zulip on a WindowsVPS ensures that your chat platform has access to dedicated resources such as CPU, memory, and storage. A VPS server allows for better performance and scalability, making sure your Zulip server can handle increasing numbers of users and messages without any performance degradation. As your user base grows, you can easily scale your VPS resources to match the demand.

Conclusion

Zulip is a powerful chat platform that enhances team communication through threaded conversations. By following this guide, you can easily install and configure Zulip using Docker on Rocky Linux 9. Hosting Zulip on a WindowsVPS ensures optimal performance and scalability for growing teams and organizations.

For more information about VPS hosting and optimizing your Zulip chat server, visit WindowsVPS today.