Standard Notes is a secure, open-source notes application that values privacy and data security. With the self-hosted Standard Notes Server, you can have full control over your notes and data. This guide will walk you through installing the Standard Notes server on Ubuntu 22.04. Whether you're deploying it on a local machine or on a Windows VPS UK, this setup will give you a reliable, private notes application.
Step 1: Update Your System
Before beginning the installation, ensure your system is up to date. Run the following commands to update your package lists and upgrade all installed packages:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -yKeeping your system updated ensures you have the latest security patches and features, which is crucial when deploying applications on a VPS Windows Servers platform.
Step 2: Install Docker and Docker Compose
The Standard Notes server is deployed using Docker, which simplifies the process of managing and running the application. First, install Docker and Docker Compose on Ubuntu 22.04:
sudo apt install docker.io docker-compose -yStart and enable Docker to run at boot:
sudo systemctl start docker
sudo systemctl enable dockerStep 3: Set Up the Standard Notes Server
Create a directory to store the Standard Notes server files and navigate into it:
mkdir standard-notes
cd standard-notesDownload the Standard Notes server Docker configuration files by cloning the official GitHub repository:
git clone https://github.com/standardnotes/syncing-serverNavigate into the cloned directory:
cd syncing-serverBefore launching the server, create an environment file to configure important variables such as the database and server URLs. You can copy the default environment file and modify it:
cp .env.example .envEdit the .env file with your preferred text editor, such as nano:
nano .envAdjust the values for the database settings, API keys, and other relevant fields. Save and close the file.
Step 4: Start the Standard Notes Server
Once the environment file is configured, you can start the Standard Notes server using Docker Compose:
sudo docker-compose up -dThis command will download the necessary Docker images and start the server in detached mode. To check the status of the containers, you can run:
sudo docker-compose psStep 5: Secure the Standard Notes Server with SSL
To secure the Standard Notes server with HTTPS, you can use Let's Encrypt to obtain a free SSL certificate. First, ensure you have the domain name and DNS records pointing to your server's IP address. Then, install Certbot:
sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx -yRun Certbot to obtain and configure the SSL certificate:
sudo certbot --nginx -d yourdomain.com -d www.yourdomain.comCertbot will automatically update your Nginx configuration to use the new SSL certificate. This ensures all connections to your Standard Notes server are encrypted.
Step 6: Access Your Standard Notes Server
Once the Standard Notes server is up and running, you can access it by navigating to https://yourdomain.com in your web browser. From there, you can register a new account and start using the Standard Notes application.
