Commerce
Self-host osTicket on a VPS
A classic, widely-used support ticket system.
Manage support tickets from web, email and API with departments, agents and SLAs.
Why self-host osTicket?
osTicket is a mature, no-nonsense ticketing system that runs comfortably on a small VPS.
How to install osTicket
- 1
Provision a VPS
Choose a plan with room for your data as well as the app.
- 2
Install the stack
Install PHP + MySQL.
- 3
Deploy the application
Follow the project’s official install guide for your distribution.
- 4
Enable HTTPS
Serve it on your own domain behind a reverse proxy with a certificate.
- 5
Back it up
Schedule a database dump plus a copy of any uploaded files to an off-box location.
Practical tips
- Give osTicket its own database user with rights only on its own schema.
- Reverse-proxy osTicket and terminate TLS at the proxy so certificates are managed in one place.
- Take a VPS snapshot before major upgrades so you can roll back cleanly.
- Keep osTicket patched — most self-hosting incidents are unpatched software.
Frequently asked questions
- How much RAM does osTicket need?
- Plan on 1–2 GB for typical use; add headroom if you expect many concurrent users.
- What stack does osTicket run on?
- PHP + MySQL.
- Can I run other things on the same VPS?
- Yes — size the plan so osTicket plus your other workloads fit in RAM with room to spare.
Looking for something else? Popular alternatives include Zammad, FreeScout, OTRS/Znuny — browse all app guides.