Self-host Rundeck on a VPS

Why self-host Rundeck?

Rundeck brings structure and auditing to ops jobs that would otherwise be ad-hoc shell on each box.

How to install Rundeck

1. 1

   Provision a VPS

   Choose a plan with room for your data as well as the app.

2. 2

   Install the stack

   Install Java + (Postgres/MySQL).

3. 3

   Deploy the application

   Follow the project’s official install guide for your distribution.

4. 4

   Enable HTTPS

   Serve it on your own domain behind a reverse proxy with a certificate.

5. 5

   Back it up

   Schedule a database dump plus a copy of any uploaded files to an off-box location.

Practical tips

• Give Rundeck its own database user with rights only on its own schema.
• Reverse-proxy Rundeck 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 Rundeck patched — most self-hosting incidents are unpatched software.

Frequently asked questions

How much RAM does Rundeck need?

Plan on 2–4 GB for typical use; add headroom if you expect many concurrent users.

What stack does Rundeck run on?

Java + (Postgres/MySQL).

Can I run other things on the same VPS?

Yes — size the plan so Rundeck plus your other workloads fit in RAM with room to spare.

Looking for something else? Popular alternatives include Ansible AWX, Windmill, Jenkins — browse all app guides.