Networking
Self-host Zabbix on a VPS
Enterprise-class monitoring for servers and networks.
Collect metrics, define triggers and alert on infrastructure of any size, all self-hosted.
Why self-host Zabbix?
Zabbix scales from a single box to thousands of hosts, and self-hosting avoids per-device licensing.
How to install Zabbix
- 1
Provision a VPS
Choose a plan with room for your data as well as the app.
- 2
Install the stack
Install Server + frontend + DB (MySQL/Postgres).
- 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 Zabbix its own database user with rights only on its own schema.
- Reverse-proxy Zabbix 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 Zabbix patched — most self-hosting incidents are unpatched software.
Frequently asked questions
- How much RAM does Zabbix need?
- Plan on 4 GB for typical use; add headroom if you expect many concurrent users.
- What stack does Zabbix run on?
- Server + frontend + DB (MySQL/Postgres).
- Can I run other things on the same VPS?
- Yes — size the plan so Zabbix plus your other workloads fit in RAM with room to spare.
Looking for something else? Popular alternatives include LibreNMS, Prometheus, Nagios — browse all app guides.