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Use Pydio Cells when you want a self-hosted file-sharing and collaboration service with large-file transfers, granular permissions, and workflow automation. For most installations, run the official Docker image, connect it to MySQL or MariaDB, give the container persistent storage, and publish Cells through a stable HTTPS address. A binary installation is better when you want direct control of the host and service manager.
Need a server to try this on? Antihost offers Linux VPS plans with NVMe storage, full root access and a 14-day free trial.
Plan for at least two CPU cores, 4 GB of RAM, SSD storage, a supported Linux distribution, and a database before you begin. A Raspberry Pi 4B with 4 GB can work for a small home or laboratory deployment, but production workloads need more headroom and more reliable storage.
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What Pydio Cells provides
Pydio Cells is Pydio’s current self-hosted document-sharing and collaboration platform. It is written in Go, uses a microservice architecture, and is distributed as compiled binaries, a Docker image, and source code. The platform is designed for organizations that need controlled sharing without sending primary data to a third-party cloud.
Cells combines browser-based file access with desktop and mobile clients, link sharing, permission controls, and workflow features. Its gateway handles the basic web service itself, so a separate Apache or Nginx server is not required for a straightforward deployment. You can add a reverse proxy when your network design, certificate management, or hosting provider requires one.
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Self-hosting makes you responsible for the server, database, updates, certificates, storage capacity, monitoring, and backups. That responsibility is the trade-off for deciding where data resides and how access is enforced.
Minimum requirements and edition sizing
The official requirements describe a baseline rather than a performance guarantee. Use faster CPUs, additional memory, and redundant storage when many users will upload files simultaneously or when background jobs and previews are important.
| Item | Documented requirement | Planning implication |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD 64-bit or ARM 32/64-bit; two cores or more recommended | Two cores suit a small installation. Reserve additional cores for concurrent users, indexing, and synchronization. |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM | This is the general minimum. The Enterprise edition lists 8 GB RAM as its minimum. |
| Storage | SSD recommended | Keep the Cells data, metadata, logs, and database on dependable storage with free space for growth and temporary operations. |
| Operating system | Debian/Ubuntu and RHEL-family Linux distributions are supported | Use a currently maintained release and apply security updates through the distribution’s normal process. |
| Database | MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB 10.3+; MongoDB 5–7 is supported for selected services | Prepare the relational database before running the setup wizard. MongoDB is not a replacement for the required MySQL or MariaDB dependency. |
| Open files | More than 2,048; 8,192 recommended for production | Raise the service user’s and service manager’s limits before a busy deployment starts dropping connections. |
| Run identity | Dedicated non-root service user | Do not operate Cells as root. Restrict ownership of its working and data directories to the service account. |
Pydio’s edition-specific figures list Cells Home at a minimum of two cores and 4 GB RAM, while Enterprise lists four cores and 8 GB RAM. Licensing, included features, and current limits can change, so verify the edition terms on Pydio’s live pricing and licensing information before committing to a production design.
Choose hardware and hosting before installation
Raspberry Pi for a home or lab
Pydio’s advanced guide documents Raspberry Pi deployments and suggests a Raspberry Pi 4B with at least 4 GB RAM. Treat that as a small-scale option: use an SSD rather than a heavily written microSD card, keep the number of simultaneous users modest, and maintain an independent backup. A Pi behind a home router also needs dynamic-DNS or another stable way for remote users to reach it, plus correctly managed TLS.
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A small Linux server
A mini PC or spare server gives you more CPU, memory, disk options, and network reliability than a Pi. It is usually the better choice for a household, club, or small office with several active users. Install the database and Cells on SSD storage, and consider mirrored disks or a separate backup target if losing a single drive would be unacceptable.
A VPS
A VPS provides a reachable public network address without exposing a home connection. You still manage operating-system patches, database security, storage expansion, TLS, and backups. Check that the provider offers persistent SSD-backed storage and enough outbound bandwidth for the large files your users will share.
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|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 4B, 4 GB | Low cost and low power for a small private deployment | Limited CPU, memory, storage reliability, and upstream bandwidth |
| Small dedicated server | More performance and local control | You maintain hardware, power, networking, and off-site backups |
| VPS | Public reachability and provider-managed physical hardware | Recurring hosting cost and dependence on the provider’s storage and network policies |
Prepare the database, DNS, and storage
- Select a supported Linux host. Install current security updates and confirm that the machine has a stable hostname and accurate system time.
- Create a MySQL or MariaDB database. The setup process needs a database account with the privileges required to create and update the Cells schema. Keep database credentials out of shell history and documentation that other users can read.
- Create persistent storage. Decide where the Cells directory will live before starting the service. The persistent directory contains
pydio.json, user data, logs, certificates, and service information. - Choose the public name. Desktop and mobile OAuth flows depend on a stable external URL. Create a DNS record such as
files.example.netthat resolves to the address users will actually reach. - Plan TLS. Cells includes a gateway and can serve the basic installation itself. You may terminate TLS in Cells or in a reverse proxy, but the URL users see must remain consistent with the configured external address.
Do not place the data directory on temporary container storage. Recreating a container is normal; losing the mounted directory would remove the configuration, logs, certificates, and files needed to recover the service.
Install Pydio Cells with Docker
Docker is the quickest route when you prefer an isolated application environment and repeatable container upgrades. Install Docker using your distribution’s supported method, then make sure the host can reach the prepared MySQL or MariaDB instance.
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Run a first configuration test
- Start the documented test container with
docker run -d --network=host pydio/cells. - Open
https://localhost:8080in a browser on the host, or use an SSH tunnel if the server has no graphical session. - Enter the database connection details in the configuration wizard and create the initial administrator account.
- Confirm that you can sign in, create a test workspace, upload a small file, and download it again.
This test uses host networking and is useful for validating the image and database connection. Do not treat it as a complete production topology: it does not by itself define a persistent host mount, a public external URL, or a restart policy.
Convert the test into a persistent deployment
- Stop and remove the test container after recording any settings you need to retain.
- Create a dedicated host directory, for example
/srv/pydio-cells, and assign ownership so the container can read and write it safely. - Mount that directory to
/var/cellsin the production container. This preservespydio.json, data, logs, certificates, and service information across image updates. - Set
CELLS_SITE_BINDto the HTTPS bind address and setCELLS_SITE_EXTERNALto the public fully qualified domain name. The external value must be the address used by browsers and client applications. - Start the container with the persistent mount, the required environment variables, a restart policy appropriate to your host, and the database settings required by your chosen MySQL or MariaDB account.
- Browse to the external HTTPS address, finish any remaining wizard steps, and test login, upload, download, link sharing, and account recovery.
Keep the host directory out of automated cleanup jobs and container-pruning commands. Back it up independently of Docker so that a damaged image or host can be rebuilt without losing the service state.
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Cells Sync behind a TLS-terminating proxy
If you use Cells Sync and TLS is terminated by a reverse proxy, the Docker guide requires an additional gRPC port to be configured and exposed. The exact port and proxy settings depend on the topology you choose. Open only that documented gRPC port and the HTTPS endpoint; do not expose the container’s entire port range.
Install from the binary on bare metal
The binary route avoids container tooling and can fit a host where you already manage services with systemd or another supervisor.
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- Download the Cells binary that matches the target operating system and CPU architecture.
- Create a dedicated
pydiouser and group. Give that account ownership of the working directory and any data path it must access. - Prepare the working directory and verify that the database host is reachable from the service account’s environment.
- Run
cells configure. The wizard can be completed in a browser or interactively in the terminal. - Set the bind address, external URL, database connection, administrator account, and storage locations during configuration.
- Start the service with
cells start, then verify login and a complete upload/download cycle through the configured HTTPS endpoint. - Register the process with your service manager so it starts after reboot, and apply the open-file limit to that managed service rather than only to your interactive shell.
Binary upgrades require you to replace the executable deliberately and preserve the working directory. Keep a tested copy of the previous binary and a current backup before changing versions.
Configure networking and security
Gateway and ports
The default Cells gateway listens on TCP port 8080, although both the bind address and port are configurable. A basic deployment does not need Apache or Nginx. If a reverse proxy is present, forward only the web traffic and any additional gRPC endpoint required for Cells Sync.
- Allow inbound traffic only for the HTTPS service and any explicitly required synchronization endpoint.
- Do not expose MySQL, MariaDB, or MongoDB directly to the public internet.
- Restrict administrative access to the host through a firewall and separate management account.
- Use HTTPS for every external login and file transfer.
External URL and OAuth
Set CELLS_SITE_EXTERNAL or the equivalent binary configuration to the public FQDN. Desktop and mobile clients use that value for OAuth redirects; a mismatch between the configured address and the address users open can produce failed sign-ins even when the server itself is healthy.
Clock accuracy
Keep the host’s date and time synchronized with a reliable time source. Pydio warns that an incorrect clock can invalidate authentication and produce errors such as HTTP 403. Check time synchronization before troubleshooting passwords, tokens, or client registration.
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Least privilege
Run Cells as the dedicated non-root service user. Apply restrictive permissions to the data directory, configuration file, database credentials, and certificate keys. Separate administrator accounts from ordinary sharing accounts and remove unused accounts promptly.
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Back up more than the files
A usable recovery set includes the Cells persistent directory, the MySQL or MariaDB database, and any external configuration used by your proxy, firewall, or certificate automation. Files without the database may lose sharing metadata, permissions, or workflow state; a database without the files is equally incomplete.
- Keep at least one backup on a different device or location.
- Encrypt backups that contain private documents or database credentials.
- Test restoring a sample account, workspace, and file rather than assuming a successful copy is restorable.
- Record the Cells version, database version, host operating system, and mount paths with each recovery set.
Monitor logs and service health
Container installations keep logs under the mounted Cells directory, including /var/cells/logs inside the container. Binary installations use the same working-tree layout when configured conventionally. For a systemd-managed service, inspect the journal with journalctl -u pydio (substitute the unit name you created) and check the service status before restarting repeatedly.
Plan updates
- Read the release notes and confirm compatibility with your database and client versions.
- Take and verify a database dump and a copy of the persistent Cells directory.
- Stop or quiesce the service according to the upgrade instructions for your installation method.
- Update the container image or binary while retaining the previous version for rollback.
- Start Cells, watch the logs for migrations or errors, and test administrator login, normal user login, upload, download, sharing, and synchronization.
Docker or binary: which installation fits?
| Decision point | Docker | Binary or bare metal |
|---|---|---|
| Isolation | Packages the application and its runtime in a container | Runs directly on the host and shares its operating-system environment |
| Initial setup | Fast when Docker is already installed | Requires user, directory, executable, and service-manager preparation |
| Persistent state | Requires an explicit host mount to /var/cells |
Lives in the working directory you configure |
| Upgrades | Pull and recreate the image while retaining the mount | Replace the binary and manage rollback yourself |
| Host control | Less host configuration, more container and volume concepts | More direct control over limits, paths, and service startup |
| Best fit | Repeatable deployments and hosts already using containers | Administrators who prefer native services and direct system integration |
Home or Enterprise edition planning
Cells Home lists two cores and 4 GB RAM as its minimum hardware, matching the general small-installation baseline. Enterprise lists four cores and 8 GB RAM. These figures do not define a universal user count: file sizes, concurrent transfers, previews, synchronization, workflows, database latency, and storage performance all affect capacity. Select the edition for its licensing and feature requirements, then size hardware with measured workload headroom rather than treating the minimum as a target.
Troubleshooting common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Wizard cannot connect to the database | Database service is unreachable, credentials are wrong, or the account lacks required privileges | Test connectivity from the Cells host, verify the hostname and port, and check MySQL/MariaDB grants and server logs. |
| Files disappear after a container is recreated | No persistent mount was configured | Stop using ephemeral storage, restore the backed-up Cells directory, and recreate the container with a host directory mounted to /var/cells. |
| Browser works but mobile or desktop OAuth fails | External URL does not match the address users open | Set the public FQDN in CELLS_SITE_EXTERNAL or the binary configuration, then retry client registration. |
| HTTP 403 during authentication | Host clock is inaccurate or a proxy is altering authentication traffic | Synchronize system time, verify HTTPS forwarding, and inspect Cells and proxy logs. |
| Synchronization fails behind a proxy | Required gRPC endpoint is not exposed or forwarded | Configure and publish the additional gRPC port specified by the Docker guide, while keeping unrelated ports closed. |
| Random connection or file-handle errors under load | Open-file limit is too low | Raise limits above 2,048; 8,192 is the documented production recommendation, and apply the setting to the actual service unit. |
| Service will not start after reboot | No service-manager definition or incorrect directory permissions | Check the unit status and journal, confirm the dedicated user’s ownership, and ensure the database is available before Cells starts. |
A practical launch checklist
- Supported Linux release installed and patched.
- Two or more CPU cores and at least 4 GB RAM available; four cores and 8 GB for the documented Enterprise minimum.
- SSD-backed persistent storage with a growth and backup plan.
- MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB 10.3+ prepared; MongoDB 5–7 added only where a supported service requires it.
- Dedicated non-root
pydioaccount created. - Open-file limit tested above 2,048, with 8,192 configured for production.
- Stable DNS name and valid HTTPS path selected.
- External URL configured for browser, desktop, and mobile clients.
- Firewall rules limited to the web endpoint and any required synchronization port.
- Independent backups for the Cells directory and database, followed by a restore test.
- Log locations and service-manager commands documented for the next administrator.
Bottom line
For a first deployment, use Docker with a persistent host directory, MySQL or MariaDB, a stable HTTPS FQDN, and a dedicated non-root operating-system account. Choose the binary installation when native service management and direct host control matter more than container isolation. A Raspberry Pi 4B with 4 GB is suitable for a small personal or laboratory server; production sharing should move to a more capable SSD-backed server or VPS and include tested, independent backups.
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