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Self-Hosting NetBird on Ubuntu 26.04: Use DuckDNS for a Changing IP

Use DuckDNS to give a self-hosted NetBird server a public hostname that can follow a changing IP. Here are the prerequisites, install choices, and setup limits.
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You can use a DuckDNS hostname as the public name for a self-hosted NetBird server on Ubuntu 26.04, provided the hostname resolves to the server’s current public IP. NetBird’s documented quickstart targets Linux generally; an independent September 2026 report describes an Ubuntu 26.04 deployment, but that is not official compatibility certification.

What you need before installing

NetBird’s quickstart, updated October 5, 2026, calls for a Linux VM with at least 1 CPU and 2 GB of memory. The server needs public inbound access on TCP ports 80 and 443 and UDP port 3478, plus a public domain name that resolves to its public IP. The software prerequisites are Docker with the Docker Compose plugin (or Docker Compose v2 or later), jq, and curl. NetBird’s self-hosted quickstart does not name Ubuntu 26.04 as a specifically supported release.

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  • Use an existing public Linux server or provision a VM; the documented requirements do not specify a particular provider.
  • Allow the required ports through both the server firewall and any cloud or network firewall.
  • Create and update the DuckDNS name before requesting TLS certificates or connecting clients.

Point DuckDNS at the server

DuckDNS provides an HTTPS update API for setting a subdomain’s address. Its documented API can detect the caller’s IPv4 address when the IPv4 value is omitted, or accept an explicit IPv4 or IPv6 value; a separate API supports TXT-record updates. See the DuckDNS API documentation. Configure a recurring update on the server or another reliable host so the record follows any public-IP change. NetBird’s domain requirement is satisfied only while the hostname resolves to the server’s current public IP.

Install NetBird with the built-in Traefik option

The quickstart downloads and runs NetBird’s getting-started.sh script from the latest GitHub release. The script generates a Docker Compose deployment and asks which reverse proxy to use. For a first deployment, NetBird recommends its built-in Traefik option, which obtains TLS certificates automatically through Let’s Encrypt.

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  1. Confirm that the DuckDNS hostname already resolves to the server’s public IP and that TCP 80 and 443 are reachable.
  2. Install Docker with the Compose plugin, jq, and curl on the Linux VM.
  3. Follow the download-and-run commands in the official quickstart, then select the built-in Traefik reverse proxy when prompted.
  4. When prompted for the public domain, enter the DuckDNS hostname, such as example.duckdns.org.

NetBird warns that starting before DNS resolves can prevent Let’s Encrypt issuance and may stop clients from connecting until the name resolves correctly. The official guide provides the release download command and current installer details; use that page rather than copying an old script URL from an unrelated guide.

Choose interactive or unattended installation

The interactive installer is the straightforward choice when you can answer its prompts. For unattended installation, NetBird documents environment variables for the shell running the installer. Set NETBIRD_DOMAIN to the DuckDNS hostname. With built-in Traefik (proxy option 0), also set NETBIRD_LETSENCRYPT_EMAIL. If a terminal is attached but you do not want interactive prompts, set NETBIRD_NON_INTERACTIVE=true. Consult the quickstart for the exact invocation and supported options.

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Complete first-time administrator setup

The quickstart deploys the service without creating users. After deployment and successful DNS/TLS setup, open the HTTPS DuckDNS hostname and visit /setup to create the initial administrator account. This setup page is available only while the instance has no users.

What changes if you already use a reverse proxy?

If a reverse proxy is already managed on the server, the installer’s alternative proxy choice may fit better than adding built-in Traefik. Follow the current quickstart for that option’s configuration and TLS responsibilities. Keep TCP 80 and 443 routed correctly and ensure the public hostname still reaches the NetBird server; do not assume an existing proxy automatically matches the quickstart’s Traefik configuration.

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DuckDNS and the optional NetBird Proxy

The optional NetBird Proxy is a separate configuration from using a DuckDNS hostname as the main server name. NetBird’s quickstart says to point a wildcard record, such as *.netbird.example.com, at the server when enabling that service. DuckDNS’s cited API documents subdomain address updates and TXT changes, but the available documentation does not establish the precise wildcard DNS and certificate-validation workflow for this optional Proxy with DuckDNS. Confirm those details before relying on that combination; the base hostname setup does not by itself prove wildcard support.

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Ubuntu 26.04 compatibility in context

An independent article dated September 24, 2026 reports deploying NetBird with DuckDNS on two fresh Ubuntu 26.04 servers. That is a reported implementation, not a compatibility guarantee from NetBird or Canonical. The official quickstart reviewed here describes a Linux VM rather than listing Ubuntu 26.04 specifically.

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