Version: DashboardFox v12 or higher
 
Role: You must have root privileges or be a root-equivalent user to perform this installation.
 
System Requirements:
Any system capable of running Docker (Linux, Windows, macOS)
 
Prerequisites:
- Docker and Docker Compose installed
- Minimum 8GB RAM recommended
- At least 30GB free disk space
- Internet connectivity for initial setup

Overview

In this article, we will provide the steps to install and upgrade DashboardFox using Docker containers on supported versions of Linux. The Docker deployment includes an embedded PostgreSQL database, DashboardFox application services, and an Nginx reverse proxy. This containerized approach provides easier deployment, isolation, and simplified upgrade procedures.

After the installation, we will guide you through activating the trial license of DashboardFox and managing upgrades to newer versions.

Getting Started

To start, SSH to your Linux server as root or a root-level user.

ssh root@your-server-ip

Follow the steps below to complete the installation.

Prerequisites: Install Docker and Docker Compose

If Docker is not already installed on your system, install it first:

For Ubuntu/Debian:

# Update package index
sudo apt update
 
# Install Docker
sudo apt install -y docker.io docker-compose-plugin
 
# Start and enable Docker
sudo systemctl start docker
sudo systemctl enable docker
 
# Verify installation
sudo docker --version
sudo docker compose version

For RHEL/Rocky/CentOS/Fedora:

# Install Docker
sudo dnf install -y docker docker-compose-plugin
 
# Start and enable Docker
sudo systemctl start docker
sudo systemctl enable docker
 
# Verify installation
sudo docker --version
sudo docker compose version

Fresh Installation

Step 1: Download and Extract DashboardFox

Download the DashboardFox installation package:

# Navigate to your desired installation directory
cd /opt
 
# Download the installation package
wget https://f002.backblazeb2.com/file/5000fish/dashboardfox/docker/dashboardfox-install.tar.gz
 
# Extract the package
tar -xzf dashboardfox-install.tar.gz
 
# Navigate to the installation directory
cd dashboardfox

Step 2: Run the Installation

Execute the installation script:

sudo ./install.sh

The installation script will:

• Load Docker images for all DashboardFox services
• Start PostgreSQL database, DashboardFox application, and Nginx proxy
• Configure networking and volumes

Step 3: Monitor Installation Progress

You can monitor the installation progress by checking the container status:

# Check if all services are running
sudo docker ps
 
# View logs for troubleshooting if needed
sudo docker compose logs

Step 4: Verify Installation

Upon completion of the installation:

1. Open a browser and navigate to: http://<server-ip>/
2. The DashboardFox login screen should appear
3. Login with the default credentials:
   • user: admin
   • password: dashboardfox

You should see a yellow alert bar indicating that you must activate DashboardFox. Follow the instructions to proceed with the activation process.

Step 5: Service Management

After installation, you can manage DashboardFox services using these commands:

# Stop all services
sudo docker compose down
 
# Start all services
sudo docker compose up -d
 
# View service status
sudo docker compose ps
 
# View logs
sudo docker compose logs

Upgrading DashboardFox 

Prerequisites for Upgrade

• Existing DashboardFox Docker installation
• Access to your DashboardFox installation directory
• Sufficient disk space for new images

Step 1: Navigate to Installation Directory

# Navigate to your existing DashboardFox installation
cd /path/to/your/dashboardfox

Step 2: Download and Extract Upgrade Package

# Download the upgrade package
wget https://f002.backblazeb2.com/file/5000fish/dashboardfox/docker/dashboardfox-upgrade.tar.gz
 
# Extract upgrade files into current directory
tar -xzf dashboardfox-upgrade.tar.gz

Step 3: Run the Upgrade

Execute the upgrade script:

sudo ./upgrade.sh

The upgrade script will:

• Stop current services gracefully
• Remove old application images to free space
• Load new application images
• Start services with updated versions
• Preserve your data and configuration

Step 4: Verify Upgrade

After the upgrade completes:

1. Check that services are running: sudo docker compose ps
2. Verify web interface: Navigate to http://<server-ip>/
3. Confirm your data is intact: Login and verify your reports and users

Step 5: Cleanup (Optional)

Remove the upgrade package to free disk space:

rm dashboardfox-upgrade.tar.gz

Running Multiple Instances

You can run multiple DashboardFox instances on the same server:

Step 1: Copy Installation Directory

# Copy your existing installation
cp -r dashboardfox dashboardfox2
cd dashboardfox2

Step 2: Modify Configuration

Edit docker-compose.yml to change:

• Ports: Change 80:80 to 8080:80 and 5000:5000 to 5001:5000
• Container names: Add suffix like dashboardfox2-app, dashboardfox2-postgres
• Volume names: Add suffix like dashboardfox2-config, dashboardfox2-logs

Step 3: Start Second Instance

sudo ./install.sh

Access the second instance at: http://<server-ip>:8080/

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Port conflicts:

# Check what's using ports 80 or 5000
sudo netstat -tlnp | grep :80
sudo netstat -tlnp | grep :5000

Services not starting:

# Check service logs
sudo docker compose logs
 
# Check individual service
sudo docker compose logs dashboardfox

Disk space issues:

# Clean up unused Docker images
sudo docker system prune -a
 
# Check disk usage
df -h

Installation fails with "already running" error:

# Stop existing deployment first
sudo docker compose down
 
# Then retry installation
sudo ./install.sh

Useful Commands

# View all containers
sudo docker ps -a
 
# Restart specific service
sudo docker compose restart dashboardfox
 
# View real-time logs
sudo docker compose logs -f
 
# Check Docker system usage
sudo docker system df

Getting Help

If you encounter issues during installation or upgrade:

1. Check the logs: sudo docker compose logs
2. Verify system requirements are met
3. Ensure sufficient disk space is available
4. Contact support: support@dashboardfox.com with log files and system information

Security Considerations

Default Configuration

• Default web port: 80 (HTTP)
• Default API port: 5000
• Default credentials: admin/dashboardfox (change immediately)

Recommended Security Steps

1. Change default passwords immediately after installation
2. Configure HTTPS/SSL for production environments
3. Restrict network access using firewall rules
4. Regular backups of DashboardFox data volumes
5. Keep Docker and system updated

Data Persistence

Your DashboardFox data is stored in Docker volumes:

• pgdata - PostgreSQL database
• dashboardfox-config - Application configuration
• dashboardfox-logs - Application logs

These volumes persist across container updates and restarts.