Installation guide

From a blank server to a running dashboard.

Everything below runs on a standard Ubuntu Server install — your own machine, a mini-PC, or a VPS from any hosting provider. No account with us required to get started.

~10 minutes
Docker-based
14-day trial included

1. Prepare the server

Starting from a fresh Ubuntu Server install (22.04, 24.04, or similar). If Docker and unzip are already set up, skip to step 2.

Run once, on the server

# update the OS and install unzip
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install -y unzip

# install Docker + the Compose plugin
curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sudo sh

# let your user run docker without sudo
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
newgrp docker

newgrp docker applies the new group membership to your current shell immediately; a fresh SSH login (or su - $USER) works too if you’d rather not use it. Skipping this step is exactly why ./install.sh below would otherwise need sudo in front of it — Docker only lets root or members of the docker group talk to it by default.

2. Download and install

One archive, no account or credentials needed to fetch it.

curl -fsSL -o nexusflow-app.zip https://nexusflowmds.com/wp-content/uploads/downloads/nexusflow-app-latest.zip
unzip nexusflow-app.zip
cd nexusflow-app
./install.sh

The installer checks for Docker, generates a unique secret key on first run, then builds and starts the container in the background.

A file called .env is created in that folder — back it up. It’s what your encrypted passwords and login sessions depend on, and it’s never touched by future updates.


3. Open it and set up your account

Once the container finishes starting, open it in a browser:

http://<your-server-ip>:8080/

The first visit shows a one-time setup page — enter a business name, pick an accent colour, and create your admin account. That page only ever appears once.

From here, every module is unlocked for 14 days — no license key needed yet.


4. Activate a license, when you’re ready

Five modules — Library, Helpdesk, File Manager, Launcher, and Utilities — stay free for good. For anything else past the trial:

1. Copy your Instance ID

Found in Settings → License. This ties any key you buy to this specific install.

2. Choose your modules

Head to the license store and tick the ones you want — pricing adjusts as you select them.

3. Paste the key back in

It arrives by email and activates the moment you paste it into Settings → License. No restart needed.


5. Keeping it up to date

Use Settings → Server → Software Update rather than repeating the steps above — connect it once over SSH with a dedicated deploy key (generated for you, nothing to type by hand), and it pulls and rebuilds the latest version in place whenever you click Update.