The Plan

1. Install and configure mini PCs

• Download and flash Unbuntu server to USB drive
• Install with:
  • Minimal install
  • OpenSSH enabled
  • Static IP
• Hostnames:
  • metal0
  • metal1
  • metal2
  • metal3
• Post install basics:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install fail2ban ufw -y
sudo ufw allow ssh
sudo ufw enable

2. Set up Tailscale

• Install Tailscale on each node:

curl -fsSL https://tailscale.com/install.sh | sh
sudo tailscale up --ssh

• From tailscale admin:
  • Approve all devices
  • Enable MagicDNS
  • Rename nodes to match hostnames:
    • metal0
    • metal1
    • metal2
    • metal3
• test connectivity:

ping metal0.tailnet-name.ts.net

3. Install docker engine

• Install Docker on each node:

curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
newgrp docker

4. Install dokploy on the master node

• On the master node (metal0):

curl -sSL https://dokploy.com/install.sh | sh

• This installs:
  • Dokploy
  • Traefik reverse proxy
  • PostgreSQL & Redis
  • Docker (if not already)

6. Access Dokploy WEb UI

• Via Tailscale:
  http://metal0.tailnet-name.ts.net:8080

• Intitial setup:

  • Create admin user
  • Set default domain suffix
  • Configure Docker registry

7. Add Cluster Nodes

• From Dokploy UI > Cluster > Add Node:
  • Copy Docker swarm join command
  • SSH into each node and run command