# How to Install Seafile Self-Hosted Cloud Storage with Nginx on Ubuntu 24.04

> URL: https://www.atlantic.net/dedicated-server-hosting/how-to-install-seafile-self-hosted-cloud-storage-with-nginx-on-ubuntu-24-04/ | Published: 2024-04-16 | Updated: 2025-05-27 | Author: Hitesh Jethva

Seafile is a self-hosted cloud storage platform for secure file synchronization, sharing, and collaboration. It provides users with a robust and flexible solution to manage their files and data while maintaining full control over their infrastructure. Here are some key features and benefits of Seafile:

- Secure File Storage
- File Synchronization
- Version Control
- File Sharing and Collaboration
- Customization and Extensibility
- Scalability and Performance

In this tutorial, we will show you how to install Seafile Self-Hosted Cloud Storage with Nginx on Ubuntu 24.04.

## Step 1 – Install Required Dependency

Seafile is a Python-based application. To install it on your server, you will need to install Python and other required dependencies. You can do this using the following command:

```
apt-get install -y python3 sqlite3 python3-dev python3-setuptools python3-pip libmysqlclient-dev ldap-utils libldap2-dev python3-venv libsasl2-dev libssl-dev libmemcached-dev build-essential libffi-dev
```

## Step 2 – Install and Configure Database

First, install the MySQL database server using the following command:

```
apt install -y mysql-server
```

Next, connect to the MySQL shell.

```
mysql
```

Then, set the MySQL root password using the following command:

```
mysql> ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password BY 'password';
```

Next, create a database for Seafile.

```
mysql> CREATE DATABASE ccnet_db CHARACTER SET utf8;
mysql> CREATE DATABASE seafile_db CHARACTER SET utf8;
mysql> CREATE DATABASE seahub_db CHARACTER SET utf8;
```

Then, create a user for Seafile.

```
mysql> CREATE USER 'seafile'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password BY 'password';
```

Then, the user will be granted all privileges on the three databases.

```
mysql> GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON `ccnet_db`.* to `seafile`@localhost;
mysql> GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON `seafile_db`.* to `seafile`@localhost;
mysql> GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON `seahub_db`.* to `seafile`@localhost;
```

Finally, flush the privileges and exit from the MySQL shell.

```
mysql> FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
mysql> exit
```

## Step 3 – Install Seafile

First, create a user and directory for Seafile.

```
mkdir /opt/seafile
adduser --home /opt/seafile --shell /bin/bash seafile
```

Then, change the ownership of the seafile directory.

```
chown -R seafile: /opt/seafile
```

Next, log in to the Seafile user .

```
su - seafile
```

Next, create and activate a Python virtual environment.

```
python3 -m venv python-venv
source python-venv/bin/activate
```

Next, install other required packages using the PIP command:

```
pip3 install --timeout=3600 wheel django==4.2.* future==0.18.* mysqlclient==2.1.* pymysql pillow==10.2.* pylibmc captcha==0.5.* markupsafe==2.0.1 jinja2 sqlalchemy==2.0.18 psd-tools django-pylibmc django_simple_captcha==0.6.* djangosaml2==1.5.* pysaml2==7.2.* pycryptodome==3.16.* cffi==1.16.0 lxml python-ldap==3.4.3
```

Download the latest version of the Seafile server.

```
wget https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/download.seadrive.org/seafile-server_12.0.11_x86-64.tar.gz
```

Next, extract the downloaded file.

```
tar -xvf seafile-server_12.0.11_x86-64.tar.gz
```

Then, navigate to the extracted directory and configure Seafile.

```
cd seafile-server-12.0.11
./setup-seafile-mysql.sh
```

Answer all the questions as shown below:

```
Press ENTER to continue
-----------------------------------------------------------------

What is the name of the server? It will be displayed on the client.
3 - 15 letters or digits
[ server name ] seafile-server

What is the ip or domain of the server?
For example: www.mycompany.com, 192.168.1.101
[ This server's ip or domain ] seafile.example.com

Which port do you want to use for the seafile fileserver?
[ default "8082" ] 

-------------------------------------------------------
Please choose a way to initialize seafile databases:
-------------------------------------------------------

[1] Create new ccnet/seafile/seahub databases
[2] Use existing ccnet/seafile/seahub databases

[ 1 or 2 ] 2

What is the host of mysql server?
[ default "localhost" ] 

What is the port of mysql server?
[ default "3306" ] 

Which mysql user to use for seafile?
[ mysql user for seafile ] seafile

What is the password for mysql user "seafile"?
[ password for seafile ] 

verifying password of user seafile ...  done

Enter the existing database name for ccnet:
[ ccnet database ] ccnet_db

verifying user "seafile" access to database ccnet_db ...  done

Enter the existing database name for seafile:
[ seafile database ] seafile_db

verifying user "seafile" access to database seafile_db ...  done

Enter the existing database name for seahub:
[ seahub database ] seahub_db

verifying user "seafile" access to database seahub_db ...  done

---------------------------------
This is your configuration
---------------------------------

    server name:            seafile-server
    server ip/domain:       seafile.example.com

    seafile data dir:       /opt/seafile/seafile-data
    fileserver port:        8082

    database:               use existing
    ccnet database:         ccnet_db
    seafile database:       seafile_db
    seahub database:        seahub_db
    database user:          seafile
```

Next, create an environment file.

```
nano /opt/seafile/conf/.env
```

Add the below line:

```
JWT_PRIVATE_KEY=8d3d93aeaf95fddf34aa0e47bcb8fc19d2cb2d92a4f4e3cb6d4dd8e302e93014
```

## Step 4 – Start Seafile Server

Now, please navigate to the seafile server directory and start it using the following command:

```
cd /opt/seafile/seafile-server-latest
./seafile.sh start
```

Then, start the SeaHub server using the following command:

```
./seahub.sh start
```

You will be asked to set up your admin username and password as shown below.

```
LC_ALL is not set in ENV, set to en_US.UTF-8
Starting seahub at port 8000 ...

----------------------------------------
It's the first time you start the seafile server. Now let's create the admin account
----------------------------------------

What is the email for the admin account?
[ admin email ] admin@example.com

What is the password for the admin account?
[ admin password ] 

Enter the password again:
[ admin password again ] 



----------------------------------------
Successfully created seafile admin
----------------------------------------




Seahub is started

Done.
```

## Step 5 – Configure Nginx for Seafile

First, install the Nginx server using the following command:

```
apt install nginx
```

Next, create an Nginx virtual host configuration file.

```
nano /etc/nginx/conf.d/seafile.conf
```

Add the following configuration:

```
log_format seafileformat '$http_x_forwarded_for $remote_addr [$time_local] "$request" $status $body_bytes_sent "$http_referer" "$http_user_agent" $upstream_response_time';

server {
    listen       80;
    server_name  seafile.example.com;
    server_tokens off;      # Prevents the Nginx version from being displayed in the HTTP response header
    
    location / {
        proxy_pass         http://127.0.0.1:8000;
        proxy_set_header   Host $host;
        proxy_set_header   X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
        proxy_set_header   X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
        proxy_set_header   X-Forwarded-Host $server_name;
        proxy_read_timeout 1200s;

        proxy_set_header   X-Forwarded-Proto http;
        # used for view/edit office file via Office Online Server
        client_max_body_size 0;

        access_log      /var/log/nginx/seahub.access.log seafileformat;
        error_log       /var/log/nginx/seahub.error.log;
    }

    location /seafhttp {
        rewrite ^/seafhttp(.*)$ $1 break;
        proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:8082;
        client_max_body_size 0;
        proxy_set_header   X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;

        proxy_connect_timeout  36000s;
        proxy_read_timeout  36000s;
        proxy_send_timeout  36000s;

        send_timeout  36000s;

        # Uncomment the following line if you want to support uploads > 4GB
        # proxy_request_buffering off;

        access_log      /var/log/nginx/seafhttp.access.log seafileformat;
        error_log       /var/log/nginx/seafhttp.error.log;
    }

    location /media {
        root /opt/seafile/seafile-server-latest/seahub;
    }
}
```

Then, edit the Nginx main configuration file.

```
nano /etc/nginx/nginx.conf
```

Add the following line after the line http{:

```
server_names_hash_bucket_size  64;
```

Save the file, then restart the Nginx to apply the changes.

```
systemctl restart nginx
```

## Step 6 – Access Seafile Web Interface

Now, open your web browser and access the Seafile web UI using the URL **http://seafile.example.com.** You will see the Seafile login page.

![](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/p1-8.png)

Provide your admin username and password and click on **Log In.** You will see the Seafile dashboard on the following page.

![](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/seafile.png)

 

## Conclusion

Overall, Seafile provides a comprehensive solution for organizations seeking secure and flexible cloud storage and collaboration capabilities. Its self-hosted nature, robust security features, and extensive customization options make it a popular choice for businesses and individuals looking to take control of their data and workflows. You can now implement secure cloud storage using Seafile on [dedicated server hosting](https://www.atlantic.net/dedicated-server-hosting/) from Atlantic.Net!