A novice’s step by step specific process for installing Discourse. From choosing a right server to configuring it, to SMTP, DNS & doing it all in the right order. Because of such a manual process with many branches with many options, I have many uncertainties & heard many setups go wrong when not done carefully. I wanna get this right & 'd be grateful if anyone can correct me. I’ll go with as many steps as I can & pause when stuck. This can be a helpful page with main doubts summarized as comprehensively in 1 place
Goal: Installing Discourse on a self hosted VPS for a forum starting with 100 users/m
1) Out of the 2 available official guides, I’m choosing the simple one. What issues could I face? Is this not good for future flexibility/expansion?
Simple 10 minute basic install: Beginner Docker install guide
Powerful, flexible, large / multiple server install: Advanced Docker install guide
2) Is this a good order of setup? i) Configuring & renting a vps > ii) SMTP > iii) Domain & DNS > iv) Install Discourse
3.1) Re Domain & DNS, I already have a website with my custom domain. Not sure which I should do; Subdomain or Child nameserver? Checked but don't understand
3.2) Though not now, if needed, a Discourse forum can be connected to a pure domain like example.com right (if unused ofc)? It doesn’t have to be a subdomain like forum.example.com right? Why does Discourse’s guide only say “Create a DNS - A record pointing your subdomain (e.g., forum.example.com) to your server’s IP address”
4.1) Re SMTP: Completely confused here. Re user logins, this is my goal Connect User logins from my Wix site for my Discourse forum To ensure this, what should I do?
4.2) I haven’t set up a business email yet, & can now from Hostinger. Does this have much to do with SMTP? Re smtp I’ve heard on this forum about MailGun, MailJet & Brevo. WDID?
5) Choosing & configuring vps: Contabo & Hetzner were cheapest while seeming pretty legit, if I chose the cheaper Contabo, will I miss something useful? they’re safe right? (I wanted to compare the whole config with Hetzner but it doesn’t even seem to let you see config options without getting your data, debit card & reviewing yr AC?? The most I have are @Lilly’s screenshots)
5.1) Panel: Contabo shows Webmin & Webmin + LAMP are included. cPanel is shown as a pricey addon. I’ve heard of cPanel, I don’t need this right?
5.2) OS: Contabo shows Ubuntu included without anything about it, is this sufficient? (Digital Ocean’s config shows options next to their Ubuntu eg. 24.04 (LTS) x64
5.5) IPv6 is not shown in the config, though under their vps plan page the following is advertised ‘Dedicated IPv4 and IPv6 addresses come with every plan’. I wonder if this has it or not
5.6) Heard few negatives re Contabo, what do ppl here who’ve experienced Contabo think?
5.7) Foll. good specs are the min available & for great prices! Just to know, (in case changing vps) as Discourse recommends 2GB, isn't 4 unnecessary? What's a snapshot?
