Use an Existing VPS

Use this path when you already have a public IPv4 address for a fresh Ubuntu VPS.

Use a disposable server first

The setup path can harden SSH, alter firewall policy, install Docker, deploy reverse proxy services, and persist local profile secrets. Start with a server that does not contain important data.

1. Build Servestead

go build -o bin/servestead .

2. Start Guided Setup

bin/servestead setup --ip 203.0.113.10

Replace 203.0.113.10 with your server IP.

With --ip, Servestead creates or selects a saved profile, collects missing values, generates and stores the Pangolin server secret, checks local prerequisites, then runs bootstrap, hardening, Docker networking, and reverse proxy deployment as one setup plan.

3. Provide Values When Prompted

The guided flow may ask for:

• Private key path.
• Domain name.
• Let’s Encrypt email.
• Local configuration repository choice.
• Pangolin administrator values if rerunning after registration.

4. Review Before Remote Work

The TUI collects missing full-run values before any remote command runs. It prepares the configuration repository before starting SSH execution.

5. Rerun Safely

Saved profiles persist stage state. Later full runs skip previously completed stages and print explicit skip messages.

If you reuse an IP and want a new local profile, run:

bin/servestead setup --ip 203.0.113.10 --fresh

When a fresh profile is created from an already bootstrapped profile, Servestead treats administrative access as present and continues with the saved admin user.