Hello.

Notesnook is an end-to-end encrypted note taking alternative to Evernote. I wanted to self-host a Notesnook sync server really badly, but I’m a noob. So, I worked hard on it and came up with this noob-proof tutorial on how to set up a Notesnook sync server with local file storage, getting inspiration from the provided docker-compose in the repository.

That’s my way of giving back to the self-hosting community. I hope it can help some people.

Overview

This guide will help you set up a self-hosted instance of Notesnook using Docker Compose.

Prerequisites

• Linux server with Docker and Docker Compose installed.
• Domain name with the ability to create subdomains.
• Basic understanding of terminal commands.
• Ports 5264, 6264, 7264, 8264, 9090 and 9009 available. Or you can change them but take good note of your changes.

1. Directory Structure Setup

Create the required directories:

# Create data directories
mkdir -p /srv/Files/Notesnook/db
mkdir -p /srv/Files/Notesnook/s3
mkdir -p /srv/Files/Notesnook/setup

2. Configuration Files

2.1. Environment File

Create the .env file:

cd /srv/Files/Notesnook/setup
nano .env

Add the following content (modify the values accordingly):

# Instance Configuration
INSTANCE_NAME=My Notesnook
DISABLE_SIGNUPS=false
NOTESNOOK_API_SECRET=your_secure_api_secret_here

# SMTP Configuration
SMTP_USERNAME=your_email@domain.com
SMTP_PASSWORD=your_smtp_password
SMTP_HOST=smtp.your-server.com
SMTP_PORT=587

# Public URLs (replace domain.com with your domain)
AUTH_SERVER_PUBLIC_URL=https://auth.domain.com/
NOTESNOOK_APP_PUBLIC_URL=https://notes.domain.com/
MONOGRAPH_PUBLIC_URL=https://mono.domain.com/
ATTACHMENTS_SERVER_PUBLIC_URL=https://files.domain.com/

# MinIO Configuration
MINIO_ROOT_USER=admin
MINIO_ROOT_PASSWORD=your_secure_password_here

2.2. Docker Compose File

Create the docker-compose.yml file:

nano docker-compose.yml

Paste the following content:

x-server-discovery: &server-discovery
  NOTESNOOK_SERVER_PORT: 5264
  NOTESNOOK_SERVER_HOST: notesnook-server
  IDENTITY_SERVER_PORT: 8264
  IDENTITY_SERVER_HOST: identity-server
  SSE_SERVER_PORT: 7264
  SSE_SERVER_HOST: sse-server
  SELF_HOSTED: 1
  IDENTITY_SERVER_URL: ${AUTH_SERVER_PUBLIC_URL}
  NOTESNOOK_APP_HOST: ${NOTESNOOK_APP_PUBLIC_URL}

x-env-files: &env-files
  - .env

services:
  validate:
    image: vandot/alpine-bash
    entrypoint: /bin/bash
    env_file: *env-files
    command:
      - -c
      - |
        required_vars=(
          "INSTANCE_NAME"
          "NOTESNOOK_API_SECRET"
          "DISABLE_SIGNUPS"
          "SMTP_USERNAME"
          "SMTP_PASSWORD"
          "SMTP_HOST"
          "SMTP_PORT"
          "AUTH_SERVER_PUBLIC_URL"
          "NOTESNOOK_APP_PUBLIC_URL"
          "MONOGRAPH_PUBLIC_URL"
          "ATTACHMENTS_SERVER_PUBLIC_URL"
        )
        for var in "$${required_vars[@]}"; do
          if [ -z "$${!var}" ]; then
            echo "Error: Required environment variable $$var is not set."
            exit 1
          fi
        done
        echo "All required environment variables are set."
    restart: "no"

  notesnook-db:
    image: mongo:7.0.12
    hostname: notesnook-db
    volumes:
      - /srv/Files/Notesnook/db:/data/db
      - /srv/Files/Notesnook/db:/data/configdb
    networks:
      - notesnook
    command: --replSet rs0 --bind_ip_all
    depends_on:
      validate:
        condition: service_completed_successfully
    healthcheck:
      test: echo 'db.runCommand("ping").ok' | mongosh mongodb://localhost:27017 --quiet
      interval: 40s
      timeout: 30s
      retries: 3
      start_period: 60s

  initiate-rs0:
    image: mongo:7.0.12
    networks:
      - notesnook
    depends_on:
      - notesnook-db
    entrypoint: /bin/sh
    command:
      - -c
      - |
        mongosh mongodb://notesnook-db:27017 <<EOF
          rs.initiate();
          rs.status();
        EOF

  notesnook-s3:
    image: minio/minio:RELEASE.2024-07-29T22-14-52Z
    ports:
      - 9009:9000
      - 9090:9090
    networks:
      - notesnook
    volumes:
      - /srv/Files/Notesnook/s3:/data/s3
    environment:
      MINIO_BROWSER: "on"
    depends_on:
      validate:
        condition: service_completed_successfully
    env_file: *env-files
    command: server /data/s3 --console-address :9090
    healthcheck:
      test: timeout 5s bash -c ':> /dev/tcp/127.0.0.1/9000' || exit 1
      interval: 40s
      timeout: 30s
      retries: 3
      start_period: 60s

  setup-s3:
    image: minio/mc:RELEASE.2024-07-26T13-08-44Z
    depends_on:
      - notesnook-s3
    networks:
      - notesnook
    entrypoint: /bin/bash
    env_file: *env-files
    command:
      - -c
      - |
        until mc alias set minio http://notesnook-s3:9000/ ${MINIO_ROOT_USER:-minioadmin} ${MINIO_ROOT_PASSWORD:-minioadmin}; do
          sleep 1;
        done;
        mc mb minio/attachments -p

  identity-server:
    image: streetwriters/identity:latest
    ports:
      - 8264:8264
    networks:
      - notesnook
    env_file: *env-files
    depends_on:
      - notesnook-db
    healthcheck:
      test: wget --tries=1 -nv -q  http://localhost:8264/health -O- || exit 1
      interval: 40s
      timeout: 30s
      retries: 3
      start_period: 60s
    environment:
      <<: *server-discovery
      MONGODB_CONNECTION_STRING: mongodb://notesnook-db:27017/identity?replSet=rs0
      MONGODB_DATABASE_NAME: identity

  notesnook-server:
    image: streetwriters/notesnook-sync:latest
    ports:
      - 5264:5264
    networks:
      - notesnook
    env_file: *env-files
    depends_on:
      - notesnook-s3
      - setup-s3
      - identity-server
    healthcheck:
      test: wget --tries=1 -nv -q  http://localhost:5264/health -O- || exit 1
      interval: 40s
      timeout: 30s
      retries: 3
      start_period: 60s
    environment:
      <<: *server-discovery
      MONGODB_CONNECTION_STRING: mongodb://notesnook-db:27017/?replSet=rs0
      MONGODB_DATABASE_NAME: notesnook
      S3_INTERNAL_SERVICE_URL: "http://notesnook-s3:9000/"
      S3_INTERNAL_BUCKET_NAME: "attachments"
      S3_ACCESS_KEY_ID: "${MINIO_ROOT_USER:-minioadmin}"
      S3_ACCESS_KEY: "${MINIO_ROOT_PASSWORD:-minioadmin}"
      S3_SERVICE_URL: "${ATTACHMENTS_SERVER_PUBLIC_URL}"
      S3_REGION: "us-east-1"
      S3_BUCKET_NAME: "attachments"

  sse-server:
    image: streetwriters/sse:latest
    ports:
      - 7264:7264
    env_file: *env-files
    depends_on:
      - identity-server
      - notesnook-server
    networks:
      - notesnook
    healthcheck:
      test: wget --tries=1 -nv -q  http://localhost:7264/health -O- || exit 1
      interval: 40s
      timeout: 30s
      retries: 3
      start_period: 60s
    environment:
      <<: *server-discovery

  monograph-server:
    image: streetwriters/monograph:latest
    ports:
      - 6264:3000
    env_file: *env-files
    depends_on:
      - notesnook-server
    networks:
      - notesnook
    healthcheck:
      test: wget --tries=1 -nv -q  http://localhost:3000/api/health -O- || exit 1
      interval: 40s
      timeout: 30s
      retries: 3
      start_period: 60s
    environment:
      <<: *server-discovery
      API_HOST: http://notesnook-server:5264/
      PUBLIC_URL: ${MONOGRAPH_PUBLIC_URL}

networks:
  notesnook:

3. Docker Images Preparation

Pull all required images to avoid timeout issues:

cd /srv/Files/Notesnook/setup
docker pull mongo:7.0.12
docker pull minio/minio:RELEASE.2024-07-29T22-14-52Z
docker pull streetwriters/identity:latest
docker pull streetwriters/notesnook-sync:latest
docker pull streetwriters/sse:latest
docker pull streetwriters/monograph:latest
docker pull vandot/alpine-bash

or just

cd /srv/Files/Notesnook/setup
docker compose pull

4. Deployment

Start the services:

cd /srv/Files/Notesnook/setup
docker compose up -d

5. Service Verification

5.1. Check Container Status

docker compose ps

Expected status:

• Running containers:
  • notesnook-db
  • notesnook-s3
  • identity-server
  • notesnook-server
  • sse-server
  • monograph-server
• Completed containers (should show Exit 0):
  • validate
  • initiate-rs0
  • setup-s3

5.2. Check Logs

docker compose logs

5.3. Test MinIO Access

Visit: http://your-server:9009/

6. Reverse Proxy Configuration with Nginx and SSL

Enable WebSockets Support for: notes.domain.com (port 5264) - For real-time synchronization
events.domain.com (port 7264) - For real-time notifications

Enable Cache Assets for: mono.domain.com (port 6264) - For optimizing public notes loading

Step 1: Install Certbot

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install certbot python3-certbot-nginx

Step 2: Obtain SSL Certificates

sudo certbot --nginx -d auth.domain.com -d notes.domain.com -d events.domain.com -d mono.domain.com

Step 3: Modify Nginx Configuration

Use the following example configurations for each subdomain:

# Auth Server - Basic (no cache/websocket needed)
server {
    listen 80;
    server_name auth.domain.com;
    return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
}

server {
    listen 443 ssl;
    server_name auth.domain.com;

    ssl_certificate /etc/letsencrypt/live/auth.domain.com/fullchain.pem;
    ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/auth.domain.com/privkey.pem;
    include /etc/letsencrypt/options-ssl-nginx.conf;
    ssl_dhparam /etc/letsencrypt/ssl-dhparams.pem;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://localhost:8264/;
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
    }
}

# Notes Server - With WebSocket
server {
    listen 80;
    server_name notes.domain.com;
    return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
}

server {
    listen 443 ssl;
    server_name notes.domain.com;

    ssl_certificate /etc/letsencrypt/live/notes.domain.com/fullchain.pem;
    ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/notes.domain.com/privkey.pem;
    include /etc/letsencrypt/options-ssl-nginx.conf;
    ssl_dhparam /etc/letsencrypt/ssl-dhparams.pem;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://localhost:5264/;
        proxy_http_version 1.1;
        proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
        proxy_set_header Connection "upgrade";
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_read_timeout 3600;
        proxy_send_timeout 3600;
    }
}

# Events Server - With WebSocket
server {
    listen 80;
    server_name events.domain.com;
    return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
}

server {
    listen 443 ssl;
    server_name events.domain.com;

    ssl_certificate /etc/letsencrypt/live/events.domain.com/fullchain.pem;
    ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/events.domain.com/privkey.pem;
    include /etc/letsencrypt/options-ssl-nginx.conf;
    ssl_dhparam /etc/letsencrypt/ssl-dhparams.pem;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://localhost:7264/;
        proxy_http_version 1.1;
        proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
        proxy_set_header Connection "upgrade";
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_read_timeout 3600;
        proxy_send_timeout 3600;
    }
}

# Monograph Server - With Cache
server {
    listen 80;
    server_name mono.domain.com;
    return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
}

server {
    listen 443 ssl;
    server_name mono.domain.com;

    ssl_certificate /etc/letsencrypt/live/mono.domain.com/fullchain.pem;
    ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/mono.domain.com/privkey.pem;
    include /etc/letsencrypt/options-ssl-nginx.conf;
    ssl_dhparam /etc/letsencrypt/ssl-dhparams.pem;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://localhost:6264/;
        proxy_cache_use_stale error timeout http_500 http_502 http_503 http_504;
        proxy_cache_valid 200 60m;
        add_header X-Cache-Status $upstream_cache_status;
        expires 1h;
        add_header Cache-Control "public, no-transform";
    }
}

7. Useful Commands

Service Management

# View real-time logs
docker compose logs -f

# View logs for specific service
docker compose logs [service-name]

# Restart specific service
docker compose restart [service-name]

# Stop all services
docker compose down

# Update services
docker compose pull
docker compose up -d

8. Maintenance

8.1. Backup

Regularly backup these directories:

• /srv/Files/Notesnook/db/ (MongoDB data)
• /srv/Files/Notesnook/s3/ (MinIO data)
• /srv/Files/Notesnook/setup/.env (Configuration)

8.2. Updates

To update all services:

cd /srv/Files/Notesnook/setup
docker compose pull
docker compose down
docker compose up -d

9. Troubleshooting

Common Issues:

Service won’t start

• Check logs: docker compose logs [service-name]
• Verify port availability.
• Check directory permissions.
• Verify environment variables.

Database Connection Issues

• Ensure MongoDB replica set is initialized.
• Check MongoDB logs: docker compose logs notesnook-db.

Storage Issues

• Verify MinIO credentials.
• Check MinIO logs: docker compose logs notesnook-s3.

Email Not Working

• Verify SMTP settings in .env.
• Check identity-server logs.

Security Notes

• Change default passwords in .env.
• Use strong passwords for MinIO and API secret.
• Keep your .env file secure.
• Regularly update all services.
• Enable HTTPS on your reverse proxy.
• Consider implementing fail2ban.
• Regularly monitor logs for suspicious activity.

Support

If you encounter issues:

• Check the logs.
• Visit the Notesnook GitHub repository.
• Join the Notesnook Discord for support.