Self-Host Setup

RealFrame offers a self-host option for teams that want to keep everything on their own infrastructure. Instead of relying on the hosted service to help devices find each other, you run that piece yourself.

This guide is an overview to get you oriented. Self-hosting is best suited to people comfortable running a server.

What self-hosting gives you

• Full control. The service that coordinates connections runs on hardware you own or rent.
• Your data stays yours. Account and connection coordination happen inside your environment.
• Same clients and hosts. You still use the standard RealFrame host and client apps; they just point at your service.

You still do not need to open inbound ports on every machine or set up a VPN for day-to-day connections. The coordination service does the matchmaking.

Step 1: Prepare a server

1. Choose a machine or cloud instance to run the RealFrame coordination service. A small Linux server is plenty for most teams.
2. Make sure it has a stable network address your hosts and clients can reach.
3. Confirm you can administer it (install software, manage the firewall, renew certificates).

Step 2: Install the coordination service

1. Download the self-host package from RealFrame.
2. Follow the included setup to install and start the service on your server.
3. Provide a domain name and a TLS certificate so connections are encrypted end to end.

Step 3: Point your hosts and clients at it

1. In the host and client apps, open settings and set the server address to your self-hosted service.
2. Sign in. Accounts now live in your environment.
3. Confirm a host shows as online against your service.

Step 4: Test a connection

1. Install a host on one machine and a client on another, both pointed at your service.
2. Connect, and confirm the 6-digit pairing code the first time.
3. Verify you can view and control the host.

Keeping it healthy

• Keep the server updated and back up its configuration.
• Renew your TLS certificate before it expires so connections stay encrypted.
• Monitor the service so you know if it goes offline.

Next steps

• Install the host
• Install a client and connect
• Hitting problems? See fix a connection that will not start.