Skip to main content

Installation

Easy Setup Guide for Your Own Server​

This guide will help you install Picstome on your own server, even if you're not a technical expert.

Step 1: Get a Server (VPS)​

You need a server to host Picstome. We recommend Contabo for its excellent price/value.

  1. Go to Contabo and sign up
  2. Select Storage VPS 1 (this includes 600GB SSD - perfect for storing photos)
  3. Important: Choose Ubuntu 24.04 as your operating system
  4. Complete your purchase

💡 Alternative providers: DigitalOcean, Linode, or Vultr also work well.

Step 2: Connect Your Domain to Your Server​

You'll need a domain name that points to your server.

  1. Find your server's IP address

    • Check the welcome email from your hosting provider
    • The IP address looks like 123.45.67.89

  2. Point your domain to this IP address

    • Log in to your domain provider (GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.)
    • Find the DNS settings or "Manage DNS" section
    • Add an A record with these settings:
      • Host/Name: Use @ for your main domain or enter picstome for a subdomain
      • Points to/Value: Your server's IP address
      • TTL: Use default or "1 hour"

⏱️ Note: DNS changes can take 15 minutes to a few hours to work.

Step 3: Connect to Your Server​

Next, you'll need to access your server to run the installation.

On Windows:​

  1. Download and install PuTTY
  2. Open PuTTY and enter:
    • Host Name: Your server's IP address
    • Port: 22
    • Connection type: SSH
  3. Click "Open" and enter your login details when prompted
    • Username: root
    • Password: (the password from your hosting provider)

On Mac or Linux:​

  1. Open the Terminal app
  2. Type: ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP (replace YOUR_SERVER_IP with your actual IP)
  3. Enter your password when prompted

🔑 First time login: You might be asked to change the password. Create a strong password and save it somewhere secure!

Step 4: Install Picstome​

Once you're connected to your server, installation is simple:

  1. Copy and paste this command exactly as shown:

    curl -fsSL https://picstome.com/install.sh | sh

  2. When asked, type y to confirm installation

  3. Enter your domain name when prompted

    • If you're using a main domain, enter: yourdomain.com
    • If you're using a subdomain, enter: picstome.yourdomain.com

  4. Wait for installation to complete (about 5-10 minutes)

    • The script automatically installs everything needed
    • Sets up security with HTTPS
    • Configures your site to work correctly

🛑 Important: Make sure your domain is pointing to your server IP before running this step!

Step 5: Log In to Your New Picstome Site​

Once installation completes:

  1. Open your web browser and go to your domain:

    https://yourdomain.com

  2. Log in with these temporary credentials:

    • Email: admin@example.com
    • Password: picstome

  3. Immediately change your password:

    • Go to Settings → Profile
    • Create a strong password

🎉 Congratulations! Your Picstome site is now ready to use!

Troubleshooting​

Can't see your site yet?​

  • DNS propagation: It might take a few hours for your domain to connect to your server. Try again later.
  • Check the domain: Make sure you typed the domain exactly as configured in DNS settings.

Installation errors?​

  • Ensure your server is running Ubuntu 24.04
  • Check that your domain is correctly pointing to your server's IP address
  • Make sure you have the correct permissions (you should be logged in as root)

Need more help?​