Logseq is an open-source, privacy-focused knowledge management and note-taking tool that empowers users to organize their thoughts and projects in a local-first environment. With its graph-based structure and Markdown/Org-mode compatibility, Logseq offers unparalleled flexibility for developers, system administrators, and power users who value data sovereignty and customization. This guide will walk you through deploying, configuring, and managing a self-hosted instance of Logseq, covering installation, reverse proxy setup, logging, backups, updates, and advanced configurations.
Installing Logseq
📦 Docker/Docker Compose Setup
Using Docker Compose is one of the easiest ways to deploy Logseq. Below is an example docker-compose.yml file tailored for Logseq:
version: '3.8'
services:
logseq:
image: logseq/logseq:latest
container_name: logseq
ports:
- "3000:3000"
volumes:
- ./logseq_data:/data
restart: unless-stopped
To deploy Logseq using this configuration:
- Create a directory for your deployment:
mkdir ~/logseq && cd ~/logseq
-
Save the above
docker-compose.ymlfile into the directory. -
Start the container:
docker-compose up -d
This setup maps Logseq's data storage to a local folder (./logseq_data) and exposes the application on port 3000. Replace paths and ports as needed.
🚀 Manual Installation
To manually install Logseq on a Linux server:
- Install Node.js (required for Logseq):
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_18.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs
- Clone the Logseq repository and install dependencies:
git clone https://github.com/logseq/logseq.git
cd logseq
npm install
npm run build
- Start the Logseq app in production mode:
npm start
This sets up Logseq directly on your server, ensuring you have full control over its environment.
Configuring Nginx as a Reverse Proxy
🌐 Nginx Configuration
To serve Logseq over a custom domain, configure Nginx as a reverse proxy. Create a new server block:
server {
listen 80;
server_name yourdomain.com;
location / {
proxy_pass http://localhost:3000;
proxy_http_version 1.1;
proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
proxy_set_header Connection 'upgrade';
proxy_set_header Host $host;
proxy_cache_bypass $http_upgrade;
}
}
-
Save this configuration in
/etc/nginx/sites-available/logseq. -
Enable the configuration:
sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/logseq /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
- Test and reload Nginx:
sudo nginx -t
sudo systemctl reload nginx
🔒 SSL/TLS Setup
Secure the reverse proxy with Let's Encrypt:
- Install Certbot:
sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx
- Obtain a certificate for your domain:
sudo certbot --nginx -d yourdomain.com
- Automate certificate renewal:
sudo systemctl enable certbot.timer
This secures your Logseq instance with HTTPS, improving security for remote access.
Logging and Debugging Logseq
🗃️ Enabling Debug Logs
To enable debug-level logging, modify Logseq’s environment configuration. For Docker, update the docker-compose.yml file:
environment:
LOG_LEVEL: debug
For manual installations, set the environment variable before running Logseq:
export LOG_LEVEL=debug
npm start
📄 Viewing Logs
- For Docker users:
docker logs -f logseq
- For manual installations:
tail -f logseq.log
🛠️ Troubleshooting Common Issues
Check for errors such as missing dependencies or port conflicts in the logs. For example, if the port 3000 is already in use, change it in the Docker Compose file or use --port when starting Logseq manually.
📤 Exporting Logs
To forward logs to an ELK stack, configure a Logstash or Fluentd container to read Logseq’s logs from the volume ./logseq_data.
Backup and Restore
🗂️ File-Based Backups
Logseq stores data locally in the ./logseq_data directory. Back it up with the following command:
tar -czvf logseq_backup_$(date +%Y%m%d).tar.gz ./logseq_data
🔄 Database Backups
If you are using a database (depending on the configuration), run the appropriate database export command, such as:
mysqldump -u root -p logseq_db > logseq_db_backup.sql
📅 Automated Backup Scripts
Set up a cron job to create periodic backups:
crontab -e
Add the following line:
0 3 * * * tar -czvf /backups/logseq_backup_$(date +\%Y\%m\%d).tar.gz /path/to/logseq_data
Updating and Upgrading Logseq
⬆️ Updating Docker Images
To update Logseq in Docker:
- Pull the latest image:
docker-compose pull
- Restart the containers:
docker-compose up -d
🛠️ Manual Updates
For manual installations:
- Pull the latest changes:
git pull origin main
- Rebuild and restart:
npm install
npm run build
npm start
🔍 Checking for Updates
Follow Logseq’s GitHub repository to monitor new releases:
git fetch origin
git log origin/main --oneline
Leveraging Logseq’s Unique Features
🔧 Enabling APIs
Logseq offers an API for advanced integrations. Enable the API by setting the appropriate environment variable:
export LOGSEQ_API=true
You can then query the API, for example, using curl:
curl http://localhost:3000/api/endpoint
🌟 Advanced Configurations
Enable custom themes or plugins by editing the configuration files in ./logseq_data. For example, to add a plugin:
-
Place the plugin in
./logseq_data/plugins/. -
Restart Logseq for the changes to take effect.
Wrapping Up
Self-hosting Logseq provides a powerful, flexible way to take control of your knowledge management. This guide has shown you how to install, configure, secure, and optimize your Logseq instance, while leveraging its unique features. With these steps, you can fully harness Logseq’s potential and customize it to suit your workflow.
