Notesnook sync server: a Noob-Friendly Setup Tutorial

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

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

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

Example Nginx configuration:

# Auth Server - Basic (no cache/websocket needed)
server {
    server_name auth.domain.com;
    location / {
        proxy_pass http://localhost:8264/;
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
    }
}

# Notes Server - With WebSocket
server {
    server_name notes.domain.com;
    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 {
    server_name events.domain.com;
    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 {
    server_name mono.domain.com;
    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 down
docker compose pull
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.

Notesnook sync server: a Noob-Friendly Setup Tutorial

Notesnook sync server: a Noob-Friendly Setup Tutorial

GitHub - streetwriters/notesnook-sync-server: Sync server for Notesnook (self-hosting in alpha)

Overview

Prerequisites

1. Directory Structure Setup

2. Configuration Files

2.1. Environment File

2.2. Docker Compose File

3. Docker Images Preparation

4. Deployment

5. Service Verification

5.1. Check Container Status

5.2. Check Logs

5.3. Test MinIO Access

6. Reverse Proxy Configuration

7. Useful Commands

Service Management

8. Maintenance

8.1. Backup

8.2. Updates

9. Troubleshooting

Common Issues:

Service won’t start

Database Connection Issues

Storage Issues

Email Not Working

Security Notes

Support