Step-by-Step Guide: Installing and Configuring Wiki.js with Docker on Ubuntu 25.04

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Wiki.js is a powerful and modern wiki application that runs on Node.js. It features a user-friendly interface, Markdown support with live preview, version control, powerful search, customizable themes, and plugin extensibility.

Common uses include internal documentation, knowledge base management, project wikis, educational resources, and event planning.

This guide walks you through installing Wiki.js on Ubuntu 25.04 using Docker, along with PostgreSQL 15, Wiki.js Update Companion, and UFW firewall configuration.

Update the system:

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Before installing Wiki.js and Docker, make sure your system is fully updated.

apt -qqy update
DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive apt-get -qqy -o Dpkg::Options::='--force-confdef' -o Dpkg::Options::='--force-confold' dist-upgrade

Install Docker:

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Install the required dependencies to add the Docker repository.

apt -qqy -o Dpkg::Options::='--force-confdef' -o Dpkg::Options::='--force-confold' install ca-certificates curl gnupg lsb-release

Add Docker’s official GPG key and repository:

mkdir -p /etc/apt/keyrings
curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg
echo "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs) stable" | tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null

Install Docker:

apt -qqy update
apt -qqy -o Dpkg::Options::='--force-confdef' -o Dpkg::Options::='--force-confold' install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-compose-plugin

Setup Containers

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Create a directory to hold Wiki.js configuration and secrets.

mkdir -p /etc/wiki

Generate a secure database password and store it securely:

openssl rand -base64 32 > /etc/wiki/.db-secret

Create a private Docker network:

docker network create wikinet

Create a Docker volume for PostgreSQL data:

docker volume create pgdata

Deploy containers for PostgreSQL, Wiki.js, and the Wiki.js Update Companion:

docker create --name=db \
  -e POSTGRES_DB=wiki \
  -e POSTGRES_USER=wiki \
  -e POSTGRES_PASSWORD_FILE=/etc/wiki/.db-secret \
  -v /etc/wiki/.db-secret:/etc/wiki/.db-secret:ro \
  -v pgdata:/var/lib/postgresql/data \
  --restart=unless-stopped \
  -h db \
  --network=wikinet \
  postgres:15

docker create --name=wiki \
  -e DB_TYPE=postgres \
  -e DB_HOST=db \
  -e DB_PORT=5432 \
  -e DB_PASS_FILE=/etc/wiki/.db-secret \
  -v /etc/wiki/.db-secret:/etc/wiki/.db-secret:ro \
  -e DB_USER=wiki \
  -e DB_NAME=wiki \
  -e UPGRADE_COMPANION=1 \
  --restart=unless-stopped \
  -h wiki \
  --network=wikinet \
  -p 80:3000 -p 443:3443 \
  ghcr.io/requarks/wiki:2

docker create --name=wiki-update-companion \
  -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock:ro \
  --restart=unless-stopped \
  -h wiki-update-companion \
  --network=wikinet \
  ghcr.io/requarks/wiki-update-companion:latest

Configure the Firewall (UFW)

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Enable access to required ports:

ufw allow ssh
ufw allow http
ufw allow https
ufw --force enable

Start the containers

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Now start the containers:

docker start db
docker start wiki
docker start wiki-update-companion

Wiki.js should now be running and accessible.

Access the setup wizard

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Open your browser and visit:

http://your-server-ip/

Replace your-server-ip with your actual IP or domain.

The Wiki.js setup wizard will guide you through the rest of the configuration:

You now have a fully functional Wiki.js installation on Ubuntu 25.04, ready for use as a collaborative documentation or knowledge platform.