Advanced installs

Docker is the only way to run the Tico server, and one command is all most teams need. This page covers other ways to start that same install.

Run the wizard from your laptop

From a copy of the repo on your laptop, run:

python3 -m setup

It asks where Tico should run:

• A server you already have, over SSH.
• A new server on AWS, Hetzner Cloud, or DigitalOcean, using your own credentials.
• A command to paste on any Debian or Ubuntu server.

The questions are the same as the one-command install. Add --dry-run to see the plan first.

Paste cloud-init

On Hetzner, DigitalOcean, AWS, and other Ubuntu 24.04 clouds, paste infra/cloud-init/tico-server.yaml as the server’s user data. Edit only the block between the two inputs markers. A matching tico-runner.yaml sets up bot computers.

Your own front door

Already have a sign-in layer? Keep the Docker server and put yours in front. The human’s email must still be on your roster.

• Cloudflare Access in front of a Cloudflare Tunnel: set TICO_AUTH_PROXY=cloudflare. To run bots on the server’s own computer, join that computer through the server’s Docker network:

  curl -fsSL https://github.com/ticoteam/tico/releases/latest/download/install.sh | \
    sh -s -- --runner --version <server-version> --url http://server:8765 --server-network tico_default --code <code> --label "Server box"

  Size that computer for both, for example 4 GB for a handful of bots.
• An AWS load balancer with Cognito: set TICO_AUTH_PROXY=aws-alb, and let only the load balancer reach the server.

Exact settings for each are in docs/install-advanced.md.