Prerequisites
Before embarking on the installation journey, it's imperative to ensure that the foundational elements are in place. Here's a rundown of the prerequisites:
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Server Environment: A Ubuntu 20.04 server with a minimum of 2GB RAM, along with a sudo-enabled non-root user and an active firewall configuration, serves as the bedrock for your Discourse deployment. For those unfamiliar with server setup, our comprehensive tutorial tailored for Ubuntu 20.04 provides step-by-step guidance.
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Docker Installation: Discourse operates within a Docker environment, necessitating Docker to be installed on your server. If Docker is not yet configured, our detailed Docker installation guide for Ubuntu 20.04 walks you through the process seamlessly.
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Domain Configuration: A domain (or subdomain) with an A record pointing to your server’s IP is essential for accessing your Discourse instance. For users managing DNS through DigitalOcean, our guide simplifies the process of associating your IP with your designated domain. Throughout this tutorial, we'll use the hypothetical domain discourse.your_domain as an illustrative example.
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SMTP Mail Server: Effective communication often involves email integration. While running your own mail server is an option, alternative services like a free Mailgun account can streamline the process.