Installation

You can install Forge in multiple ways, depending on your operating system, environment, and preferences:

Installation Methods

The Linux Service Installer provides the most complete setup experience for Linux servers. It automatically:

  • Installs Forge as a systemd service
  • Configures encrypted configuration storage
  • Sets up TLS with Let's Encrypt (or self-signed fallback)
  • Installs and configures HashiCorp Vault
  • Installs required dependencies (Ansible, OpenSCAP, QEMU, etc.)

Supported Distributions:

  • Ubuntu 20.04, 22.04, 24.04
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, 9
  • Rocky Linux 8, 9
  • AlmaLinux 8, 9
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15+

Learn more »

Docker

Run Forge as a container using Docker or Docker Compose. Ideal for fast setup, sandboxed environments, and CI/CD pipelines. Recommended for users who prefer infrastructure as code.

Features:

  • Pre-built images with all dependencies
  • STIG-hardened container images
  • Read-only filesystem support
  • Easy backup and restore

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Binary File

Download a precompiled binary from the releases page. Great for manual installation or embedding in custom workflows. Works across Linux, macOS, and Windows (via WSL).

Use Cases:

  • Quick testing and evaluation
  • Custom deployment scripts
  • Embedded in other systems

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Kubernetes (Helm Chart)

Deploy Forge into a Kubernetes cluster using Helm. Best suited for production-grade, scalable infrastructure. Supports easy configuration and upgrades via Helm values.

Features:

  • High availability support
  • Horizontal scaling
  • Persistent storage
  • Service mesh integration

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Cloud Platforms

Guidance for deploying Forge to cloud platforms using VMs, containers, or Kubernetes with managed services.

Supported Platforms:

  • AWS (EC2, ECS, EKS)
  • Azure (VM, Container Instances, AKS)
  • Google Cloud Platform (Compute Engine, GKE)
  • Other cloud providers

Learn more »

System Requirements

Minimum Requirements

  • CPU: 2 cores
  • RAM: 2 GB
  • Disk: 10 GB free space
  • OS: Linux (x64, ARM64), macOS, Windows (via WSL)
  • CPU: 4+ cores
  • RAM: 4+ GB
  • Disk: 50+ GB free space (for logs, task files, images)
  • Database: PostgreSQL or MySQL for multi-user environments
  • Network: HTTPS with valid certificate

Required Dependencies

Forge will automatically install these during Linux Service Installer setup:

  • Ansible - For playbook execution
  • OpenSCAP - For compliance scanning
  • QEMU - For local Packer builds (optional)
  • Git - For repository access
  • Terraform/OpenTofu - Managed via System Binaries (optional)
  • Packer - Managed via System Binaries (optional)

Post-Installation

After installation, you'll need to:

  1. Access the Web UI - Default: http://localhost:3000
  2. Complete Initial Setup - Create admin user and configure database
  3. Configure Authentication - Set up LDAP or OpenID if needed
  4. Add System Binaries - Install Terraform, Packer, etc. via Admin Settings
  5. Create Your First Project - Start using Forge!

Next Steps