Your apps run on your server, while you manage them through the Caliber Node hosted panel. The agent connects out over HTTPS; you do not need to expose an inbound management port or install a VPN for the panel connection. Public access to your apps is a separate networking requirement.
1. Prepare a fresh Linux server
Use Ubuntu 24.04, Debian 12 or Debian 13 with systemd and administrator access. The installer requires an empty Docker host and will refuse a server with existing containers. Choose CPU, RAM and disk capacity for the apps you intend to run; each app has its own requirements.
2. Activate a license in the panel
Create or sign in to your Caliber Node account and open BYOH licenses. The Free plan supports up to four installed apps on one server per account. Unlimited costs $5/month or $40/year per server. Enter a server name and its IP address, not a hostname or URL. Paid licenses must be paid before enrollment.
3. Run your one-line installer
Open your server in My hardware and generate the install command. Run that command as an administrator on the intended server. It installs the agent and connects the server to your license. The command contains a single-use enrollment token that expires after 15 minutes—keep it private and generate a new command if it expires.
4. Check connectivity and storage
Confirm that the server appears connected and its live hardware metrics are visible. For public web apps, allow inbound TCP ports 80 and 443 in your provider firewall and any router. SFTP and non-web apps require their assigned ports. Optional host firewall management can add Caliber app rules on supported firewalls. It does not configure provider firewalls or router forwarding.
5. Deploy your first app
Open Deploy app, choose a supported catalog app and select your own server as the deployment target. Set its CPU and RAM limits, choose an eligible mounted storage location if needed, and select an available cnpods.com name or supported custom-domain option. The panel deploys the app on your server; open My apps to follow its progress and read logs.
6. Manage apps and agent updates
Use the app management page for logs, metrics, console, SFTP and other supported tools. Under My hardware → Settings → Server agent, choose manual updates or enable Automatic agent updates. Automatic agent updates wait until app operations finish and restart the management agent while app containers keep running. They do not update your app images or host operating system.
If your first app is not reachable
Check the app’s logs and deployment status first. A running container does not always mean the app has finished starting. Confirm that its DNS points to the correct public address and that host and provider firewalls allow its ports. Avoid rebooting or reinstalling until you know which step failed.
For help, include the app name and error message in a support ticket. Do not paste an enrollment command, password or API token into a public post.
Updated September 29, 2026. See current Free and Unlimited license pricing.