Self Hosted Slack Server: Everything Devs Need to Know

Hey there Dev, welcome to our comprehensive guide on self-hosting a Slack server! With the growing demand for robust collaboration tools by businesses, Slack has become an indispensable platform that helps teams communicate and work together efficiently. However, there are many reasons why a business may want a self-hosted Slack server instead of using the cloud-based version. In this article, we will dive into the benefits, the process of setup, and everything else you need to know about self-hosting a Slack server. Let’s get started!

What is a Self-Hosted Slack Server?

Before we dive into the details of self-hosting a Slack server, let’s define what it is. A self-hosted Slack server is a version of Slack that a team installs and runs on their own servers, rather than using the cloud-based version provided by Slack. This gives teams complete control over their data, security, and customization of the platform.

In other words, instead of relying on Slack’s servers, a self-hosted Slack server is installed on your own infrastructure, allowing you to customize and maintain it according to your business needs.

Benefits of Self-Hosting a Slack Server

There are several advantages to self-hosting a Slack server that can benefit businesses of all sizes. Here are a few of the key benefits:

Benefits of Self-Hosting a Slack Server
Description
Control Over Data
A self-hosted Slack server offers complete control over your data, including its storage, access, and management.
Enhanced Security
By hosting the server on your own infrastructure, you can ensure maximum security and control over access to sensitive information.
Customization Options
You can customize the software to meet your specific business needs and integrate it with other applications or tools.
Cost Savings
By self-hosting a Slack server, you can save on the cost of subscription fees to the cloud-based version.

Requirements for Self-Hosting a Slack Server

Before you dive into the process of self-hosting a Slack server, there are a few hardware and software requirements that you should meet. Here’s what you need:

  • A dedicated server or VPS (Virtual Private Server) with a minimum of 4GB RAM, 4 CPU cores, and 160GB of storage.
  • A Linux-based operating system (Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, or RedHat).
  • A domain name pointing to your server IP address.
  • A valid SSL certificate to encrypt the connection between the server and the clients.
  • A Slack enterprise plan that supports self-hosting, such as Enterprise Grid or Enterprise Plus.

Setting up a Self-Hosted Slack Server

Now that you have met the requirements, let’s move on to the process of setting up a self-hosted Slack server. The process involves four main steps:

Step 1: Install Required Dependencies

The first step is to install the dependencies required to run Slack on your server. These dependencies include Node.js, Nginx, and PostgreSQL. Here’s how to install them:

  • Install Node.js: sudo apt-get install nodejs=12.*
  • Install Nginx: sudo apt-get install nginx
  • Install PostgreSQL: sudo apt-get install postgresql

Step 2: Configure Nginx and PostgreSQL

After installing the dependencies, you need to configure Nginx and PostgreSQL to work with Slack. Here’s how:

Configure Nginx

Edit the default Nginx configuration file: sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/default

Add the following lines to the file:

server {listen 80;server_name yourdomain.com;return 301 https://$server_name$request_uri;}server {listen 443 ssl;server_name yourdomain.com;ssl_certificate /path/to/certificate;ssl_certificate_key /path/to/certificate_key;location / {proxy_pass http://localhost:3000;proxy_set_header Host $host;proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;}}

Save the file and exit.

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Configure PostgreSQL

Next, you need to create a new PostgreSQL user and database for Slack. Here’s how:

  • Log in to PostgreSQL with the following command: sudo su postgres -c psql
  • Create a new user: CREATE USER slackuser WITH PASSWORD 'password';
  • Create a new database: CREATE DATABASE slackdb OWNER slackuser;
  • Exit PostgreSQL: \q

Step 3: Install and Configure Slack

After configuring Nginx and PostgreSQL, you need to download and install Slack on your server. Here’s how:

  • Download the Slack server package: wget https://downloads.slack-edge.com/linux_releases/slack-desktop-4.18.0-amd64.deb
  • Install the package: sudo dpkg -i slack-desktop-4.18.0-amd64.deb
  • Start Slack: sudo slack-start
  • Follow the prompts to configure Slack and enter the PostgreSQL database details.

Step 4: Set up SSL Certificate

Finally, you need to set up an SSL certificate to encrypt the connection between your server and your clients. Here’s how:

  • Get an SSL certificate from a trusted authority, such as Let’s Encrypt.
  • Install Certbot: sudo apt-get install certbot python3-certbot-nginx
  • Obtain a certificate: sudo certbot --nginx -d yourdomain.com
  • Follow the prompts to install and configure the certificate.

FAQs

1. What’s the difference between self-hosted and cloud-based Slack?

The primary difference between self-hosted and cloud-based Slack is the location of the server. With a cloud-based Slack server, the server is hosted and maintained by Slack. With a self-hosted Slack server, the server is hosted and maintained by the team using it.

2. What are the benefits of self-hosting a Slack server?

The benefits of self-hosting a Slack server include control over data, enhanced security, customization options, and cost savings.

3. What are the hardware and software requirements for self-hosting a Slack server?

The hardware and software requirements for self-hosting a Slack server include a dedicated server or VPS with a minimum of 4GB RAM, 4 CPU cores, and 160GB of storage, a Linux-based operating system, a domain name pointing to your server IP address, a valid SSL certificate, and a Slack enterprise plan that supports self-hosting.

4. Can I migrate my data from cloud-based Slack to a self-hosted server?

Yes, you can migrate your data from cloud-based Slack to a self-hosted server using Slack’s migration tools.

5. How much does self-hosted Slack cost?

The cost of self-hosted Slack depends on the Slack enterprise plan you choose and the cost of maintaining your own infrastructure.