If you want to run CDESK on your own infrastructure, you have the option to install your own CDESK/CM server. This means that the entire system runs in your environment—on your servers or in your virtual environment. This approach is suitable for organizations that prefer full control over data, infrastructure, security settings, and network configuration.
Benefits of a dedicated server:
- Running the system on a dedicated server means independence from third-party cloud services and the ability to strictly control communication within both LAN and WAN networks.
- The ability to choose your own SSL certificate, domain and email settings, and to customize network ports and the firewall in detail.
- Suitable for companies with strict security or regulatory requests that need to have complete control over their system and data.
- For larger deployments (thousands of users, larger databases), performance and disk space can be scaled more effectively.
However, these benefits also come with certain demands on system organization and management. Before deciding to use your own server, it is therefore important to weigh the disadvantages and risks to ensure that operations will be efficient and secure. It is advisable to consider the following aspects associated with a self-hosted server:
- Greater demands on infrastructure management and the need for technical expertise or administrators.
- The need to handle backups, monitoring, and security updates on your own.
- Potentially higher costs for hardware, licenses, and network components compared to a cloud solution.
- Operating your own server can be more challenging for smaller teams without dedicated IT support.
- Need to order support for operating the local server from the CDESK supplier.
Before installing the OS and CDESK packages, you must ensure:
- Hardware and network resources based on the expected load (virtual server, RAM, disk storage, CPU).
- Domain and DNS records that will point to your public IP address (or proxy).
- SSL certificate (either Let’s Encrypt or your own certificate), correctly configured DNS and reverse DNS for email.
- Email settings (SMTP/IMAP/Graph API) for sending and receiving emails via CDESK.
- Access for server administration and maintenance (e.g., SSH).
These steps will lay the foundation for a smooth installation and operation of CDESK in your environment. For detailed instructions on installation, database configuration, network setup, and system configuration, we recommend referring to the official documentation at Installation of the CDESK/CM Server. Here you will find step-by-step instructions for the secure and stable operation of your own server.