Authentik Installation

About Authentik

Authentik is an open-source identity provider that integrates seamlessly into your applications. It is designed to provide secure authentication and authorization services for your users.

Requirements

• A host with at least 2 CPU cores and 2 GB of RAM
• Docker
• Docker Compose (Compose v2 is recommended, see here for instructions on how to upgrade)

Installation

To install Authentik using Docker Compose, follow these steps:

wget https://goauthentik.io/docker-compose.yml

sudo apt-get install -y pwgen

echo "PG_PASS=$(pwgen -s 40 1)" >> .env

echo "AUTHENTIK_SECRET_KEY=$(pwgen -s 50 1)" >> .env

echo "AUTHENTIK_ERROR_REPORTING__ENABLED=true" >> .env

Run Authentik Compose File

This command initially installs Authentik and is also used to update settings and configurations:

docker-compose pull
docker-compose up -d

Initial Setup

To start the initial setup, navigate to: http://<your server's IP or hostname>:9443/if/flow/initial-setup/.

Benefits of Self-Hosting

Self-hosting Authentik has its advantages and disadvantages.

Positives

• Full control over your authentication processes and user data.
• Ability to customize features to suit your community's needs.
• Enhanced privacy and security since data does not reside on third-party servers.
• Privacy is improved since data is not stored on third-party servers.
• Cost-effective compared to paid services which may charge per user.
• Automations can be set up to manage user accounts and permissions.

Negatives

• Requires maintenance, including updates and backups.
• Initial setup and configuration may be complex for some users.
• Needs a reliable host with sufficient resources.

1. Security may be compromised if not properly configured and the identity provider is a large target for attackers.

Community Building

Self-hosting Authentik can significantly contribute to community building by providing a secure and customizable authentication solution. It allows community moderators to manage user accounts effectively, creating a trustworthy environment for all members.

For example, this community-made app allows moderators to use specific functions from Authentik: Authentik Account Creation.