Operate Web Fleet
First-run setup
Database choice comes before the first administrator. SQLite remains the simplest default; PostgreSQL is available for operators who want an external database.
Choose the database first
The ordinary setup flow will present SQLite and PostgreSQL before asking for an administrator email or password. This avoids creating identity data in one database and then casually switching providers underneath it.
Database
● SQLite
Simplest setup. Web Fleet owns one local database file.
○ PostgreSQL
Use an existing PostgreSQL server.
[ Continue with SQLite ]
PostgreSQL
Selecting PostgreSQL reveals the connection URL and a connection test. The action remains visibly disabled while the URL is empty.
PostgreSQL URL
postgres://webfleet:password@db.internal:5432/webfleet
[ Test and use PostgreSQL ]
Web Fleet validates the real connection before accepting it. If the provider change requires a process restart, setup stops and displays an explicit restart-required state rather than exposing the administrator form prematurely.
Restart required
PostgreSQL is configured.
1. Stop and start Web Fleet.
2. Reload this page.
3. Create the administrator account.
Create the administrator
After restart the page must explicitly say Create the administrator account. It is not a login screen: no administrator exists yet.
Server-managed configuration
Automated deployments can provide WEBFLEET_DATABASE_URL before first launch. The browser flow remains the default experience for ordinary self-hosters.