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New Deployment Option for Self-Hosting Bitwarden

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authored by:Kasey Babcock
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Update: as of the February 2023 release, the Bitwarden unified deployment also supports deployment with an SQLite database and custom database ports.

For those who have the resources to install, run, and maintain hardware, Bitwarden is pleased to offer a new, flexible deployment option for self-hosted environments. The Bitwarden unified self-hosted deployment joins the existing standard deployment option as a lightweight option for those who choose to deploy and manage their password management solution on their own private network or infrastructure. 

Warning: This is a beta release, which means that this deployment option may be unstable and have issues. If you manage a Bitwarden organization vault, we recommend using the officially-supported, standard deployment option.

Unified Deployment Open Beta 

The Bitwarden unified self-host option, initially available in an open beta, supports a streamlined and flexible set-up, allowing users to choose from multiple database and environment options while being resource-efficient.

The unified deployment option offers:

  • A simplified Docker deployment with all services running in a single Docker container. 

  • Database flexibility and portability so that users can more easily utilize different types of database solutions to host their Bitwarden server — including Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, and PostgreSQL. 

Unified self-host deployment diagram

Bitwarden is excited to partner with the Bitwarden community in this open beta. If you decide to deploy the unified self-host option, please report any issues you discover in GitHub.

Learn more about how to get started with the unified deployment in this demo with Bitwarden founder, Kyle Spearrin.

Standard Deployment Offering

The standard self-host deployment has been available since the beginning of Bitwarden and supports hosting on Linux, macOS, and Windows machines. Configured to use a Microsoft SQL Server database, the standard deployment utilizes multiple Docker containers orchestrated via Docker Compose for self-hosting Bitwarden servers. Deployment is also available via a DigitalOcean droplet for users interested in a one-click cloud-based solution.

standard self-host diagram

See the core differences between the unified and standard deployment options in the table below:

Standard deployment

Unified deployment

Database supported

Microsoft SQL Server

Multiple database providers including Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite

CPU architecture

x64

x64, ARMv7, ARM64

Deployment solutions supported 

Docker

DigitalOcean

Docker

Note: more deployment solutions will be available in the future

Docker architecture

11 containers via Docker Compose

1 container

Additional Resources

Other helpful articles and resources for deploying a Bitwarden self-hosted server: 

Get Started with Bitwarden

Ranked by G2 and SoftwareReviews as the number one password manager, Bitwarden offers business and individual plans that help everyone secure sensitive information online. Check out a weekly live demo or visit our pricing page to find the right plan for you!

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