Installing CasaOS

Installing CasaOS: Your Homelab Control Center

Alright, your Ubuntu Server is up and running! Nice work so far! But let’s be real: managing everything through the command line can get old fast if you're not used to working that way, especially if you just want to add cool apps and see what’s happening on your server. That’s where CasaOS comes in. In this post, you’ll turn your server into an easy-to-use, web-based hub for all your homelab adventures.

What you’ll learn:

What CasaOS is and why it rocks for beginners
How to install CasaOS with a single command
How to set up a CasaOS user
How to navigate the CasaOS dashboard and install your first app

What is CasaOS?

Think of CasaOS as an “app store for your server.” It gives you a friendly web interface where you can install, manage, and monitor all your homelab apps—no Linux wizardry required.

Why use CasaOS?

Instead of a black screen with blinking text, you get a clean, modern management dashboard you can access from any web browser on your home network. Want to check on your server from your phone while on the couch? No problem. Need to manage files from your laptop? Just open a new tab. It sheilds you from a lot of the manual work that is needed to install apps and manage resources.

Installing new software on a Linux server usually involves finding documentation or tutorials, copying and pasting terminal commands, and manually configuring files. With CasaOS, you just go to the App Store, find an app you like (like Jellyfin for movies, AdGuard for ad-blocking, or Home Assistant for smart home stuff), and click "Install." CasaOS handles all the complicated Docker stuff in the background for you.

Curious how hard your server is working? The dashboard shows you real-time stats for your CPU, memory, storage, and network usage. It’s a simple, visual way to keep an eye on your homelab’s health without needing to get familiar with linux commands like htop.

Need to upload a movie or download a document from your server? CasaOS has a built-in file manager that works just like the one on your computer. You can drag and drop files, create folders, and organize your data right from your browser. This is a much friendlier way to transfer files than using native transfer tools.

If you want to spend less time Googling and more time actually using your homelab, CasaOS is a great way to go.

Before You Start

Checklist:

Your Ubuntu Server 24.04 is installed and running
You know your server’s IP address (from the last post)
You can log in as the user you created during Ubuntu setup
You have a browser handy on another device

Tip

We’re keeping everything on your home network for now, so you don’t need to worry about advanced security or remote access. Just make sure your server and your main computer/phone are connected to the same network.

Installing CasaOS (The Easy Way)

CasaOS is designed to be super simple to install. All you need is one command.

1. SSH into your server

- On Windows, use an app like PuTTY or the built-in Terminal in Windows 11.
- On Mac/Linux, open Terminal and type:

ssh yourusername@your-server-ip

Replace yourusername and your-server-ip with your actual details.

2. Run the CasaOS install command

Copy and paste the following command into your terminal.

curl -fsSL https://get.casaos.io | sudo bash

Enter your password if prompted, this is to give the script privileges to install the application and it's requirements on the system. If you get an error saying the curl command wasn't found, run sudo apt install curl to install it and try again.

You should see a CasaOS logo appear in text when the script starts.

3. Wait for the install to finish

The script will download everything CasaOS needs. This might take a few minutes, depending on your internet speed. If you see any warnings about Docker or dependencies, don’t panic—the installer handles it all. If all goes well the installer script will finish with a screen like this, showing the URL to access it from. Copy that URL. We'll use it next.

The CasaOS installer script completed successfully

First-Time Setup and Configuration

1. Open CasaOS in your browser

From any device on your network, go to the URL you copied from the last step and paste it into your web browser.

CasaOS initial welcome screen showing a blue 'Go' button to start the setup

2. Create your CasaOS admin account

You’ll be prompted to set up an admin username and password. Enter a username you're going to remember, and a unique password to keep it secure.

CasaOS create account screen showing fields to enter a username and password and password confirmation

That should be all that's required to set up CasaOS. Now we can take a look around.

Exploring the CasaOS Dashboard

Take a minute to poke around—CasaOS is designed to be intuitive.

CasaOS home screen with different features highlighted

Dashboard: See your system’s health, storage usage, and running apps at a glance.
App Store: Browse and install apps with one click.
Files: Manage your files and folders right from your browser.
Settings: Configure users, storage, network, and more.

Tip

Bookmark the CasaOS web address for quick access from your phone or laptop.

Installing Your First App

Let’s try installing a simple app—just to see how easy it is.

Go to the App Store tab
Pick an app For example, “File Browser” is a great way to manage files on your server.
Click “Install” CasaOS handles the rest. You’ll see the app appear on your dashboard when it’s ready.
Open and explore Click the app icon to launch it. Each app usually has its own web interface.

Managing Users and Storage

Users: Add more users if you want to share your server with roommates or family. Go to Settings > Users and follow the prompts.
Storage: If you add a new hard drive or USB stick, you can add it to CasaOS in Settings > Storage. Great for expanding your media library later.

Tips, Tricks, and Best Practices

Keep your password strong—even on a home network, it’s good practice.
Update CasaOS regularly—check the Settings for update options.
Organize your folders early—makes life easier as you add more apps and files.
Don’t be afraid to experiment! You can always uninstall apps or tweak settings without breaking your whole server.

What’s Next?

Look at that—you’ve got a professional-looking server interface, and you didn’t have to touch a single config file! In the next post, we’ll use CasaOS to install Jellyfin, your own personal streaming service for movies and TV.

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