+Pleroma performance depends to a large extent on good database performance. The default PostgreSQL settings are mostly fine, but often you can get better performance by changing a few settings.
+
+You can use [PGTune](https://pgtune.leopard.in.ua) to get recommendations for your setup. If you do, set the "Number of Connections" field to 20, as Pleroma will only use 10 concurrent connections anyway. If you don't, it will give you advice that might even hurt your performance.
+
+We also recommend not using the "Network Storage" option.
+
+## Example configurations
+
+Here are some configuration suggestions for PostgreSQL 10+.
* A machine running Linux with GNU (e.g. Debian, Ubuntu) or musl (e.g. Alpine) libc and `x86_64`, `aarch64` or `armv7l` CPU, you have root access to. If you are not sure if it's compatible see [Detecting flavour section](#detecting-flavour) below
* A (sub)domain pointed to the machine
You will be running commands as root. If you aren't root already, please elevate your priviledges by executing `sudo su`/`su`.
While in theory OTP releases are possbile to install on any compatible machine, for the sake of simplicity this guide focuses only on Debian/Ubuntu and Alpine.
If your platform is supported the output will contain the flavour string, you will need it later. If not, this just means that we don't build releases for your platform, you can still try installing from source.
### Installing the required packages
Other than things bundled in the OTP release Pleroma depends on:
* curl (to download the release build)
* unzip (needed to unpack release builds)
* ncurses (ERTS won't run without it)
* PostgreSQL (also utilizes extensions in postgresql-contrib)
* nginx (could be swapped with another reverse proxy but this guide covers only it)
* certbot (for Let's Encrypt certificates, could be swapped with another ACME client, but this guide covers only it)
It is recommended to use PostgreSQL v11 or newer. We have seen some minor issues with lower PostgreSQL versions.
RUM indexes are an alternative indexing scheme that is not included in PostgreSQL by default. You can read more about them on the [Configuration page](../configuration/cheatsheet.md#rum-indexing-for-full-text-search). They are completely optional and most of the time are not worth it, especially if you are running a single user instance (unless you absolutely need ordered search results).
If your distro does not have either of those you can append `include /etc/nginx/pleroma.conf` to the end of the http section in /etc/nginx/nginx.conf and
If everything worked, you should see Pleroma-FE when visiting your domain. If that didn't happen, try reviewing the installation steps, starting Pleroma in the foreground and seeing if there are any errrors.
Still doesn't work? Feel free to contact us on [#pleroma on freenode](https://irc.pleroma.social) or via matrix at <https://matrix.heldscal.la/#/room/#freenode_#pleroma:matrix.org>, you can also [file an issue on our Gitlab](https://git.pleroma.social/pleroma/pleroma-support/issues/new)
## Post installation
### Setting up auto-renew of the Let's Encrypt certificate
```sh
# Create the directory for webroot challenges
mkdir -p /var/lib/letsencrypt
# Uncomment the webroot method
$EDITOR path-to-nginx-config
# Verify that the config is valid
nginx -t
```
```sh tab="Alpine"
# Restart nginx
rc-service nginx restart
# Start the cron daemon and make it start on boot
rc-service crond start
rc-update add crond
# Ensure the webroot menthod and post hook is working
# If everything worked the output should contain /etc/cron.daily/renew-pleroma-cert
run-parts --test /etc/cron.daily
```
## Create your first user and set as admin
```sh
cd /opt/pleroma/bin
su pleroma -s $SHELL -lc "./bin/pleroma_ctl user new joeuser joeuser@sld.tld --admin"
```
This will create an account withe the username of 'joeuser' with the email address of joeuser@sld.tld, and set that user's account as an admin. This will result in a link that you can paste into the browser, which logs you in and enables you to set the password.
## Further reading
* [Backup your instance](../administration/backup.md)
* [Hardening your instance](../configuration/hardening.md)
* [How to activate mediaproxy](../configuration/howto_mediaproxy.md)
* [Updating your instance](../administration/updating.md)
## Questions
Questions about the installation or didn’t it work as it should be, ask in [#pleroma:matrix.org](https://matrix.heldscal.la/#/room/#freenode_#pleroma:matrix.org) or IRC Channel **#pleroma** on **Freenode**.