Can I use the official SiYuan desktop and mobile apps with my VPS?

Yes. In the app settings, set the sync endpoint to your VPS domain or IP. The apps are available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android and use SiYuan's own encrypted sync protocol.

Is my data encrypted?

Your workspace data is stored in SQLite on your VPS — on your machine, under your control. Data never leaves your server unless you explicitly configure a sync endpoint.

How much RAM does SiYuan use on a VPS?

SiYuan typically uses under 256 MB of RAM for a personal workspace. A 1 GB VPS is sufficient for one to three users; larger workspaces may benefit from 2 GB.

Can I export my notes from SiYuan?

Yes. SiYuan exports individual documents or entire notebooks to Markdown, HTML, Word (.docx) and PDF. The export preserves block structure and embedded images.

Share information and collaborate.

SiYuan

Self-hosted personal knowledge workspace with block-level notes, bidirectional links and AI agents.

< 256 MB RAM 1 vCPU Port 6806 Available

Tech stack

DockerGoSQLite

Minimum RAM< 256 MB

Minimum CPU1 vCPU

Default port6806

Compatible OSChoice of Linux distributions

SiYuan is an open-source (AGPL-3.0) personal knowledge management system built in Go with SQLite. Unlike cloud-based tools such as Notion or Roam Research, all your notes, attachments and history stay on your own VPS — encrypted at rest, accessible from any device via the web UI or the official desktop and mobile apps.

Every paragraph is a block — you can reference, embed and query any block from anywhere in your workspace. Bidirectional links and the built-in graph view give you a searchable map of how your ideas connect, without locking you into a folder hierarchy.

On a ServOrbit VPS, SiYuan runs in a single Docker container using fewer than 256 MB of RAM and exposes its interface on port 6806 — protected by a generated access code and proxied by nginx over HTTPS once you attach a domain.

Key features

Block-based editor — every paragraph, heading or image is an individually referenceable block.

Bidirectional links and graph view — see how your notes connect and navigate the knowledge graph in one click.

AI agents — built-in ChatGPT / Ollama / Claude integration for writing assistance and Q&A over your notes.

End-to-end encrypted sync — self-host your sync; local data never leaves your machine unencrypted.

Official desktop and mobile apps — native apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.

Custom queries and templates — filter, sort and aggregate blocks with a SQL-like query language.

When to use this solution?

1

Replace Notion with a self-hosted alternative

Keep your project notes, meeting logs and personal wiki on your own VPS. SiYuan's block editor and databases cover the same ground as Notion pages — without the subscription or the data sharing.

2

Build a developer second brain

Link code snippets, architecture decisions and reading notes with bidirectional links. The graph view surfaces hidden connections between topics; the SQL query language lets you pull every note tagged #architecture into a dashboard.

3

Research and writing workspace

Use the daily journal for quick captures, embed referenced blocks in long-form drafts, and export finished pieces to Markdown or Word. The AI integration can summarise your notes or draft from a block outline.

Deploy SiYuan on your VPS

Guide optimized for ServOrbit Cloud VPS.

01

Access SiYuan

SiYuan does not require a domain name. Open an SSH tunnel from your local machine: ssh -L 6806:127.0.0.1:{{ expose_port }} root@<your-vps-ip> then open http://localhost:6806 in your browser. For permanent access from desktop or mobile apps, attach a domain from your ServOrbit dashboard — nginx proxies to the container over HTTPS — or use the free {app}.{dns_slug}.servorbit-dns.com subdomain included with every VPS.

02

Enter your access code

SiYuan is protected by a generated access code displayed in your ServOrbit credential vault. Enter it on the login screen. You can change it later from Settings → Account → Access auth code.

03

Create your first notebook

Click the + icon in the left panel to create a notebook. Inside a notebook you can create documents, daily notes or templates. Start typing to create block content — headings, paragraphs, lists, code blocks and tables are all separate, linkable blocks.

04

Link notes and explore the graph

Type [[ to insert a block reference to any note in your workspace. Open the graph panel from the left sidebar to visualise all bidirectional links. As your workspace grows, the graph becomes a navigable map of your knowledge.

Frequently asked questions

No. SiYuan runs on port 6806 and works without a domain via SSH tunnel: ssh -L 6806:127.0.0.1:<port> root@<vps-ip> then http://localhost:6806. For permanent HTTPS access from the desktop or mobile apps, attach a domain from your ServOrbit dashboard or use the free {app}.{dns_slug}.servorbit-dns.com subdomain.

Embed the deploy button

Maintaining a project that uses SiYuan? This button lets your readers deploy it on a VPS in one click, without reading Docker documentation.

Markdown

[![Deploy SiYuan on ServOrbit](https://servorbit.com/brand/deploy/button.svg)](https://servorbit.com/vps-cloud?template=siyuan&utm_source=deploy-badge&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=siyuan)

HTML

<a href="https://servorbit.com/vps-cloud?template=siyuan&utm_source=deploy-badge&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=siyuan"><img src="https://servorbit.com/brand/deploy/button.svg" alt="Deploy SiYuan on ServOrbit" height="40"></a>

The button points to a VPS order with the template preselected. The image is served from servorbit.com — nothing to host on your side.

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Collaboration & Productivity

Activate SiYuan on your infrastructure.

Dedicated Cloud VPS — IPv4 included, server in Europe, support included. Your data never leaves your server.

Recommended configuration: < 256 MB RAM · 1 vCPU