Moving to PostgreSQL/MySQL improves the database architecture for larger teams.
Shared team installations.Kanboard Hardware Requirements: RAM, CPU, Database & Storage
Plan Kanboard hardware for RAM, CPU, SQLite or PostgreSQL, plugins, file uploads and Docker, with practical ZimaOS custom-install recommendations.
Kanboard requirements at a glance
Kanboard is a lightweight PHP project-management app. Current docs publish software/database requirements but no numerical host CPU/RAM/disk minimum.
- RAM
- No numerical official minimum published. PHP, the selected database and plugins share the host memory budget.
- CPU
- No numerical official core minimum. Normal boards/tasks are lightweight; plugins, reports and concurrent users increase load.
- PHP
- Current Kanboard requires PHP 8.1 or newer.
- Database
- SQLite 3.7+, MySQL 5.6+, MariaDB 10+ and PostgreSQL 9.4+ are supported; PostgreSQL is recommended.
- Storage
- No universal official minimum. SQLite data, uploaded files, thumbnails, plugins and backups determine capacity.
- Best Zima starting point
- ZimaBoard 2 832 is far more than enough for a small/medium Kanboard deployment.
From official requirements to the right setup
Size Kanboard around user concurrency, database choice and uploaded files rather than raw application compute.
-
Official requirements
Start with PHP 8.1+ and choose SQLite for a single user/small team or PostgreSQL/MySQL/MariaDB for higher concurrency.
-
Confirm your needs
Do not use SQLite with NFS or Docker according to the current Kanboard requirements guidance; use an external SQL database in those cases.
-
Leave room to grow
Persist the data, plugins and certificates volumes. Uploaded files and thumbnails live in the data path unless external/object storage is configured.
-
Run it on ZimaOS
On ZimaOS, use Install Custom App with the official Kanboard image, map the web port, persist required volumes, and pin a stable version instead of blindly tracking latest.
Check every playback client
- Active users
- Database choice
- SQLite vs PostgreSQL
- Uploaded files
- Plugin use
- Persistent data
- Backup retention
- Other ZimaOS services
Official minimum requirements
Kanboard's current requirements page defines supported software versions and database guidance but does not publish numerical host hardware minimums.
Do not invent a fixed RAM or core count. The app is light; database choice and concurrency are the meaningful sizing variables.
| Requirement | Official minimum | What this supports |
|---|---|---|
| RAM minimum | No numerical official minimum published | Depends on PHP, database and plugins. |
| CPU minimum | No numerical official minimum published | Concurrency and plugins determine demand. |
| PHP | PHP 8.1+ | Current requirement. |
| SQLite | 3.7+ | Recommended only for single users or small teams with minimal concurrency. |
| PostgreSQL | 9.4+ | Recommended database in current docs. |
| Storage minimum | No numerical official minimum published | Files, thumbnails, database and backups drive capacity. |
When to upgrade your hardware
Kanboard should scale when concurrent users, SQL activity or files/plugins outgrow the small-team profile.
SQLite concurrency becomes limiting
Plugins and reports expand
Uploads and backups grow
Additional plugin logic and reporting can increase PHP/database work.
Heavily customized boards.Task attachments and retained backups can become the main storage requirement.
File-heavy projects.Plan hardware growth with confidence
Scale Kanboard around database architecture and persistence.
Use PostgreSQL for larger teams
Current Kanboard docs recommend PostgreSQL and reserve SQLite for low-concurrency use.
ZimaBoard 2 832 has ample room for Kanboard plus a small PostgreSQL service.Put database and uploads on SSD
Fast durable storage improves responsiveness and backups.
Use SATA/NVMe with ZimaBoard 2.Move to 16 GB for broader project-management stacks
Extra RAM benefits the SQL database and other productivity apps.
ZimaBoard 2 1664.Use ZimaCube when file retention dominates
Large project-file and backup retention may justify a NAS-oriented platform.
ZimaCube 2 Standard.Can it run on ZimaOS?
Kanboard is not currently confirmed as a public official one-click ZimaOS App Store page in the sources checked for this guide. It can be deployed through Install Custom App using the official Kanboard image.
Custom install Kanboard in ZimaOS
Use Install Custom App with kanboard/kanboard, persist data/plugins/certs, and map the web port to an available ZimaOS host port.
Custom install Kanboard in the ZimaOS app โUse Kanboard's official Docker image
Current docs list Docker Hub, GHCR and Quay registries for official Kanboard images.
Review Kanboard Docker setup โPrefer PostgreSQL for higher concurrency
Current requirements docs recommend PostgreSQL and advise against SQLite with NFS or Docker.
Review Kanboard database guidance โChoose Zima hardware for Kanboard
Kanboard is light enough for ZimaBoard 2; database and files determine when larger hardware is useful.
Is this a small Kanboard instance or a larger multi-user/file-heavy project server?
Small or medium team
Use ZimaBoard 2 with PostgreSQL/SQLite as appropriate and SSD-backed persistence.
- Best starting pointZimaBoard 2 832
- More app headroomZimaBoard 2 1664
Large file retention / broader NAS use
Use ZimaCube when project files and backups drive capacity.
- Storage-first platformZimaCube 2 Standard
These are practical recommendations, not official user-count tiers.
| Zima hardware | Best for | Example workload | Core configuration | Recommended boundary | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZimaBoard 2 832 | Small and medium Kanboard teams. | Kanboard, PostgreSQL/SQLite, plugins and normal attachments. |
|
Far more compute than core Kanboard needs; choose database/storage architecture carefully. | Get Now |
| ZimaBoard 2 1664 | Kanboard plus many productivity apps. | Larger PostgreSQL cache, plugins and broader collaboration services. |
|
16 GB is host-level headroom, not an official Kanboard requirement. | Get Now |
| ZimaCube 2 Standard | File-heavy project servers. | Kanboard plus larger attachments, backups and broader NAS duties. |
|
Choose it for storage topology. | Get Now |
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Frequently asked questions
These answers cover Kanboard RAM, CPU, PHP, databases, Docker and ZimaOS deployment.
How much RAM does Kanboard need?
Kanboard does not publish a numerical official server RAM minimum.
How many CPU cores does Kanboard need?
No numerical official core minimum is published.
Which PHP version does Kanboard require?
Current documentation requires PHP 8.1 or newer.
Which database should Kanboard use?
SQLite suits a single user or small team, while current docs recommend PostgreSQL for larger/shared use.
Can Kanboard use SQLite in Docker?
Current requirements guidance says not to use SQLite with Docker or NFS.
Does Kanboard need a GPU?
No dedicated GPU is required.
Can ZimaBoard 2 run Kanboard?
Yes. The 8 GB model is far above Kanboard's practical compute needs.
Does Kanboard have an official Docker image?
Yes. Current docs list official images on Docker Hub, GHCR and Quay.
What sources informed this Kanboard hardware guide?
The guide uses Kanboard's current requirements and Docker documentation plus current Zima product pages.
