ImageMagick/GD processing can keep CPU busy when many high-resolution photos arrive at once.
Bulk photo imports.Configuration matérielle requise pour Piwigo : RAM, CPU, PHP et stockage des photos
Planifiez le matériel Piwigo pour PHP, MySQL ou MariaDB, ImageMagick, le stockage de photos et Docker, avec des recommandations pratiques pour une installation personnalisée de ZimaOS.
Piwigo requirements at a glance
Piwigo is a conventional PHP photo gallery; photo originals, generated sizes and image processing matter more than the core web app.
- RAM
- No numerical official server RAM minimum published.
- CPU
- No numerical official core minimum. Image resizing and large imports create the main CPU bursts.
- PHP
- Current official requirements recommend PHP 8.2+; older 7.4+ releases can run but are end-of-life.
- Database
- Current official requirements: MySQL 5.6+ or MariaDB 10.1+.
- Image processing
- ImageMagick is recommended for performance and image quality; GD can also be used.
- Storage
- Plan enough disk for original pictures plus Piwigo's generated multiple-size cache; this usually dominates capacity.
From official requirements to the right setup
Size Piwigo from the photo library and image-processing workload.
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Official requirements
Use PHP 8.2+ with MySQL 5.6+ or MariaDB 10.1+ and a web server such as Nginx or Apache.
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Confirm your needs
Choose ImageMagick when available for better image-processing performance and quality, then estimate import/resizing bursts.
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Leave room to grow
Plan original photo capacity plus generated multiple-size cache and database backups; the media library is the main storage requirement.
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Run it on ZimaOS
On ZimaOS, use Install Custom App with Piwigo's official Docker Compose file, persist Piwigo data and MariaDB, and map the configured web port behind HTTPS.
Check every playback client
- Photo library size
- Import frequency
- PHP 8.2+
- MariaDB/MySQL
- ImageMagick
- Generated-size cache
- Backup retention
- Other media apps
Official minimum requirements
Piwigo's current requirements page specifies software dependencies and photo-storage needs but no numerical CPU/RAM minimum.
Do not invent a RAM/core floor. The important requirements are PHP 8.2+, MySQL/MariaDB, image processing and enough storage for originals plus generated sizes.
| Requirement | Official minimum | What this supports |
|---|---|---|
| RAM minimum | No numerical official minimum published | Depends on PHP/database and image-processing workload. |
| CPU minimum | No numerical official minimum published | Image resizing and imports drive bursts. |
| PHP | 8.2+ recommended | 7.4+ can run but is end-of-life. |
| Database | MySQL 5.6+ or MariaDB 10.1+ | Current official requirement. |
| Image library | ImageMagick recommended; GD supported | ImageMagick is recommended for performance and quality. |
| Storage | Enough for originals plus multiple-size cache | No fixed numerical disk minimum. |
When to upgrade your hardware
Piwigo should scale when photo processing or library capacity outgrows the current host.
Large imports make resizing slow
Generated sizes consume substantial disk
Plugins and other media apps add host pressure
Piwigo stores multiple derived sizes in addition to original photos.
Large high-resolution galleries.Piwigo can remain light while the wider media server stack consumes memory and I/O.
All-in-one NAS systems.Plan hardware growth with confidence
Scale Piwigo around photo capacity and image-processing speed.
Keep app/database data on SSD
Fast storage helps MariaDB and metadata operations.
Use SATA/NVMe with ZimaBoard 2 or SSD tiers on ZimaCube 2.Use ZimaBoard 2 for modest galleries
8 GB and four cores are ample for normal Piwigo browsing and moderate imports.
ZimaBoard 2 832.Use multi-drive storage for large galleries
Originals plus generated sizes and backups dominate capacity.
ZimaCube 2 Standard.Use stronger CPU for heavy import/resizing workloads
Frequent bulk imports benefit from more general-purpose CPU.
ZimaCube 2 Pro.Can it run on ZimaOS?
No public official ZimaOS one-click Piwigo App Store page was verified for this guide. Piwigo can be deployed through Install Custom App using the official Piwigo Docker project.
Custom install Piwigo in ZimaOS
Use Install Custom App with the official Piwigo Compose file, persist the Piwigo and MariaDB directories, and map the configured web port.
Custom install Piwigo in the ZimaOS app ↗Use Piwigo's official Docker deployment
The official Piwigo Docker project uses piwigo/piwigo:latest and a MariaDB LTS service in its current Compose example.
Review Piwigo Docker installation ↗Match current Piwigo software requirements
Current requirements recommend PHP 8.2+, MySQL 5.6+ or MariaDB 10.1+, and ImageMagick when possible.
Review Piwigo requirements ↗Choose Zima hardware for Piwigo
Piwigo itself is light; photo storage and import resizing determine when ZimaCube becomes useful.
Is this a modest personal gallery or a large photo archive?
Modest gallery
Use ZimaBoard 2 with attached photo storage.
- Best starting pointZimaBoard 2 832
- More app headroomZimaBoard 2 1664
Large gallery / frequent bulk imports
Use ZimaCube for multi-drive capacity and stronger processing.
- Storage-first platformZimaCube 2 Standard
- Higher-processing headroomZimaCube 2 Pro
These are practical recommendations, not official photo-count or import-throughput guarantees.
| Zima hardware | Best for | Example workload | Core configuration | Recommended boundary | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZimaBoard 2 832 | Small and medium Piwigo galleries. | Piwigo, MariaDB and normal photo imports. |
|
Add sufficient external photo storage; the app itself is not compute-heavy. | Get Now |
| ZimaBoard 2 1664 | Larger Piwigo plus other media apps. | More database/app headroom and co-hosted services. |
|
16 GB is whole-host headroom, not an official Piwigo requirement. | Get Now |
| ZimaCube 2 Standard | Large photo libraries. | Piwigo plus six-bay original-photo storage, generated sizes and backups. |
|
Choose it primarily for storage topology. | Get Now |
| ZimaCube 2 Pro | Large libraries with frequent imports/resizing. | Stronger CPU plus expandable photo storage. |
|
Actual image-processing throughput depends on source formats and ImageMagick workload. | Get Now |
What the Press Says
Highlights from trusted reviewers worldwide.
“ZimaCube 2: Not just another NAS, tested with 25TB storage, local AI agents, 4K transcoding, and real homelab workflows.”Read full review
“The ZimaBoard 2 is a compact x86 server board that can be turned into a mini NAS, home server, media box, or self-hosting hub.”Read full review
“ZimaCube 2: A modern, high-performance NAS with plenty of room to grow—built for users who want more than basic storage.”Read full review
“Coverage focused on ZimaCube 2's open hardware foundation, no monthly fee, and self-hosting flexibility.”Read full review
Loved by the Community
Stories and reviews from people who build with Zima every day.
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Avaliação ZimaBoard 2
Construí um servidor de uso pessoal. O desempenho está muito bom e funciona perfeitamente onde quer que eu esteja. A surpresa é não dependermos de grandes estruturas para termos nosso próprio servidor de dados. Como iniciante, estou gostando bastante do ZimaOS, pois ele é simples e eficiente.
Frequently asked questions
These answers cover Piwigo RAM, CPU, PHP, database, image processing and ZimaOS deployment.
How much RAM does Piwigo need?
Piwigo does not publish a numerical official server RAM minimum.
How many CPU cores does Piwigo need?
No numerical official core minimum is published.
Which PHP version does Piwigo need?
Current official requirements recommend PHP 8.2 or newer.
Which database does Piwigo support?
Current requirements specify MySQL 5.6+ or MariaDB 10.1+.
Should Piwigo use ImageMagick or GD?
Both are supported, but Piwigo recommends ImageMagick for performance and image quality.
How much storage does Piwigo need?
There is no fixed minimum; plan for original photos plus Piwigo's generated multiple-size cache and backups.
Can ZimaBoard 2 run Piwigo?
Yes. The 8 GB model is ample for a normal personal gallery with suitable attached photo storage.
When should I choose ZimaCube 2?
When the photo library, generated sizes, backups or bulk image processing justify multi-drive storage and more CPU.
What sources informed this Piwigo hardware guide?
Current Piwigo requirements, Docker documentation and official Docker repository plus current Zima product pages.
