Realtime collaborative viewing and typing increase app, Redis and database activity.
Growing teams.Requisiti hardware essenziali: RAM, CPU, PostgreSQL e Redis
Pianifica l'hardware per RAM, CPU, PostgreSQL, Redis, archiviazione dei file e utenti collaborativi, con consigli pratici per l'installazione personalizzata di ZimaOS.
Outline requirements at a glance
Outline web app memory is modest, but PostgreSQL, Redis, collaborative users and file storage belong in the whole-host budget.
- RAM
- Official minimum: 512 MB. Outline recommends 1 GB or more depending on users and workload.
- CPU
- No numerical official core minimum. Official docs say Outline runs on relatively low-powered hardware; active users and collaborative editing determine CPU demand.
- Database
- PostgreSQL 14 or newer is required by current hosting requirements.
- Redis
- Redis 4 or newer is required.
- Other dependencies
- A dedicated domain/subdomain and compatible authentication provider are required for normal self-hosting.
- Best Zima starting point
- ZimaBoard 2 832 is comfortably above Outline’s memory baseline and is a strong small-team all-in-one host.
From official requirements to the right setup
Size Outline as the app plus PostgreSQL, Redis and file storage.
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Official requirements
Start from the official 512 MB minimum / 1 GB+ recommended app memory guidance, then add PostgreSQL, Redis and Docker overhead.
-
Confirm your needs
Estimate active users and simultaneous collaborative editing, because Outline says CPU demand depends on how many users are online, viewing and typing.
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Leave room to grow
Persist PostgreSQL and Outline file storage, and back up the database before updates. Pin container versions rather than relying on latest.
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Run it on ZimaOS
On ZimaOS, use Install Custom App with the official Docker image, PostgreSQL and Redis, map port 3000 behind HTTPS, and configure a dedicated domain plus authentication provider.
Check every playback client
- Active users
- Concurrent editors
- PostgreSQL 14+
- Redis 4+
- Dedicated domain
- Authentication provider
- File storage
- Backup retention
Official minimum requirements
Outline’s current hosting requirements publish a numerical memory floor and explicit PostgreSQL/Redis dependencies.
The 512 MB value applies to Outline itself; a complete self-hosted host still needs extra RAM for PostgreSQL, Redis, Docker and other services.
| Requirement | Official minimum | What this supports |
|---|---|---|
| RAM minimum | 512 MB | Current official minimum. |
| RAM recommended | 1 GB or more | Depends on number of users and workload. |
| CPU minimum | No numerical official minimum published | Outline runs on relatively low-powered hardware. |
| PostgreSQL | 14+ | Current hosting requirement. |
| Redis | 4+ | Current hosting requirement. |
| Operating system | Unix-compatible | Current hosting docs do not support Microsoft Windows Server. |
When to upgrade your hardware
Outline should scale when collaboration, PostgreSQL activity or attachments/file storage becomes the bottleneck.
More users edit documents simultaneously
PostgreSQL working set grows
Files and backups consume more storage
A larger knowledge base and history increase database cache, I/O and backup time.
Long-running knowledge bases.Attachments and retained backups can outgrow the lightweight app footprint.
Document-heavy teams.Plan hardware growth with confidence
Scale Outline around PostgreSQL, Redis and persistent file storage.
Use SSD-backed PostgreSQL storage
Low-latency durable storage improves search, document activity and migrations.
Use SATA/NVMe with ZimaBoard 2.Use ZimaBoard 2 832 for normal small-team use
8 GB is comfortably above Outline’s 1 GB+ app recommendation and leaves room for PostgreSQL/Redis.
ZimaBoard 2 832.Move to 16 GB for larger teams or many co-hosted apps
Extra RAM benefits PostgreSQL cache and the wider server stack.
ZimaBoard 2 1664.Use ZimaCube for storage-heavy knowledge bases
Large attachments and long backup retention may justify multi-drive capacity.
ZimaCube 2 Standard.Can it run on ZimaOS?
No public official ZimaOS one-click Outline App Store page was verified for this guide. A recent third-party community store lists Outline, but that is not the same as an official ZimaOS listing.
Custom install Outline in ZimaOS
Use Install Custom App with Outline’s official Docker image plus PostgreSQL and Redis, persist database/file data, and expose port 3000 behind HTTPS.
Custom install Outline in the ZimaOS app ↗Use Outline recommended Docker path
Outline recommends Docker and Docker Compose and publishes a complete example with PostgreSQL, Redis and persistent storage.
Review Outline Docker installation ↗Meet Outline hosting dependencies
Current requirements call for PostgreSQL 14+, Redis 4+, a dedicated domain and a compatible authentication provider.
Review Outline requirements ↗Choose Zima hardware for Outline
Outline’s published memory requirement is small; database, Redis and the collaboration stack determine when more hardware is useful.
Is this a small-team knowledge base or a larger collaboration/file-storage workload?
Small / medium team
Use ZimaBoard 2 832 with SSD-backed PostgreSQL and Redis.
- Best starting pointZimaBoard 2 832
- More headroomZimaBoard 2 1664
Large files, backups or broader NAS duties
Use ZimaCube when storage capacity becomes more important than app compute.
- 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 Outline teams. | Outline, PostgreSQL, Redis and normal collaborative editing. |
|
8 GB is far above the 1 GB+ app recommendation; use durable DB/file storage. | Get Now |
| ZimaBoard 2 1664 | Larger teams and many co-hosted productivity apps. | More PostgreSQL cache, Redis headroom and broader services. |
|
16 GB is whole-host headroom, not an Outline requirement. | Get Now |
| ZimaCube 2 Standard | Attachment-heavy Outline on a broader NAS. | Outline plus large files/backups and other storage services. |
|
Choose it for storage capacity, not because Outline needs six drive bays. | 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.
★★★★★
Zima Blade Little yet Powerful
Maybe I am not digital natives but I live with PCs since 12 years old in 1984 when IBM PC clone come to my home. Many years have passed and many operating system I've tried. For me Zima blade and CasaOS was a quantum leap for home PC enthusiast and server lab machine to make me stay curious and relevant for this era.
★★★★★
Very good!!
I use ZimaCube Pro as 5th Proxmox cluster node. It runs several VMs and containers, including a VM with GPU passthrough to run a self-hosted LLM. A specific LXC container runs a Samba server for NAS capabilities using four of six RAID 6 SATA HDDs with ZFS.
★★★★★
Great innovation for mini server!
It is very useful and makes a powerful mini server for many purposes, including university and college students in engineering and electronics. Thank you so much for making this server.
★★★★★
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 Outline RAM, CPU, PostgreSQL, Redis, Docker and ZimaOS deployment.
How much RAM does Outline need?
Outline requires at least 512 MB and recommends 1 GB or more depending on users and workload.
How many CPU cores does Outline need?
Outline publishes no numerical core minimum and says it can run on relatively low-powered hardware.
Which PostgreSQL version does Outline require?
Current hosting requirements specify PostgreSQL 14 or newer.
Does Outline require Redis?
Yes. Current hosting requirements specify Redis 4 or newer.
Does Outline need a dedicated domain?
Yes. Current hosting requirements call for a dedicated domain or subdomain and a compatible authentication provider.
Does Outline need a GPU?
No dedicated GPU is required.
Can ZimaBoard 2 run Outline?
Yes. The 8 GB model comfortably exceeds Outline’s 1 GB+ app recommendation and can also host PostgreSQL and Redis.
When should I choose ZimaCube 2?
When attachments, backups or the wider NAS workload—not Outline itself—justify larger storage.
What sources informed this Outline hardware guide?
Current Outline requirements and Docker documentation plus current Zima product pages.
