parallel transfers, file size, metadata operations, previews and configured storage-backend latency Time the job and identify CPU, storage or external-service waits before replacing hardware.
Imports, processing and simultaneous users.Wymagania sprzętowe eLabFTW: pamięć RAM, procesor, pamięć masowa i przesyłanie plików oraz dane trwałe
Zaplanuj pamięć RAM, procesor, pamięć trwałą i zależności usług dla eLabFTW, dobierając konfigurację ZimaOS do obciążenia, kopie zapasowe i praktyczny sprzęt.
eLabFTW hardware requirements at a glance
Online lab notebook for research labs. Store experiments, use a database to find reagents or protocols, use trusted timestamping to legally timestamp an experiment, export as pdf or zip archive, share with collaborators…. The stated 512 MB minimum/1 GB recommendation and 300 MB install space describe the upstream starting deployment. Database growth, uploaded experiments/files and backups require extra capacity beyond that installation figure.
- RAM
- The README states at least 512 MB RAM and recommends 1 GB in its stated starting guidance; include actual companion services and growth.
- CPU
- File uploads, exports and configured background work drive CPU demand; no universal experiment-per-core capacity is inferred.
- Storage
- 300 MB is the stated installation figure, not total experiment/database/file/backup capacity. Budget those separately.
- Required services
- Use the supported upstream runtime and complete service topology for the selected release. The repository references MariaDB / MySQL. These may be optional integrations or alternatives; install only services required by your chosen deployment.
- Main sizing variable
- parallel transfers, file size, metadata operations, previews and configured storage-backend latency
- Practical Zima starting point
- ZimaBoard 2 832 with SSD-backed active state is an editorial starting point for modest use. Include the OS and all companion services; it is not a measured capacity guarantee.
From official requirements to the right setup
Plan the complete eLabFTW workload before selecting a server.
-
Official requirements
Choose the exact edition, stable release and supported container/runtime. Use the supported upstream runtime and complete service topology for the selected release. The repository references MariaDB / MySQL. These may be optional integrations or alternatives; install only services required by your chosen deployment.
-
Confirm your needs
Test a representative busy operation: parallel transfers, file size, metadata operations, previews and configured storage-backend latency Record peak resident memory, CPU, disk latency and completion time, including other containers.
-
Leave room to grow
Place active state on reliable persistent storage. Persist user files, application metadata, upload staging, previews where generated and independent backups. Budget working space for an upgrade or import and test recovery before relying on the deployment.
-
Run it on ZimaOS
Follow the supported upstream runtime, operating system and complete service topology for the selected release. On ZimaOS, consider Custom Install only when a maintained compatible amd64 image and every required host capability have been verified. Otherwise use a separately supported Linux environment; this guide does not certify an unverified container deployment. The stated 512 MB minimum/1 GB recommendation and 300 MB install space describe the upstream starting deployment. Database growth, uploaded experiments/files and backups require extra capacity beyond that installation figure.
Check every playback client
- Exact edition and stable release
- Supported upstream runtime and architecture
- All required companion services
- Realistic peak activity
- Persistent data and file ownership
- Free host ports and reachable URLs
- Working space and backup retention
- Successful database/file restore
Official minimum requirements
Reviewed November 2, 2026 against the linked upstream deployment documentation. Numerical values retain their stated minimum, recommendation or example scope; select release-compatible instructions before installation.
The stated 512 MB minimum/1 GB recommendation and 300 MB install space describe the upstream starting deployment. Database growth, uploaded experiments/files and backups require extra capacity beyond that installation figure. Numerical examples above retain their stated deployment scope; co-hosted services and independent backups need additional capacity.
| Requirement | Official minimum | What this supports |
|---|---|---|
| RAM guidance | The README states at least 512 MB RAM and recommends 1 GB in its stated starting guidance; include actual companion services and growth. | Official guidance keeps its original test, recommendation or example scope. |
| CPU guidance | File uploads, exports and configured background work drive CPU demand; no universal experiment-per-core capacity is inferred. | Core counts do not predict a fixed user, device or document capacity. |
| Storage planning | 300 MB is the stated installation figure, not total experiment/database/file/backup capacity. Budget those separately. | Installation space is separate from retained content, working files and backups. |
| Service topology | Use the supported upstream runtime and complete service topology for the selected release. The repository references MariaDB / MySQL. These may be optional integrations or alternatives; install only services required by your chosen deployment. | Include every stateful companion service in the host budget. |
| Persistent state | Persist user files, application metadata, upload staging, previews where generated and independent backups. | An image rebuild or container replacement is not a backup. |
| Deployment boundary | The stated 512 MB minimum/1 GB recommendation and 300 MB install space describe the upstream starting deployment. Database growth, uploaded experiments/files and backups require extra capacity beyond that installation figure. | Check the linked project instructions for the selected edition and release. |
When to upgrade your hardware
Use observed eLabFTW workload pressure to decide when an upgrade is warranted.
Busy operations exceed the available window
The complete stack runs short of memory
Persistent data approaches available capacity
Inspect the application and each required service for OOM events, sustained swap or growing queues. Reduce unnecessary concurrency before adding capacity.
Shared hosts and background work.Persist user files, application metadata, upload staging, previews where generated and independent backups. Track primary state and backup retention separately.
Long-lived installations and growing collections.Plan hardware growth with confidence
Address storage, memory, compute and deployment limits separately.
Use suitable active storage
Put latency-sensitive application/database state on durable local SSD storage and keep recoverable copies.
SATA or PCIe SSD according to measured data growth.Add memory for the complete stack
Choose a higher-RAM host when peak application and companion-service usage leaves inadequate OS headroom.
ZimaBoard 2 832 or ZimaBoard 2 1664 according to the measured constraint.Separate capacity from compute
A multi-drive system helps when retained content and backup storage are the problem; it is not automatically a faster application.
ZimaCube 2 when a broader multi-drive workload justifies it.Fix the observed bottleneck
The stated 512 MB minimum/1 GB recommendation and 300 MB install space describe the upstream starting deployment. Database growth, uploaded experiments/files and backups require extra capacity beyond that installation figure.
Check service configuration, I/O and network behavior before selecting a stronger CPU.Can it run on ZimaOS?
Follow the supported upstream runtime, operating system and complete service topology for the selected release. On ZimaOS, consider Custom Install only when a maintained compatible amd64 image and every required host capability have been verified. Otherwise use a separately supported Linux environment; this guide does not certify an unverified container deployment.
Verify the supported upstream deployment
The stated 512 MB minimum/1 GB recommendation and 300 MB install space describe the upstream starting deployment. Database growth, uploaded experiments/files and backups require extra capacity beyond that installation figure. Follow the supported upstream runtime, operating system and complete service topology for the selected release. On ZimaOS, consider Custom Install only when a maintained compatible amd64 image and every required host capability have been verified. Otherwise use a separately supported Linux environment; this guide does not certify an unverified container deployment.
Review upstream deployment guidance ↗Use the official eLabFTW deployment instructions
Keep the selected stable release, persistent paths and companion services aligned with upstream documentation.
Review eLabFTW official installation ↗Check workload-specific deployment details
The stated 512 MB minimum/1 GB recommendation and 300 MB install space describe the upstream starting deployment. Database growth, uploaded experiments/files and backups require extra capacity beyond that installation figure.
Review eLabFTW deployment details ↗Which Zima hardware fits eLabFTW?
Start with the lowest reasonable host for the actual workload. Product specifications were checked against the current product pages.
Which workload best matches your eLabFTW deployment?
Modest eLabFTW deployment
Start with durable active data and a measured whole-stack memory budget.
- Workload optionZimaBoard 2 832
Heavier jobs or more companion applications
Choose added memory or compute only when observed peaks justify the change.
- Workload optionZimaBoard 2 1664
These are practical workload recommendations, not official app requirements, compatibility certification, measured capacity limits or performance guarantees. Include all co-hosted services and independent backups.
| Zima hardware | Best for | Example workload | Core configuration | Recommended boundary | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZimaBoard 2 832 | Modest eLabFTW workload | parallel transfers, file size, metadata operations, previews and configured storage-backend latency |
|
This is an editorial host choice, not an official app minimum or a guaranteed user/device capacity. | Get Now |
| ZimaBoard 2 1664 | More processing or shared-service headroom | Use the supported upstream runtime and complete service topology for the selected release. The repository references MariaDB / MySQL. These may be optional integrations or alternatives; install only services required by your chosen deployment. |
|
Size the combined stack and active working set; more RAM does not fix remote API limits or missing dependencies. | 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
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“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
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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
Answers to eLabFTW RAM, CPU, storage, Docker, database and ZimaOS sizing questions.
How much RAM should I plan for eLabFTW?
The README states at least 512 MB RAM and recommends 1 GB in its stated starting guidance; include actual companion services and growth. Include ZimaOS, the application and its companion services rather than reserving the entire machine for one container.
What drives the CPU requirement?
File uploads, exports and configured background work drive CPU demand; no universal experiment-per-core capacity is inferred. The workload to test is: parallel transfers, file size, metadata operations, previews and configured storage-backend latency
Which data must survive a container update?
Persist user files, application metadata, upload staging, previews where generated and independent backups. Preserve a consistent database/file set and verify that your recovery procedure restores a working application.
What other services belong in the budget?
Use the supported upstream runtime and complete service topology for the selected release. The repository references MariaDB / MySQL. These may be optional integrations or alternatives; install only services required by your chosen deployment.
Does this workload need a dedicated GPU?
A dedicated GPU is not assumed for the core workflow described here. Optional AI, acceleration or media-processing integrations must be evaluated separately against the selected backend.
Can I deploy it on ZimaOS?
Follow the supported upstream runtime, operating system and complete service topology for the selected release. On ZimaOS, consider Custom Install only when a maintained compatible amd64 image and every required host capability have been verified. Otherwise use a separately supported Linux environment; this guide does not certify an unverified container deployment. The stated 512 MB minimum/1 GB recommendation and 300 MB install space describe the upstream starting deployment. Database growth, uploaded experiments/files and backups require extra capacity beyond that installation figure.
What should I check before upgrading hardware?
The stated 512 MB minimum/1 GB recommendation and 300 MB install space describe the upstream starting deployment. Database growth, uploaded experiments/files and backups require extra capacity beyond that installation figure. Measure the same representative operation before and after a configuration or hardware change.
Which Zima device is a practical starting point?
ZimaBoard 2 832 is the editorial starting point for this modest deployment. Choose ZimaBoard 2 1664 for measured memory/processing pressure or broader shared services; retained data determines storage expansion.
What sources informed this eLabFTW hardware guide?
This guide was reviewed against the linked project deployment documentation on November 2, 2026. Zima device choices are editorial workload guidance, separate from upstream requirements and measured performance.
