Large PDF/image batches can keep Joex CPU-bound.
Paperless offices with heavy scanning.Requisitos de hardware do Docspell: RAM, CPU e armazenamento
Planeie o hardware do Docspell para RAM, CPU, OCR, PostgreSQL, pesquisa de texto integral e armazenamento de documentos, com recomendações práticas para uma instalação personalizada do ZimaOS.
Docspell requirements at a glance
Docspell uses Java-based REST and Joex components plus PostgreSQL and full-text search. Upstream defines prerequisites but no universal CPU, RAM or disk minimum.
- RAM
- No numerical official minimum published; Java services, PostgreSQL and search share host memory.
- CPU
- No numerical official core minimum; OCR and document conversion can be CPU intensive.
- Storage
- No universal official minimum; originals, previews, database, indexes and backups drive capacity.
- Runtime
- Current packages and Docker images use Java 17; a JRE is sufficient unless building from source.
- Database/search
- The official Compose setup includes PostgreSQL and full-text search.
- Best Zima starting point
- ZimaBoard 2 1664 is the safer compact all-in-one choice; ZimaCube 2 Pro adds stronger OCR and storage headroom.
From official requirements to the right setup
Size Docspell from its real service stack and persistent data rather than using a guessed one-size-fits-all server number.
-
Official requirements
Start with Java 17 and the official Docspell Docker Compose stack.
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Confirm your needs
Estimate document volume, page count and OCR frequency because Joex processing drives bursty CPU load.
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Leave room to grow
Plan persistent space for originals, previews, PostgreSQL and search indexes, then add backup capacity.
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Run it on ZimaOS
On ZimaOS, use Install Custom App with Docspell's Compose stack and monitor Joex queues plus OCR duration before scaling.
Check every playback client
- Documents/day
- Average pages/document
- OCR usage
- PostgreSQL persistence
- Search index growth
- Original-file storage
- Backup retention
- Other ZimaOS services
Official minimum requirements
Docspell publishes software prerequisites rather than a numerical hardware sizing table.
Do not invent a 2 GB or 4 GB official minimum. A complete host must cover Java services, PostgreSQL, search and document processing.
| Requirement | Official minimum | What this supports |
|---|---|---|
| RAM minimum | No numerical official minimum published | Depends on enabled services and processing volume. |
| CPU minimum | No numerical official minimum published | OCR and extraction drive CPU demand. |
| Storage minimum | No numerical official minimum published | Originals, indexes and backups determine capacity. |
| Java | Java 17 | Provided packages are built/tested with Java 17. |
| REST server | Java runtime | Java is the principal prerequisite. |
| Joex | Java plus external processing tools | Joex needs extra programs for document processing. |
When to upgrade your hardware
Upgrade Docspell when measured workload, storage growth or background processing outgrows the current host.
OCR queues stay busy
Search/database memory pressure rises
Archive storage grows rapidly
PostgreSQL and full-text search grow with the archive.
Large document collections.Originals, previews and backups can dominate disk use.
Long-retention archives.Plan hardware growth with confidence
Scale Docspell by addressing the actual bottleneck—database, storage, processing or concurrency—before simply buying a larger server.
Put database/search on SSD
Fast persistent storage improves database and index responsiveness.
Use SATA/NVMe on ZimaBoard 2 or SSD tiers on ZimaCube 2.Use 16 GB for an all-in-one stack
More RAM helps Java, database and search coexist.
ZimaBoard 2 1664.Use stronger CPU for OCR
More CPU helps when Joex spends significant time on OCR/conversion.
ZimaCube 2 Pro.Use multi-drive storage for larger archives
Originals and backups may dominate capacity.
ZimaCube 2 Standard or Pro.Can it run on ZimaOS?
Docspell is not currently confirmed as a public official one-click ZimaOS App Store page in the sources checked for this guide. It can still be deployed through Install Custom App.
Custom install Docspell in ZimaOS
Use Install Custom App with Docspell's official Compose files and persist PostgreSQL/search/document volumes.
Custom install Docspell in the ZimaOS app ↗Use the official Docspell Docker Compose setup
Upstream provides a Compose stack with PostgreSQL and full-text search.
Review Docspell Docker deployment ↗Match Java and processing prerequisites
Current packages use Java 17 and Joex requires additional external processing tools.
Review Docspell prerequisites ↗Choose Zima hardware for Docspell
Choose Zima hardware for the complete Docspell workload, including its database, storage and background services.
Is this a light personal archive or an OCR-heavy document workflow?
Light personal archive
Use a compact 16 GB host with SSD-backed persistence.
- Best compact choiceZimaBoard 2 1664
OCR-heavy or larger archive
Use stronger CPU and expandable storage.
- Higher-processing headroomZimaCube 2 Pro
These are practical workload recommendations, not official throughput or user-count guarantees.
| Zima hardware | Best for | Example workload | Core configuration | Recommended boundary | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZimaBoard 2 1664 | Personal/small-team Docspell archives. | REST server, Joex, PostgreSQL, search and moderate OCR. |
|
16 GB is a practical recommendation, not an upstream minimum. | Get Now |
| ZimaCube 2 Pro | OCR-heavy and larger document archives. | Heavier OCR/conversion, PostgreSQL, search and larger storage. |
|
Actual OCR throughput depends on document types and processing tools. | 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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Zima Blade Little yet Powerful
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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.
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Great innovation for mini server!
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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 Docspell RAM, CPU, storage, Docker and ZimaOS deployment.
How much RAM does Docspell need?
Docspell does not publish a numerical official RAM minimum.
How many CPU cores does Docspell need?
No numerical official core minimum is published; OCR is the main CPU-heavy workload.
What Java version does Docspell use?
Current packages and Docker images use Java 17.
Does Docspell use PostgreSQL?
The official Docker Compose setup includes PostgreSQL and full-text search.
How much storage does Docspell need?
No universal minimum; originals, previews, indexes and backups determine capacity.
Does Docspell need a GPU?
No dedicated GPU is required for normal document organization and OCR.
Can ZimaBoard 2 run Docspell?
Yes. The 16 GB model is the safer all-in-one choice for Java, PostgreSQL, search and OCR.
When should I choose ZimaCube 2?
When OCR throughput or archive storage becomes the main bottleneck.
What sources informed this Docspell hardware guide?
Current Docspell prerequisite and Docker docs plus current Zima product pages.
