Overview

Comprehensive documentation of the infrastructure setup running on a Digital Ocean droplet, managing multiple domains and services through Docker Compose and Traefik reverse proxy.

Infrastructure Stack

Host Environment

  • Provider: Digital Ocean
  • Droplet: Ubuntu-based virtual machine
  • Resources: Optimized for multiple containerized services
  • Networking: Public IP with domain routing

Core Services

  • Reverse Proxy: Traefik with automatic SSL
  • Container Orchestration: Docker Compose
  • SSL Management: Let’s Encrypt automatic certificates
  • Monitoring: Container health checks and logging

Domain Architecture

Primary Domains

  • brotherhoodofnicola.com: Orthodox Christian community hub
  • ocfomaha.org: Orthodox Christian Fellowship Omaha

Subdomains

  • schedule.brotherhoodofnicola.com: Event scheduling (Rallly)
  • chat.brotherhoodofnicola.com: Community chat (Campfire)

Static Paths

  • brotherhoodofnicola.com/calendar: Static calendar display

Service Portfolio

Content Management Systems

  • Ghost CMS: Blog and content management
    • brotherhoodofnicola.com (main site)
    • ocfomaha.org (fellowship site)

Specialized Applications

  • Rallly: Event scheduling and RSVP management
  • Campfire: Real-time chat and communication
  • Static Sites: Calendar and other static content

Database Services

  • MySQL 8.0: Ghost CMS databases
  • PostgreSQL 15: Rallly application database
  • SQLite: Campfire embedded database

Network Architecture

Docker Networks

  • web: External network for Traefik routing
  • ghost-db: Isolated network for Ghost and MySQL
  • rallly-db: Isolated network for Rallly and PostgreSQL
  • campfire-net: Isolated network for Campfire

Security Model

  • Network Isolation: Services communicate only through defined networks
  • SSL/TLS: End-to-end encryption for all public traffic
  • Access Control: Traefik-based routing and authentication
  • Volume Encryption: Persistent storage encryption

Deployment Strategy

Container Management

  • Image Pinning: Specific digest versions for stability
  • Health Checks: Service-level health monitoring
  • Resource Limits: CPU and memory constraints per service
  • Volume Persistence: Data persistence across container restarts

Update Process

  • Staged Updates: Test updates in isolated environments
  • Rollback Capability: Quick rollback to previous versions
  • Zero Downtime: Blue-green deployment strategies
  • Backup Integration: Automated backups before updates

Monitoring and Maintenance

Health Monitoring

  • Container Health: Docker health checks
  • Service Health: Application-level health endpoints
  • SSL Status: Certificate expiration monitoring
  • Resource Usage: CPU, memory, and storage monitoring

Backup Strategy

  • Database Backups: Automated daily backups
  • Volume Snapshots: Regular volume backups
  • Configuration Backups: Version-controlled configurations
  • Disaster Recovery: Complete system restoration procedures

Security Measures

  • SSL/TLS: Automatic certificate management
  • Network Security: Isolated service networks
  • Access Control: Service-specific authentication
  • Audit Logging: Comprehensive activity logging

Performance Optimization

Caching Strategy

  • Traefik Caching: Static asset caching
  • Application Caching: Service-specific caching
  • Database Optimization: Query optimization and indexing
  • CDN Integration: Global content delivery

Resource Management

  • Container Limits: Resource constraints per service
  • Storage Optimization: Efficient volume management
  • Network Optimization: Optimized network configurations
  • Load Balancing: Traefik-based load distribution

Future Enhancements

Scalability

  • Horizontal Scaling: Multi-container deployments
  • Load Balancing: Advanced load balancing strategies
  • CDN Integration: Global content delivery network
  • Microservices: Service decomposition and optimization

Security Enhancements

  • WAF Integration: Web application firewall
  • DDoS Protection: Distributed denial-of-service protection
  • Advanced Monitoring: Comprehensive security monitoring
  • Compliance: Security compliance and auditing

Development Workflow

  • CI/CD Integration: Automated deployment pipelines
  • Environment Management: Development and staging environments
  • Testing Integration: Automated testing and validation
  • Documentation: Comprehensive system documentation