How to Install FreeTAKServer Using Docker

In the world of amateur radio, situational awareness and efficient communication are paramount. Enter FreeTAKServer (FTS), an open-source implementation of a Tactical Awareness Kit (TAK) server, designed to facilitate real-time data sharing and coordination among teams. Originally developed for military applications, FTS has found its way into civilian use, including amateur radio operations.

This guide will walk you through installing FreeTAKServer using Docker, a containerization platform that simplifies deployment and management of applications.

📖 Official docs: FreeTAKServer Docker Setup

🧰 What You’ll Need

• A Linux server (preferred — Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, etc.)
• Docker or Podman installed

📦 Step 1: Choose Your Container Runtime

FreeTAKServer works with both Docker and Podman.

Check what’s installed:

docker --version
podman --version

⚠️ Important: Pick one and stick with it for the whole setup.

📁 Step 2: Create a Folder

Make a folder to keep everything organized:

mkdir ~/freetakserver
cd ~/freetakserver

🧾 Step 3: Get the Compose File

FreeTAKServer provides a pre-made file to launch everything easily.

Download it:

wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/FreeTAKTeam/FreeTAKHub-Installation/refs/heads/main/containers/example-compose.yaml -O compose.yaml

Open it in your text editor:

nano compose.yaml

Look for a line like this:

FTS_IP: YOUR EXTERNAL URL HERE

Replace it with your server’s external IP address or domain name. Example:

FTS_IP: 123.45.67.89

Save and close.

🚀 Step 4: Start the Server

Now run the services in the background:

With Docker:

docker compose -f compose.yaml up -d

With Podman:

podman-compose -f compose.yaml up -d

🖥️ Step 5: Check the Logs

Want to see if it’s working?

docker logs freetakserver
docker logs freetakserver-ui

Or with Podman:

podman logs freetakserver
podman logs freetakserver-ui

🛑 Step 6: Stop the Server

When you’re done or want to update:

docker compose -f compose.yaml down

Or:

podman-compose -f compose.yaml down

💾 Where’s My Data Stored?

All your important FreeTAKServer data lives inside a Docker volume.

To find where it’s stored:

docker inspect freetakserver_free-tak-core-db

Look for the Mountpoint — that’s the full path to your data.

🗂️ Example: /var/lib/docker/volumes/freetakserver_free-tak-core-db/_data

🔌 Ports to Know

The server uses default FreeTAKServer ports, but you can customize them with environment variables in the compose.yaml if needed.

🌍 Extra Settings (Optional)

Here are some useful environment variables:

🧠 Summary

• ✅ Simple Docker-based install
• ✅ Works on Linux with Docker or Podman
• ✅ Data is stored persistently using volumes
• ✅ UI and API included

🧭 Need Help?

Check the official FreeTAKServer Docker guide here:
👉 https://freetakteam.github.io/FreeTAKServer-User-Docs/Installation/mechanism/Docker/overview/