DreamHost Cloud Server Installation Notes

Cloud-init script can be used to automate installation of Dokku on Dreamhost (or any other OpenStack-compatible cloud with minimal changes).

A new server instance can be created on DreamHost Cloud from the command line using OpenStack client or from the web UI and with the same command use a cloud-init script to install Dokku. Install the OpenStack CLI, download the DreamHost Cloud credentials file before proceeding and make sure your public SSH key is added to the cloud.

source openrc.sh # Set the environment variables for DreamHost Cloud

This allows OpenStack client to connect to DreamHost API endpoints. The command below creates a new server instance named my-dokku-instance based on Ubuntu 18.04, with 2 GB RAM and 1 CPU (the flavor called supersonic), opening network port access to HTTP and SSH (the default security group), and the name of the chosen SSH key. This key will be automatically added to the new server in the authorized_keys for the default SSH user (ubuntu), and it will be reused by Dokku.

openstack server create \
  --image Ubuntu-18.04 \
  --flavor gp1.supersonic \
  --security-group default \
  --key-name $YOUR_SSH_KEYNAME \
  --user-data dokku-cloudinit.sh \
  my-dokku-instance

The content of dokku-cloudinit.sh script contains instructions to add Docker and Dokku's apt repositories and install Dokku with the proper debconf options set. Don't forget to add the FQDN for your application server:

#cloud-config

apt:
  sources:
    source_dokku: 
      source: 'deb https://packagecloud.io/dokku/dokku/ubuntu/ $RELEASE main'
      key: |
        -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
        Version: GnuPG v1.4.11 (GNU/Linux)

        mQINBFu7hksBEADJfS1wB4JJmVcJ3FYoY/F3DmEsg2/NSj/TleB7hkdFPGTaOEef
        c6SrK6bkQas8CzCZXskg3FFUFyxJwP0yQFosJ7nQCXbuaCzkGyOaob/2D4lqniKu
        lyFvZuN0Evh2SoJYB6Idiy3rG58/KMQxJ/73HjcrOPxwpcfIE+rfey0fo6HOcSz7
        AS3pXMbe0VoVOt8107i9qg6PizpaPugbSOP98aq2o0sPkjvKVzPsBvXWe9lDTreI
        X+00Z6WXjcDxmKTGvCkcJ6jk0L5r66Y6TNlJeYwFb0o7PbY7YeJSEJxw9eNozZpY
        EYvHCzHvsv7c8s+s5MeHDvvF5qsvt5qPPfw3zwLT01g1YTQpZdSDKn72YhrQUGJM
        j/W8ro8Ij9BYhYQMIdy+RPNQrBdKjj75kW1NLCGLlE89+6PYzlQwDFLdl9eZlUdM
        rvxbDPM99MRBBq30xfIS6YctHr40mEqZEi6OUoImaj5bbA1H3XHVH2JsWo1ttQYo
        5qOGGhNi7/nyI9zxVo9r97lgGLztyl6ILZt8kxnWIx1QnPmSMuUNqYfuUuKAPs1q
        +bisBLvylnFvQSqnpEuPwUS1UDby4CzVBzshTsuykCQRiwdU9tcjzZUlKKKTRLhj
        CZCNxv1Ovgl+3m/4R5L7YOBYGCmVW0/GvlrxPLGCjZa1O8/3nih5+cv5TwARAQAB
        tGhodHRwczovL3BhY2thZ2VjbG91ZC5pby9kb2trdS9kb2trdSAoaHR0cHM6Ly9w
        YWNrYWdlY2xvdWQuaW8vZG9jcyNncGdfc2lnbmluZykgPHN1cHBvcnRAcGFja2Fn
        ZWNsb3VkLmlvPokCOAQTAQIAIgUCW7uGSwIbLwYLCQgHAwIGFQgCCQoLBBYCAwEC
        HgECF4AACgkQ8f9oUSiLMxUN3Q/+LeoFr8p3zSp9tRcCuMXfbc7rnJ/UgJiO53jW
        8LsXH1h5dWeh2H5VqzGjDJ3SORisAWdOMu1SWkw4mvBZQQL12iwAMZmIDmbWU73c
        PplwGUQ4sltNxtiAVdntWC1vwSceY6/AQZwE2k60RYzg5bR2KAyZR9yGssGsekFO
        zOuMiTswzEYoZaJla+cduAXZzGf8NZgbzhXKhyfjVodRTyNR0dhoeMwNBlH0WWzW
        owwNOaJQ1LwDUkjrfRpkT53RJ5olRYa5ONDxuZEvmFy57bqXJh5U13m9FNWEtmF2
        NySFltZYEL6BZQn5qehF4kqqJ0JSVsHEyEC7sU9yr93khTGjWQfcGaITZXPNyXTC
        py/J1TeOEOz2VyvglPx/JL4dTfPg5uZCTWRXzLJDAbW26BcyFI4OyPjFly6FLj0o
        nMUuEzdCmNpHCKWkeyXajxtYd4EMo+UHGYC7jrpsAxRib0pdHUwnOG0MeNIUtPm/
        yW8i5St9PnX2y2qSaAoVURAI3irApn4Wc+hgRjo22l/B6ZudMAtASD5Ie8pXHNS0
        dlsgiv3sTZachMKU+usoIgejIb0MuBhBwVJ93A4YguEqNgZg0Cz4MUpWNma6zLIN
        Ko+3khp3z2Y/jWfNTKs41sz++png1iqjnvXjGIjKtgcFJyH+AwZzkh5LjRiahM/I
        OO/xTaO5Ag0EW7uGSwEQAL39qC95IFVNobRvecddeL26kHPgd0JS4fjB5r01pMFR
        3fojnEwGTLzRJVR4iTfzOiAG1XKGYmEb15NkEgEcvaLaojSsaaAHv++BqL2qXHJa
        sfsgjKqxCAKyJps5wCEIzF1xfxHB/5BIyKenXZw9K/zlZzsfqzyehLAarZ4oMQEN
        u/dG3TlXCf/oSBHDttLTcRTGs1I8FEaA9O0ZeV+2S/WuT0kFa6s1tRUMMWHWzMmR
        2a+vLCE3OMWtlRk6sfhfccf4rIzjj3xyieEGKznkOycu8JOqTBRmGMl3wRS2XI7c
        PFiV1MGRV5uhJ6a0D6DDAddL13TaXMfsZB0KkFHh8bKvAxJA9opHhl+X2NrdwsLz
        crCWF+QdoPX494j2aWnwSOXXtW9c2b6cpDfUoGVD79IYEzL0n6dgBPwCKLcmxotF
        Tv+H3Yy0DBn8BaQ0ZHbEgudwr73vxMgbYStGfu/bQEulcLA0vfTRGBRhzlZLE8k6
        +fXK23R4T/3kdyJovHdnK6aIN6oFTnVM5pyLrxmUkLCaPEbnoxVtA9zOeiGhqjYT
        pLgZMG95HgoscBlOh8BpuM2E3MSPV6XYjEKtvDpWy/i/oCPhd/PcY/qVxzj6dANU
        gQE/8hdf6Q//SvUxZaVrVwnmWkIZshGDJj/EM8VGhKzEoZF8Xmr/aibyN3CLoSMl
        ABEBAAGJBD4EGAECAAkFAlu7hksCGy4CKQkQ8f9oUSiLMxXBXSAEGQECAAYFAlu7
        hksACgkQ+ytqpCHNGT+1Vg//Z0ZiIoQQCLXmbAPdA79HVLCzsvkKQ3/RlqIR7Nq1
        JzgqPxg8drRo5+Ri+VrsIJt3AYH/lGm1UuSeycM6NrNWBpqL5FLjrMmbILQp9GMf
        bCZLXocOwDvrfpdBuEK+AS8SuLeiZtl8DcOe9Xtv3LSxXre0hsiIZpTRIjP+qkj8
        W7oZqUxwo1Wcnff+0snf6hPiTps/IB1utzSjxXVe86/89BWvLt/mT1o81h5mclgk
        l1eit6BvZsO/iicLB5KbyA7DVjAnxngze0+cCUAIVbqQbZhAVw5oZbKeXedbGuxr
        eRLWx+h5IBbtn+JwWngzueHyc3fY5b6ann06f6y6BF5+XmPRIXakYh4moJxSRQCA
        GVKGEubH/Y1Vyq8QIX7V6PGpS39mQkoYXEztvEtyZiV3J+SyObYZVTs9d5/rhoE2
        wXQIFTOdyHi52K2VfT3JU7rWOw5/SWuOQyyDdWgxEJuU6bUeOViOwHVkZDzwBX3Y
        1to5cgY6dNQARplEgZZjRja4uc06u2d7Bk2CfqO4LvjV5UlPm838Ga+kGzBpp86X
        5JBbZz9lPGf+GY7ZcROQp6ONui8P08+7EaTVtILTE0rd5g8umOnWBo1zteMv50As
        jyIPW20kUuJMdz3V+TNag5aCMW7qnO4zwildlQZmL54+xQDuRXK8P5JlKml6gnK+
        4SLvUA/8CALEMqxNlb06ZJc1GCU/mcQYXfkNosHaNYpORjziDnH1LBQ7AnhIhhMy
        FwcuxpG9bABwQfoQE84Kx3zVU0xEoCGr549Kf5p7ZcqGwn3WzSql+qR/NcPRV9Dp
        tb4iSXoTUeutR1SeVn/TI2aOWez3UyIztnam+p32e4BNuyByFRmo2e8dP1RqCg6b
        0KwuxDDE0k3zJCpjsWROrtBVQ9Zt9rsfG5kFxJ6Qi90uJP71f8rFDUuKmxJazDf3
        g3GHEGovUrOJO5JpvCcfCyT9mfOPxUSAKGBHj8NPY84vjqGaA9qqt54D8YT57TjR
        5oWd8Iwex4XFHAoj59q04KmramVgP5q8VKFrxwVOhYmK6SNmvW9dEI3Y16bu9KF7
        CJnPq/mQXEI+a/G6hZgZ8eYxOV2812WcORppezALreHJeN1HogxI972G0kalKhNC
        p3315BKJdw/p6/j/qIob2EZOdqBsdHRKBgBVXVbaCnzgh1kKLEvJnVDio+zjEPDr
        lR9wQbcHRbu+ZqRSEbH0of/4rx0CdCPGKSDafviKPDXnvls85tWV/lMtNxamqYvv
        V0DUeTWQDmfiyWCgqXTiRA9U4ZFgFNWmirh38UmV7VtSlYaRos8fEQTfmN20fqTk
        9mVAREENSiAuc4P93l8TtrN1bAqXaTX5oz+lepqWmHWvY+RiNiw=
        =laU4
        -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
    source_docker: 
      source: 'deb [arch=amd64] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu $RELEASE stable'
      key: |
        -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----

        mQINBFit2ioBEADhWpZ8/wvZ6hUTiXOwQHXMAlaFHcPH9hAtr4F1y2+OYdbtMuth
        lqqwp028AqyY+PRfVMtSYMbjuQuu5byyKR01BbqYhuS3jtqQmljZ/bJvXqnmiVXh
        38UuLa+z077PxyxQhu5BbqntTPQMfiyqEiU+BKbq2WmANUKQf+1AmZY/IruOXbnq
        L4C1+gJ8vfmXQt99npCaxEjaNRVYfOS8QcixNzHUYnb6emjlANyEVlZzeqo7XKl7
        UrwV5inawTSzWNvtjEjj4nJL8NsLwscpLPQUhTQ+7BbQXAwAmeHCUTQIvvWXqw0N
        cmhh4HgeQscQHYgOJjjDVfoY5MucvglbIgCqfzAHW9jxmRL4qbMZj+b1XoePEtht
        ku4bIQN1X5P07fNWzlgaRL5Z4POXDDZTlIQ/El58j9kp4bnWRCJW0lya+f8ocodo
        vZZ+Doi+fy4D5ZGrL4XEcIQP/Lv5uFyf+kQtl/94VFYVJOleAv8W92KdgDkhTcTD
        G7c0tIkVEKNUq48b3aQ64NOZQW7fVjfoKwEZdOqPE72Pa45jrZzvUFxSpdiNk2tZ
        XYukHjlxxEgBdC/J3cMMNRE1F4NCA3ApfV1Y7/hTeOnmDuDYwr9/obA8t016Yljj
        q5rdkywPf4JF8mXUW5eCN1vAFHxeg9ZWemhBtQmGxXnw9M+z6hWwc6ahmwARAQAB
        tCtEb2NrZXIgUmVsZWFzZSAoQ0UgZGViKSA8ZG9ja2VyQGRvY2tlci5jb20+iQI3
        BBMBCgAhBQJYrefAAhsvBQsJCAcDBRUKCQgLBRYCAwEAAh4BAheAAAoJEI2BgDwO
        v82IsskP/iQZo68flDQmNvn8X5XTd6RRaUH33kXYXquT6NkHJciS7E2gTJmqvMqd
        tI4mNYHCSEYxI5qrcYV5YqX9P6+Ko+vozo4nseUQLPH/ATQ4qL0Zok+1jkag3Lgk
        jonyUf9bwtWxFp05HC3GMHPhhcUSexCxQLQvnFWXD2sWLKivHp2fT8QbRGeZ+d3m
        6fqcd5Fu7pxsqm0EUDK5NL+nPIgYhN+auTrhgzhK1CShfGccM/wfRlei9Utz6p9P
        XRKIlWnXtT4qNGZNTN0tR+NLG/6Bqd8OYBaFAUcue/w1VW6JQ2VGYZHnZu9S8LMc
        FYBa5Ig9PxwGQOgq6RDKDbV+PqTQT5EFMeR1mrjckk4DQJjbxeMZbiNMG5kGECA8
        g383P3elhn03WGbEEa4MNc3Z4+7c236QI3xWJfNPdUbXRaAwhy/6rTSFbzwKB0Jm
        ebwzQfwjQY6f55MiI/RqDCyuPj3r3jyVRkK86pQKBAJwFHyqj9KaKXMZjfVnowLh
        9svIGfNbGHpucATqREvUHuQbNnqkCx8VVhtYkhDb9fEP2xBu5VvHbR+3nfVhMut5
        G34Ct5RS7Jt6LIfFdtcn8CaSas/l1HbiGeRgc70X/9aYx/V/CEJv0lIe8gP6uDoW
        FPIZ7d6vH+Vro6xuWEGiuMaiznap2KhZmpkgfupyFmplh0s6knymuQINBFit2ioB
        EADneL9S9m4vhU3blaRjVUUyJ7b/qTjcSylvCH5XUE6R2k+ckEZjfAMZPLpO+/tF
        M2JIJMD4SifKuS3xck9KtZGCufGmcwiLQRzeHF7vJUKrLD5RTkNi23ydvWZgPjtx
        Q+DTT1Zcn7BrQFY6FgnRoUVIxwtdw1bMY/89rsFgS5wwuMESd3Q2RYgb7EOFOpnu
        w6da7WakWf4IhnF5nsNYGDVaIHzpiqCl+uTbf1epCjrOlIzkZ3Z3Yk5CM/TiFzPk
        z2lLz89cpD8U+NtCsfagWWfjd2U3jDapgH+7nQnCEWpROtzaKHG6lA3pXdix5zG8
        eRc6/0IbUSWvfjKxLLPfNeCS2pCL3IeEI5nothEEYdQH6szpLog79xB9dVnJyKJb
        VfxXnseoYqVrRz2VVbUI5Blwm6B40E3eGVfUQWiux54DspyVMMk41Mx7QJ3iynIa
        1N4ZAqVMAEruyXTRTxc9XW0tYhDMA/1GYvz0EmFpm8LzTHA6sFVtPm/ZlNCX6P1X
        zJwrv7DSQKD6GGlBQUX+OeEJ8tTkkf8QTJSPUdh8P8YxDFS5EOGAvhhpMBYD42kQ
        pqXjEC+XcycTvGI7impgv9PDY1RCC1zkBjKPa120rNhv/hkVk/YhuGoajoHyy4h7
        ZQopdcMtpN2dgmhEegny9JCSwxfQmQ0zK0g7m6SHiKMwjwARAQABiQQ+BBgBCAAJ
        BQJYrdoqAhsCAikJEI2BgDwOv82IwV0gBBkBCAAGBQJYrdoqAAoJEH6gqcPyc/zY
        1WAP/2wJ+R0gE6qsce3rjaIz58PJmc8goKrir5hnElWhPgbq7cYIsW5qiFyLhkdp
        YcMmhD9mRiPpQn6Ya2w3e3B8zfIVKipbMBnke/ytZ9M7qHmDCcjoiSmwEXN3wKYI
        mD9VHONsl/CG1rU9Isw1jtB5g1YxuBA7M/m36XN6x2u+NtNMDB9P56yc4gfsZVES
        KA9v+yY2/l45L8d/WUkUi0YXomn6hyBGI7JrBLq0CX37GEYP6O9rrKipfz73XfO7
        JIGzOKZlljb/D9RX/g7nRbCn+3EtH7xnk+TK/50euEKw8SMUg147sJTcpQmv6UzZ
        cM4JgL0HbHVCojV4C/plELwMddALOFeYQzTif6sMRPf+3DSj8frbInjChC3yOLy0
        6br92KFom17EIj2CAcoeq7UPhi2oouYBwPxh5ytdehJkoo+sN7RIWua6P2WSmon5
        U888cSylXC0+ADFdgLX9K2zrDVYUG1vo8CX0vzxFBaHwN6Px26fhIT1/hYUHQR1z
        VfNDcyQmXqkOnZvvoMfz/Q0s9BhFJ/zU6AgQbIZE/hm1spsfgvtsD1frZfygXJ9f
        irP+MSAI80xHSf91qSRZOj4Pl3ZJNbq4yYxv0b1pkMqeGdjdCYhLU+LZ4wbQmpCk
        SVe2prlLureigXtmZfkqevRz7FrIZiu9ky8wnCAPwC7/zmS18rgP/17bOtL4/iIz
        QhxAAoAMWVrGyJivSkjhSGx1uCojsWfsTAm11P7jsruIL61ZzMUVE2aM3Pmj5G+W
        9AcZ58Em+1WsVnAXdUR//bMmhyr8wL/G1YO1V3JEJTRdxsSxdYa4deGBBY/Adpsw
        24jxhOJR+lsJpqIUeb999+R8euDhRHG9eFO7DRu6weatUJ6suupoDTRWtr/4yGqe
        dKxV3qQhNLSnaAzqW/1nA3iUB4k7kCaKZxhdhDbClf9P37qaRW467BLCVO/coL3y
        Vm50dwdrNtKpMBh3ZpbB1uJvgi9mXtyBOMJ3v8RZeDzFiG8HdCtg9RvIt/AIFoHR
        H3S+U79NT6i0KPzLImDfs8T7RlpyuMc4Ufs8ggyg9v3Ae6cN3eQyxcK3w0cbBwsh
        /nQNfsA6uu+9H7NhbehBMhYnpNZyrHzCmzyXkauwRAqoCbGCNykTRwsur9gS41TQ
        M8ssD1jFheOJf3hODnkKU+HKjvMROl1DK7zdmLdNzA1cvtZH/nCC9KPj1z8QC47S
        xx+dTZSx4ONAhwbS/LN3PoKtn8LPjY9NP9uDWI+TWYquS2U+KHDrBDlsgozDbs/O
        jCxcpDzNmXpWQHEtHU7649OXHP7UeNST1mCUCH5qdank0V1iejF6/CfTFU4MfcrG
        YT90qFF93M3v01BbxP+EIY2/9tiIPbrd
        =0YYh
        -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----

  debconf_selections:
    vhost:    dokku dokku/vhost_enable boolean true
    # set the domain name of the new Dokku server
    hostname: dokku dokku/hostname string $YOUR_FULL_QUALIFIED_DOMAIN
    # this copies over the public SSH key assigned to the server
    key:      dokku dokku/key_file string /home/ubuntu/.ssh/authorized_keys

packages:
    - dokku
package_update: true
package_upgrade: true
package_reboot_if_required: true

Shortly after running the create command you will get a confirmation that the instance has been created, and after about a minute it should be ready to login. Check the IP of the instance through the web UI or by running:

nova list

SSH with the ubuntu username and the public key previously added. Keep in mind that if you logged in quick enough Dokku might still be installing in the background, and not be ready. The installation takes a few minutes.