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Date: 2026-04-01 Hostname: docker-host IP address: 192.168.0.110

Dawarich GPS Location Tracking Setup

Overview

Dawarich is a self-hosted GPS location history and family tracking platform. It replaces cloud-based location tracking apps (e.g. Locator 24) with a fully private, self-hosted solution. It stores location history, shows maps, supports family sharing, and accepts data from multiple mobile apps.

  • URL (LAN): http://192.168.0.110:3005
  • URL (public): https://dawarich.homelabor.net (via Pangolin)
  • Stack location: compose/proxmox-lxc-100/dawarich/
  • Managed via: Komodo (Stack: dawarich, LXC 100)

Architecture

4 containers on an internal dawarich bridge network:

Container Image Role
dawarich_app freikin/dawarich:latest Rails web application (port 3005)
dawarich_sidekiq freikin/dawarich:latest Background job worker
dawarich_db postgis/postgis:17-3.5-alpine PostgreSQL with PostGIS extension
dawarich_redis redis:7.4-alpine Job queue and cache

Environment Variables

Set in Komodo Stack Environment:

Variable Description
DOCKER_DATA /srv/docker-data - bind mount root
TZ Europe/Budapest
DAWARICH_DB_PASSWORD PostgreSQL password for the dawarich database
DAWARICH_SECRET_KEY_BASE 64-character random secret for Rails session encryption
DAWARICH_SMTP_PASSWORD Resend API key (used as SMTP password)
DAWARICH_SMTP_FROM From address for invitation emails (e.g. noreply@yourdomain.com)

Generate SECRET_KEY_BASE with: openssl rand -hex 64

Key Configuration Notes

  • Dawarich uses DATABASE_HOST / DATABASE_USERNAME / DATABASE_NAME env vars - NOT POSTGRES_HOST or DATABASE_URL
  • APPLICATION_HOSTS must include all hostnames used to access the app - LAN IP, localhost, and any public domain (e.g. dawarich.homelabor.net)
  • APPLICATION_PROTOCOL must be http - Pangolin handles TLS termination. Setting https causes Rails to force-redirect HTTP to HTTPS, creating a redirect loop through the Pangolin tunnel.
  • The bin/rails server command must be specified explicitly - the image has no default entrypoint command for the app service
  • Migrations do NOT run automatically on startup - run manually after first deploy (see below)

SMTP Setup (Family Invitations)

Dawarich uses SMTP to send family invitation emails. Configured with Resend:

Variable Value
SMTP_SERVER smtp.resend.com
SMTP_PORT 587
SMTP_USERNAME resend
SMTP_PASSWORD Resend API key (set in Komodo env)
SMTP_STARTTLS true
SMTP_FROM From address configured in Resend

To invite family members: 1. Settings - Users - Invite User (or use the Family Group feature) 2. The invited user receives an email with a registration link

First-Time Setup

1. Deploy via Komodo

Add Stack Environment in Komodo, then deploy. After the stack is running:

2. Run database migrations

docker exec dawarich_app bin/rails db:migrate

Verify with:

docker exec dawarich_app bin/rails db:migrate:status

3. Create admin user

docker exec dawarich_app bin/rails runner 'User.create!(email: "your@email.com", password: "your_password", password_confirmation: "your_password", admin: true)'

Note: Use single quotes around the Ruby code to avoid bash ! interpretation issues.

There is no default demo user - the account must be created manually.

Mobile App Setup

Colota is the recommended GPS tracking client for Android. It sends location data directly to Dawarich with smart battery profiles and GPS accuracy filtering.

Why Colota over alternatives: - Intelligent tracking profiles - faster updates when moving/in car, slower when stationary - GPS accuracy filtering - discards bad GPS points automatically - Offline queue - stores points when offline, syncs later - Open source (AGPL), no telemetry

Setup: 1. Install Colota from Google Play or IzzyOnDroid 2. In Dawarich: Settings - API Keys - copy your API key 3. In Colota: Settings - API Settings - select Dawarich template 4. Enter the full endpoint URL: 

https://dawarich.homelabor.net/api/v1/owntracks/points?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY
5. Tap Test Connection to verify

Note: The full endpoint path /api/v1/owntracks/points?api_key=... is required - the base URL alone returns 404.

Home Assistant Companion App

Use the HA Companion App alongside Colota for zone-based presence detection (home/away automations). These serve different purposes and run simultaneously without conflict:

App Purpose
Colota Continuous GPS history in Dawarich
HA Companion App Zone entry/exit detection for HA automations

Other Supported Apps

Dawarich also supports OwnTracks, Overland, GPSLogger, and Traccar Client via these endpoints:

  • OwnTracks / Colota: https://dawarich.homelabor.net/api/v1/owntracks/points?api_key=KEY
  • Overland: https://dawarich.homelabor.net/api/v1/overland/batches?api_key=KEY

Deployment Troubleshooting

Issues encountered during setup and their fixes:

Problem Cause Fix
Port conflict on 3004 form container already uses 3004 Changed to port 3005
bundler: exec needs a command to run Missing command: in compose Added bin/rails server -p 3000 -b ::
YAML parse error on :: Unquoted :: is invalid YAML Quoted the command string
Blocked hosts: 192.168.0.110 Rails host authorization Added APPLICATION_HOSTS with LAN IP
Blocked hosts: dawarich.homelabor.net Public domain not in allowed hosts Added domain to APPLICATION_HOSTS
Socket connection instead of TCP Wrong env var names Use DATABASE_HOST/USERNAME/NAME, not POSTGRES_*
App crashes on startup DATABASE_URL not supported Use individual DATABASE_* vars instead
White page on sign in Migrations not run Run docker exec dawarich_app bin/rails db:migrate
No default login No demo user exists Create user via rails runner command above
Colota 404 on test connection Base URL entered instead of full endpoint Use full /api/v1/owntracks/points?api_key=... URL
dawarich.homelabor.net returns 503 / no available server APPLICATION_PROTOCOL: https causes Rails force_ssl redirect loop through Pangolin Set APPLICATION_PROTOCOL: http - Pangolin handles TLS
Map V2 blank in all browsers /maps_maplibre/styles/light.json returns 404 - static style files in the Docker image are shadowed by the /var/app/public volume mount Copy style files from the image to the host volume: docker run --rm -v /srv/docker-data/dawarich-public:/target freikin/dawarich:latest sh -c "cp -r /var/app/public/maps_maplibre /target/" - files persist across updates