continuwuity/docs/deploying/nixos.md
Jade Ellis 13de0ac822
docs: Update and improve NixOS documentation
Documentation now mentions the official package
2025-07-16 23:27:14 +01:00

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# Continuwuity for NixOS
NixOS packages Continuwuity as `matrix-continuwuity`. This package includes both the Continuwuity software and a dedicated NixOS module for configuration and deployment.
## Installation methods
You can acquire Continuwuity with Nix (or [Lix][lix]) from these sources:
* Directly from Nixpkgs using the official package (`pkgs.matrix-continuwuity`)
* The `flake.nix` at the root of the Continuwuity repo
* The `default.nix` at the root of the Continuwuity repo
## NixOS module
Continuwuity now has an official NixOS module that simplifies configuration and deployment. The module is available in Nixpkgs as `services.matrix-continuwuity` from NixOS 25.05.
Here's a basic example of how to use the module:
```nix
{ config, pkgs, ... }:
{
services.matrix-continuwuity = {
enable = true;
settings = {
global = {
server_name = "example.com";
# Listening on localhost by default
# address and port are handled automatically
allow_registration = false;
allow_encryption = true;
allow_federation = true;
trusted_servers = [ "matrix.org" ];
};
};
};
}
```
### Available options
The NixOS module provides these configuration options:
- `enable`: Enable the Continuwuity service
- `user`: The user to run Continuwuity as (defaults to "continuwuity")
- `group`: The group to run Continuwuity as (defaults to "continuwuity")
- `extraEnvironment`: Extra environment variables to pass to the Continuwuity server
- `package`: The Continuwuity package to use
- `settings`: The Continuwuity configuration (in TOML format)
Use the `settings` option to configure Continuwuity itself. See the [example configuration file](../configuration/examples.md#example-configuration) for all available options.
### UNIX sockets
The NixOS module natively supports UNIX sockets through the `global.unix_socket_path` option. When using UNIX sockets, set `global.address` to `null`:
```nix
services.matrix-continuwuity = {
enable = true;
settings = {
global = {
server_name = "example.com";
address = null; # Must be null when using unix_socket_path
unix_socket_path = "/run/continuwuity/continuwuity.sock";
unix_socket_perms = 660; # Default permissions for the socket
# ...
};
};
};
```
The module automatically sets the correct `RestrictAddressFamilies` in the systemd service configuration to allow access to UNIX sockets.
### RocksDB database
Continuwuity exclusively uses RocksDB as its database backend. The system configures the database path automatically to `/var/lib/continuwuity/` and you cannot change it due to the service's reliance on systemd's StateDir.
If you're migrating from Conduit with SQLite, use this [tool to migrate a Conduit SQLite database to RocksDB](https://github.com/ShadowJonathan/conduit_toolbox/).
### jemalloc and hardened profile
Continuwuity uses jemalloc by default. This may interfere with the [`hardened.nix` profile][hardened.nix] because it uses `scudo` by default. Either disable/hide `scudo` from Continuwuity or disable jemalloc like this:
```nix
services.matrix-continuwuity = {
enable = true;
package = pkgs.matrix-continuwuity.override {
enableJemalloc = false;
};
# ...
};
```
## Upgrading from Conduit
If you previously used Conduit with the `services.matrix-conduit` module:
1. Ensure your Conduit uses the RocksDB backend, or migrate from SQLite using the [migration tool](https://github.com/ShadowJonathan/conduit_toolbox/)
2. Switch to the new module by changing `services.matrix-conduit` to `services.matrix-continuwuity` in your configuration
3. Update any custom configuration to match the new module's structure
## Reverse proxy configuration
You'll need to set up a reverse proxy (like nginx or caddy) to expose Continuwuity to the internet. Configure your reverse proxy to forward requests to `/_matrix` on port 443 and 8448 to your Continuwuity instance.
Here's an example nginx configuration:
```nginx
server {
listen 443 ssl;
listen [::]:443 ssl;
listen 8448 ssl;
listen [::]:8448 ssl;
server_name example.com;
# SSL configuration here...
location /_matrix/ {
proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:6167$request_uri;
proxy_set_header Host $host;
proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
}
}
```
[lix]: https://lix.systems/
[hardened.nix]: https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/blob/master/nixos/modules/profiles/hardened.nix