1. Uptime – Ensuring continuous availability

2. Backups – Securing data against loss

3. Restoration – Quickly recovering from failures

Coolify provides a backup system, but restoration needs improvement. Currently, restoring backups requires recovering everything at once, which is inefficient. A better approach would allow restoring individual resources (like a single database or app) without affecting unrelated services.

Suggested Enhancement:

• Selective Restoration – Choose specific components (databases, volumes, apps) from a backup

• Partial Rollback – Recover only what’s needed, minimizing downtime

• Preview Option – Verify backup contents before restoring

This would make disaster recovery faster and more precise.

Here's a detailed guide to doing that via SSH, keeping in mind the current date (June 17, 2025):

Crucial Warning: Data Loss Ahead!

This process will permanently delete all your existing Coolify projects, applications, databases, and configurations. There is no undo. If you have any data you wish to keep, you MUST back it up externally before proceeding.

Steps to Reset and Reinstall Coolify from SSH:

1. Connect to Your Server via SSH: Open your terminal and connect to your server.

   Bash

    

   ssh your_username@your_server_ip
   

   Replace your_username with your actual SSH username (e.g., root, ubuntu, debian) and your_server_ip with the IP address or hostname of your server.

• Become the Root User (Recommended): Coolify installation and uninstallation steps often require root privileges.

  Bash

   

  sudo su -
  

  Enter your password if prompted.

• Stop All Coolify-Related Docker Containers: It's essential to stop all running containers managed by Coolify to prevent issues during removal.

  Bash

   

  docker stop $(docker ps -q --filter "name=coolify" --filter "name=coolify-proxy" --filter "name=coolify-realtime")
  

  This command targets containers likely named with coolify, coolify-proxy, and coolify-realtime. If you have other containers that might be associated, you might need to adjust this.

• Remove All Coolify-Related Docker Containers: This will delete the stopped containers.

  Bash

   

  docker rm $(docker ps -a -q --filter "name=coolify" --filter "name=coolify-proxy" --filter "name=coolify-realtime")
  

• Remove Coolify Docker Volumes: This is the most critical step for data removal. Coolify stores its persistent data in Docker volumes. Removing them will delete your projects, databases, and configurations.

  Bash

   

  docker volume rm $(docker volume ls -q --filter "name=coolify" --filter "name=coolify-db" --filter "name=coolify_coolify-db" --filter "name=coolify_coolify-proxy-config")
  

  You might see some errors like "No such volume" if some volumes don't exist, which is fine.

• Remove Coolify Docker Images (Optional but Recommended for a Super Clean Start): This will remove the Docker images Coolify uses. They will be re-downloaded during the fresh install.

  Bash

   

  docker rmi $(docker images -q --filter "label=com.coollabs.coolify=true")
  docker rmi coollabsio/coolify:latest
  docker rmi coollabsio/coolify-proxy:latest
  

  Again, some errors are expected if images are not found.

• Remove Coolify Data Directory: Coolify also uses a data directory on the host filesystem, typically /data/coolify.

  Bash

   

  rm -rf /data/coolify
  

  EXTREME CAUTION: This command is highly destructive. Double-check that you have typed /data/coolify correctly and that you absolutely want to delete everything within it.

• Remove Coolify Docker Network (Optional): If you want to ensure the Docker network created by Coolify is also gone:

  Bash

   

  docker network rm coolify # Only if a network named 'coolify' exists
  

• Verify Cleanup (Optional): You can run these commands to ensure nothing Coolify-related is left:

  Bash

   

  docker ps -a --filter "name=coolify"
  docker volume ls --filter "name=coolify"
  ls -la /data/coolify # Should return "No such file or directory" or be empty
  

• Reinstall Coolify: Now that your system is clean, proceed with the fresh installation.

  Bash

   

  curl -fsSL https://cdn.coollabs.io/coolify/install.sh | sudo bash
  

  If you are already logged in as root, you can omit sudo.

  The installation script will:

  • Install Docker if it's not present.
  • Create the necessary /data/coolify directory.
  • Download the latest Coolify Docker Compose files and configurations.
  • Generate new SSH keys.
  • Start Coolify's services via Docker Compose.

• Access Your Fresh Coolify Dashboard: Once the installation script finishes, it should provide you with instructions. Typically, you can access your new Coolify dashboard by opening your web browser and navigating to:

  http://your_server_ip:8000
  

  Replace your_server_ip with your server's actual IP address.

  You will then go through the initial setup process (creating the first user, setting up the host, etc.) as if it were a brand new Coolify installation. This fresh start should help resolve any dashboard-related issues you were experiencing.

What’s New with VMware ESXi 8.0U3e Free Edition?

• Standalone Use Only: The free version is designed for single-host deployments. It does not support vCenter Server integration, so there’s no centralized management or clustering.

• Ideal For:

  • Home labs and test environments

  • IT professionals studying for VMware certifications

  • Developers and vExperts testing new features

  • Small businesses needing basic virtualization without advanced management

• Embedded License: Unlike previous versions, the free license is now embedded in the ISO. No need to register for a separate key after installation—the host is licensed automatically.

• Latest Features: You get the core hypervisor functionality and compatibility with modern hardware, though some older CPUs (pre-Haswell) are no longer supported7.

How to Download VMware ESXi 8.0U3e Free Edition

Getting the new free ESXi is a bit different than before, as Broadcom now controls distribution. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Create a Broadcom Support Account

• Visit the Broadcom Support Portal and sign up for a free account if you don’t already have one.

• No paid support contract is required.

2. Navigate to the Free Downloads Section

• After logging in, go to My Downloads.

• Look for “Free Software Downloads available HERE” or directly visit the free downloads page.

3. Find VMware vSphere Hypervisor

• Scroll down the list until you see VMware vSphere Hypervisor.

• Click to expand and select the 8.0U3e release.

4. Accept Terms and Download

• Agree to the Terms and Conditions.

• Click the download icon (cloud symbol) to get the ISO file (about 816 MB).

5. Install the ISO

• Write the ISO to a USB stick or other bootable media.

• Boot your server from the media and proceed with the standard ESXi installation process.

• Set the root password and complete the installation. The license is already embedded—no extra steps needed.

Limitations and Considerations

• No vCenter Integration: The free edition cannot be managed by vCenter Server—each host is standalone.

• Hardware Requirements: Requires a 64-bit x86 CPU (Haswell or newer), at least 4GB RAM (8GB+ recommended), and supported storage7.

• No Official Support: As a free product, it does not include official support from Broadcom/VMware.

Final Thoughts

Broadcom’s move to bring back a free ESXi edition is a significant win for the virtualization community, especially for homelabbers, students, and small businesses. While it’s limited to standalone use, the embedded license and straightforward download process make it easier than ever to get started with VMware’s industry-leading hypervisor at zero cost.

Ready to try it? Head to the Broadcom Support Portal, download the ISO, and start building your own virtual infrastructure today!