What are the recommended specs for a server running PiGallery2?

[barncrow]

I know it's built to require very little. I'm considering putting PG2 on a rented VPS, and I'm wondering how little resources I could get away with. Does anyone know what to shoot for?

[rhatguy]

Really the heaviest parts of PG2 are converting pictures for thumbnails and videos for web friendly playback. I run mine on a large Xeon server with 14 cores and loads of RAM. This system can convert pics/videos SUPER quickly. But that is a batch operation. Once the conversions are done, or if you are ok with them running in the background for a while, you could get away with something VERY small for ongoing operations as long as you don't expect loads of users browsing the site simultaneously. I don't know the exact minimums, but my container right now is using 800MB of RAM and basically zero CPU unless someone is actively browsing the website. I'd just start it on a minimum config VPS with maybe 1-2GB of ram and if you need to upgrade to a larger VPS later it shouldn't be a huge deal to move it over. You can just transfer over any thumbnails or videos that have been converted if you decide to "upgrade" your VPS.

[bpatrik]

I was running the app on an RPI2 for a while and it was smooth. but about a year ago I upgraded to an i7, 32gb ram with M2 SSD monster. Since than then I cannot comment much on the performance. The biggest change in performance comes from the option to share search results. I tried my best but that required a significant architecture change in the core of the app that made listing (ie reading the BD) shower somewhat.

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-- Sorry for being brief, sent from my phone.

On Tue, 21 Oct 2025, 23:13 rhatguy, ***@***.***> wrote: Really the heaviest parts of PG2 are converting pictures for thumbnails and videos for web friendly playback. I run mine on a large Xeon server with 14 cores and loads of RAM. This system can convert pics/videos SUPER quickly. But that is a batch operation. Once the conversions are done, or if you are ok with them running in the background for a while, you could get away with something VERY small for ongoing operations as long as you don't expect loads of users browsing the site simultaneously. I don't know the exact minimums, but my container right now is using 800MB of RAM and basically zero CPU unless someone is actively browsing the website. I'd just start it on a minimum config VPS with maybe 1-2GB of ram and if you need to upgrade to a larger VPS later it shouldn't be a huge deal to move it over. You can just transfer over any thumbnails or videos that have been converted if you decide to "upgrade" your VPS. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#1049 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABZKA5QBTIOFJH6EUVC357D3Y2OXDAVCNFSM6AAAAACJ2F3PKKVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43URDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHMYTINZUGQ2TSNY> . You are receiving this because you are subscribed to this thread.Message ID: ***@***.*** com>

[barncrow]

Thanks a bunch, guys, for setting me straight! That all sounds perfectly manageable. PG2 is exactly what I've needed for my family photo album, but I'm a little hesitant about running a home server just for that...hence my interest in VPSs.

I know it's a separate topic, but it would be awesome to have PG2 on PikaPods. Perhaps anyone reading this could upvote that request on the PPs website.

[evrial]

Don't put on rented VPS, get something Like 8Gen intel mini PC. I used Pi4 4Gb until the summer, then I got a Lenovo m720q 8400T 16Gb and it's night and day. 5 watt idle.