8: Vaultwarden - Password Manager

Vaultwarden is a self-hosted password manager that lets you store and manage all your passwords securely on your own server. It's compatible with all Bitwarden apps, so you can use it with your phone, computer, and web browser. For comprehensive usage instructions and advanced features, please refer to the official Vaultwarden documentation.

What is Vaultwarden?

Vaultwarden is like a digital safe for all your passwords. Instead of remembering dozens of different passwords, you only need to remember one master password to access all your accounts.

Why Vaultwarden is useful:

Think of it like this: Instead of writing passwords on sticky notes or using the same password everywhere, Vaultwarden keeps them all safe in one encrypted vault that only you can access.

Prerequisites

Before installing Vaultwarden, make sure you have:

Why These Prerequisites Matter

Traefik: Provides secure HTTPS access to your password manager

Docker: Runs Vaultwarden in a secure container

Domain name: Makes it easier to access and more secure

Email: Required for SSL certificates to keep your passwords safe

Step 1: Start Infinity Tools

Make sure you're connected to your server via SSH, then start Infinity Tools:

sudo infinity-tools

Using the Infinity Tools GUI

When you start Infinity Tools, you'll see the main menu. Look for the 📱 APPLICATIONS section - this is where all your apps are located.

Step 2: Navigate to Vaultwarden

In the Infinity Tools menu:

  1. Use your arrow keys to navigate to 📱 APPLICATIONS
  2. Press Enter to open the Applications menu
  3. Look for Vaultwarden in the list
  4. Select it and press Enter

Understanding the Application Menu

The Applications section shows you all available apps:

Look for the turquoise cursor - it shows what you're about to select!

Step 3: Install Vaultwarden

When you select Vaultwarden, you'll see installation options. Choose Install Vaultwarden.

What Happens During Installation

Vaultwarden installation will:

This usually takes 2-3 minutes.

Step 4: Configure Vaultwarden

During installation, you'll be asked several questions:

SSL Configuration

You'll see a prompt like:

🌐 SSL Certificate Configuration
===============================
Do you want to use Traefik for SSL certificates and domain routing?

Y) Yes (default) - Use Traefik with Let's Encrypt SSL and domain
N) No - Standalone with self-signed certificate and direct port access

Choose "Y" (Yes) - This uses Traefik for secure HTTPS access (recommended).

Domain Configuration

You'll be asked for your domain name:

Enter the domain name for Vaultwarden:
[vault.example.com]

What to enter: Use a subdomain like vault.yourdomain.com or passwords.yourdomain.com

Examples:

User Signup Policy

You'll be asked about user signups:

👥 User Signup Policy
==================
Do you want to allow new users to sign up?

Y) Yes - Allow anyone to create an account
N) No - Only admin can create accounts (recommended)

For beginners: Choose "N" (No) - This keeps your password manager private and secure.

Step 5: Wait for Installation

After answering the questions, Vaultwarden will install and start. You'll see messages like:

📦 Installing Vaultwarden...
🔧 Creating configuration...
🌐 Setting up SSL certificates...
🔐 Generating admin token...
✅ Vaultwarden installed successfully!

Step 6: Get Your Admin Token

After installation, you'll see important information:

🔐 Vaultwarden Admin Information
===============================

Admin Token: abc123def456ghi789...
Web Vault: https://vault.yourdomain.com
Admin Panel: https://vault.yourdomain.com/admin

Save Your Admin Token

IMPORTANT: Save your admin token in a safe place! You'll need it to:

How to save it:

Step 7: Verify Vaultwarden is Working

Let's make sure Vaultwarden is running properly.

Check Status in Infinity Tools

In the Infinity Tools menu, go to:

You should see Vaultwarden listed as "RUNNING" or "ACTIVE".

Using the Status Dashboard

The Status & Health section shows you:

Look for the green checkmarks - they indicate everything is working properly!

Test Your Web Vault

Open your web browser and visit your Vaultwarden URL:

Step 8: Create Your First Account

Now it's time to set up your password manager!

Sign Up Process

  1. Visit your Vaultwarden URL in your browser
  2. Click "Create Account"
  3. Enter your email address
  4. Create a strong master password
  5. Confirm your password
  6. Click "Create Account"

Choosing a Strong Master Password

Your master password protects all your other passwords. Make it:

Example: MyDog@2024!Loves#Treats

Step 9: Understanding What Was Created

Vaultwarden installation creates several important files and configurations:

Data Storage

Your password data is stored in:

Web Access

Vaultwarden provides:

Security Features

Vaultwarden includes:

What's Next?

Congratulations! You now have your own password manager running securely on your server.

Next Steps

Getting Help

For detailed usage instructions, advanced features, and troubleshooting, please refer to the official Vaultwarden documentation.

Troubleshooting

Can't Access Vaultwarden

If you can't access your Vaultwarden:

SSL Certificate Issues

If you see security warnings:

Can't Create Account

If signup is disabled:

Quick Reference

Check Vaultwarden status:

docker ps | grep vaultwarden

View Vaultwarden logs:

docker logs vaultwarden

Restart Vaultwarden:

docker restart vaultwarden

Access admin panel:

https://vault.yourdomain.com/admin

You're Ready!

Vaultwarden is now installed and running! You have your own secure password manager that you control completely.

What you accomplished:

Next step: Download the Bitwarden apps for your devices and start using your new password manager!

What You Learned

You now have a professional-grade password manager running on your own server!

Next: Installing Your Next Application (Coming Soon)

Revision #7
Created 29 October 2025 17:16:38 by bjoern
Updated 1 December 2025 16:35:18 by bjoern