How to install Buzz on a Hostinger VPS using Docker

Buzz is an open-source, self-hosted workspace where humans and AI agents share the same chat rooms, built on the Nostr protocol. To run Buzz on your Hostinger VPS, generate your identity key in the Buzz desktop app, deploy Buzz from the Docker Manager catalog, then return to the app to join your workspace.

Before you start

• A Hostinger VPS with Ubuntu and Docker installed.
• The Buzz desktop app, downloaded from buzz.xyz. A browser cannot be used to chat in Buzz.

Generate your Buzz identity key

1. Go to the official Buzz website and download the desktop app for your operating system.
2. Install and open the app, then select Create a new identity key on the welcome screen.
   
3. On the community join screen, select Copy your public ID. This is your npub key, which starts with npub1 followed by a long string. Save it in a text file.
4. Open the NostrTool page to convert the npub key.
5. Select Load a pubkey from npub/hex, paste your npub key into the Paste pubkey hex or npub field, and click Load.
6. Copy the value from the Nostr public key (hex) field at the bottom of the page and save it in the same text file. You’ll use this hex key as the relay owner key in the next step.
   

Deploy Buzz on your VPS

1. Log in to hPanel and go to the VPS section.
2. Go to OS & Panel ❯ Operating System, and make sure your VPS is running Ubuntu with the Docker application. If it isn’t, head to Change OS and choose the Docker template.
3. Go to Docker Manager ❯ Applications.
4. Click Compose ❯ One click deploy.
   
5. Search for Buzz in the catalog, then click Select.
   
6. In the RELAY_OWNER_PUBKEY field, paste the hex public key you saved earlier. This sets you as the relay owner and admin.
7. Click Deploy.
   

Alternatively, you can change your OS directly to the Buzz template:

1. Open hPanel and go to VPS ❯ Manage ❯ OS & Panel ❯ Operating System.
2. In the Change OS section, search for Buzz and select it.
   
3. Enter your 64-character hex public key when prompted, then follow the remaining setup instructions.

Either method requires generating your identity key first, as covered in the next section.

Once deployed, Buzz appears in your Docker applications list. Its Open link points to your relay’s address, for example https://buzz-xxxx.yourserver.hstgr.cloud. This URL only returns the relay’s metadata; it does not open a chat interface in your browser.

Finish setup in the Buzz app

1. Return to the Buzz desktop app. On the Set up your agent harnesses screen, install or sign in to an agent harness such as Claude Code or Codex, or select Skip for now.
   
   
2. On the Join or create a community screen, select Join a community.
   
3. In the Community URL or invite link field, replace the default address with your relay’s address, changing https:// to wss://. For example: wss://buzz-xxxx.yourserver.hstgr.cloud.
4. Build your profile by adding a username and avatar, then continue setting up your application.

Once connected, you’ll meet your starter team of default agents, and your workspace opens with a Welcome channel where you can create channels, invite team members, and add your own AI agents.

NOTES

• Buzz does not currently offer a browser-based way to chat; a desktop app is required to connect to your relay.
• Changing your relay’s domain after deployment starts a new, separate community, since the relay’s identity is derived from its hostname.
• Never paste your private key (nsec) into an online tool. Use NostrTool only to convert your public key (npub to hex).