Web-svc-collabora Role¶

Description: Self-hosted online office backend for real-time in-browser editing of documents, spreadsheets, and presentations

Variables¶

author: Kevin Veen-Birkenbach
description: Self-hosted online office backend for real-time in-browser editing of documents, spreadsheets, and presentations
license: Infinito.Nexus Community License (Non-Commercial)
company: Kevin Veen-Birkenbach https://www.veen.world
min_ansible_version: 2.9
platforms: [{‘name’: ‘ArchLinux’, ‘versions’: [‘all’]}, {‘name’: ‘Debian’, ‘versions’: [‘all’]}, {‘name’: ‘EL’, ‘versions’: [‘all’]}, {‘name’: ‘Fedora’, ‘versions’: [‘all’]}, {‘name’: ‘Ubuntu’, ‘versions’: [‘all’]}]
galaxy_tags: [‘collabora’, ‘docker’, ‘nginx’, ‘office’, ‘wopi’, ‘code’]
issue_tracker_url: https://s.infinito.nexus/issues

README¶

Collabora¶

Description¶

This Ansible role deploys Collabora Online (CODE) in Docker to enable real-time, in-browser document editing for Nextcloud. It automates the setup of the Collabora CODE container, NGINX reverse proxy configuration, network isolation via Docker networks, and environment variable management.

Overview¶

Dockerized Collabora CODE: Uses the official collabora/code image.
NGINX Reverse Proxy: Configures a public-facing proxy with TLS termination and WebSocket support for /cool/ paths.
Docker Network Management: Creates an isolated /28 subnet for Collabora and connects containers securely.
Environment Configuration: Generates a .env file that names the Nextcloud origin as the only allowed WOPI host (aliasgroup1) and passes the extra parameters to coolwsd.

Cosmos¶

The diagram places Collabora in the Infinito.Nexus cosmos: the components it deploys (capabilities), the central services it consumes (dependencies), and its outward reach (federation and bridged external networks).

flowchart LR
    subgraph deps [Dependencies]
        dep_svc_db_redis["svc-db-redis 🐳🐝"]
        dep_svc_net_tor["svc-net-tor 🐳🐝"]
        dep_web_app_matomo["web-app-matomo 🐳🐝"]
        dep_web_app_prometheus["web-app-prometheus 🐳🐝"]
    end
    subgraph role [web-svc-collabora 🐳🐝]
        svc_matomo["matomo"]
        svc_redis["redis"]
        svc_collabora["collabora"]
        svc_prometheus["prometheus"]
        svc_tor["tor"]
    end
    subgraph dependents [Dependents]
        dpt_web_app_bigbluebutton["web-app-bigbluebutton 🐳🐝"]
        dpt_web_app_nextcloud["web-app-nextcloud 🐳🐝"]
    end
    dep_svc_db_redis -. "0..1" .-> svc_redis
    dep_svc_net_tor -. "0..1" .-> svc_tor
    dep_web_app_matomo -. "0..1" .-> svc_matomo
    dep_web_app_prometheus -. "0..1" .-> svc_prometheus
    svc_matomo -. "0..1" .-> dpt_web_app_bigbluebutton
    svc_matomo -. "0..1" .-> dpt_web_app_nextcloud

Solid 1:1 edges are fixed relationships; dashed 0..1 edges are conditional (enabled only in matching deployments); red 0..0 edges are turned off in this role. Node markers show the role’s deploy modes (💻 host, 🐳 compose, 🐝 swarm); ❌ marks a service that is explicitly turned off, and ⚙️ an Ansible role dependency declared in meta/main.yml.

Features¶

Automatic creation of a dedicated Docker network for Collabora.
Proxy configuration template for NGINX with long timeouts and WebSocket upgrades.
Customizable domain names and ports via Ansible variables.
Support for SSL termination at the proxy level.
Integration hooks to restart NGINX and recreate Docker Compose stacks on changes.

Quick Setup¶

Development¶

Clone, set up the workstation, and deploy Collabora onto the local stack:

git clone https://github.com/infinito-nexus/core.git
cd core
make onboard
make compose-deploy mode=reinstall apps=web-svc-collabora full_cycle=false

Production¶

Run the published image to provision the inventory and deploy Collabora to a managed server (the mounted volume persists the inventory):

APP=web-svc-collabora
HOST=<your-server>
DOMAIN=<your-domain>
TLS_MODE=self_signed
SSH_PUBLIC_KEY="<your-ssh-public-key>"

docker run --rm -it \
  -v "$PWD/inventories:/etc/infinito.nexus/inventories" \
  -e APP="$APP" -e HOST="$HOST" -e DOMAIN="$DOMAIN" -e TLS_MODE="$TLS_MODE" -e SSH_PUBLIC_KEY="$SSH_PUBLIC_KEY" \
  ghcr.io/infinito-nexus/core/debian bash -c '
    INVENTORY=/etc/infinito.nexus/inventories/production
    infinito administration inventory provision "$INVENTORY" \
      --inventory-file "$INVENTORY/devices.yml" \
      --host "$HOST" \
      --include "$APP" \
      --vars "{\"TLS_MODE\": \"$TLS_MODE\", \"DOMAIN_PRIMARY\": \"$DOMAIN\", \"users\": {\"administrator\": {\"authorized_keys\": [\"$SSH_PUBLIC_KEY\"]}}}" &&
    infinito administration deploy dedicated "$INVENTORY/devices.yml" \
      --password-file "$INVENTORY/.password" \
      --diff -vv'

Further Resources¶

Official Collabora CODE website

Credits¶

Implemented by Kevin Veen-Birkenbach. Part of the Infinito.Nexus Project and maintained by Kevin Veen-Birkenbach. Licensed under the Infinito.Nexus Community License (Non-Commercial).