Migrating from other panels

This comprehensive guide walks you through migrating to Pyrodactyl, whether you use Docker or run your panel natively.

For Pyrodactyl-specific issues, please use Pyrodactyl GitHub Discussions instead of Pterodactyl or Pelican support channels.

Migrating from Pterodactyl (Docker)

Always make sure you take a backup of your Pterodactyl database and other relevant data.

If you already have Pterodactyl running in Docker, simply update your panel image in your docker-compose.yml file:

-image: ghcr.io/pterodactyl/panel:latest
+image: ghcr.io/pyrohost/pyrodactyl:main

Swapping between Pyrodactyl and Pterodactyl is unsupported and can cause data loss. Pyrodactyl makes changes to the database schema, making it unlikely Pterodactyl will function correctly. If you care about the validity of your database, make a backup before swapping back to Pterodactyl.

Migrating from Pterodactyl (Native -> Docker)

Prerequisites

Linux system with root access
Docker Engine and Docker Compose installed
Docker expertise and basic system administration skills
Consider Portainer for easier Docker management
Avoid using Snap-based Docker installations on Ubuntu
Enable Docker auto-start on boot

Pyrodactyl Installation

Create a new folder (e.g. pyrodactyl-panel) on your server in a safe location, and switch to it.
Download and configure the docker-compose.example.yml
Modify placeholder variables under x-common
If you are using builtin HTTPS, add port 443 (to the ports section under the panel container) and set the LE_EMAIL variable (in the panel section under x-common) to a registered Let's Encrypt email address.
Copy the following environment variables from your Pterodactyl .env to your docker-compose.yml:
APP_KEY APP_URL DB_CONNECTION DB_HOST DB_PORT DB_DATABASE DB_USERNAME DB_PASSWORD HASHIDS_SALT HASHIDS_LENGTH (if it's not 8)
The following are only applicable if email is set up:
MAIL_MAILER MAIL_HOST MAIL_PORT MAIL_USERNAME MAIL_PASSWORD MAIL_ENCRYPTION MAIL_FROM_ADDRESS MAIL_FROM_NAME APP_SERVICE_AUTHOR MAIL_DRIVER
If your database is running on the same machine as your panel, set it to listen on the IP 172.17.0.1, and change the DB_HOST environment variable to 172.17.0.1.
Rename docker-compose.example.yml to docker-compose.yml
Run the following command to start the panel:
docker compose up -d

Your panel is now running! You can access it at the same URL as before, and use the same user accounts.

Migrating from Pterodactyl (Native)

The latest NodeJS LTS is required to be installed to migrate without Docker.

Simply follow the manual Pterodactyl updating guide.

However, on the Download the Update step, use these commands instead:

git clone https://github.com/pyrohost/pyrodactyl.git /var/www/pterodactyl --depth=2
npm ci && npm run ship
chmod -R 755 storage/* bootstrap/cache/