# Matrix (An open network for secure, decentralized communication) server setup using Ansible and Docker
## Purpose
This Ansible playbook is meant to easily let you run your own [Matrix](http://matrix.org/) homeserver.
That is, it lets you join the Matrix network with your own `@<username>:<your-domain>` identifier, all hosted on your own server.
Using this playbook, you can get the following services configured on your server:
- a [Matrix Synapse](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse) homeserver - storing your data and managing your presence in the [Matrix](http://matrix.org/) network
- (optional) [Amazon S3](https://aws.amazon.com/s3/) storage for your Matrix Synapse's content repository (`media_store`) files using [Goofys](https://github.com/kahing/goofys)
- (optional default) [PostgreSQL](https://www.postgresql.org/) database for Matrix Synapse. [Using an external PostgreSQL server](configuring-playbook-external-postgres.md) is also possible.
- (optional default) a [Postfix](http://www.postfix.org/) mail server, through which all Matrix services send outgoing email (can be configured to relay through another SMTP server)
- (optional default) an [nginx](http://nginx.org/) web server, listening on ports 80 and 443 - standing in front of all the other services. Using your own webserver [is possible](#using-your-own-webserver-instead-of-this-playbooks-nginx-proxy-optional)
- this one **doesn't necessarily take over** ports 80 and 443. By default, it sets up nginx for you there, but you can also [use your own webserver](docs/configuring-playbook-own-webserver.md)
- this one **runs everything in Docker containers**, so it's likely more predictable and less fragile (see [Docker images used by this playbook](#docker-images-used-by-this-playbook))
- this one optionally can store the `media_store` content repository files on [Amazon S3](https://aws.amazon.com/s3/) (but defaults to storing files on the server's filesystem)
- [postgres](https://hub.docker.com/_/postgres/) - the [Postgres](https://www.postgresql.org/) database server (optional)
- [cloudproto/goofys](https://hub.docker.com/r/cloudproto/goofys/) - the [Goofys](https://github.com/kahing/goofys) Amazon [S3](https://aws.amazon.com/s3/) file-system-mounting program (optional)