Getting Started

Last updated: Jan 15, 2025 • Read time: ~8 minutes

Welcome to GeoServer. This guide will walk you through installing, configuring, and running your first geospatial server instance. By the end, you'll have a fully functional WMS/WFS service ready to serve map layers.

💡 Tip

If you're new to geospatial standards, we recommend reviewing the OGC Overview before proceeding.

Prerequisites

Before installing GeoServer, ensure your environment meets the following requirements:

Java: JDK 11 or 17 (OpenJDK recommended)
Memory: Minimum 2GB RAM (4GB+ recommended for production)
Network: Open ports 8080 (HTTP) and 8443 (HTTPS)
OS: Linux, macOS, or Windows (Linux preferred for servers)

⚠️ Warning

GeoServer does not support Java 8 or lower. Using unsupported versions will result in runtime errors.

Installation

Using Package Manager (Linux)

For Debian/Ubuntu systems, add the official repository and install via apt:

                    bash
                    Terminal
                
# Add repository key
curl -fsSL https://deb.geoserver.org/key.gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/geoserver-archive-keyring.gpg

# Add repository
echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/geoserver-archive-keyring.gpg] https://deb.geoserver.org stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/geoserver.list

# Install
sudo apt update
sudo apt install geoserver

Standalone Distribution

Download the binary distribution from the official releases page, extract it, and run the startup script:

                    bash
                    Terminal
                
wget https://sourceforge.net/projects/geoserver/files/latest/geoserver-2.25.0-bin.zip
unzip geoserver-2.25.0-bin.zip
cd geoserver-2.25.0/bin
./startup.sh

Initial Configuration

Once the server starts, access the administration console at:

URL
http://localhost:8080/geoserver/web/

Log in with default credentials: admin / geoserver
Change the default password immediately under Security → Users, Groups, Roles
Navigate to Data → Workspaces and create your first workspace
Add a Data Store pointing to your PostGIS, GeoPackage, or Shapefile

🔐 Security Note

Never expose GeoServer to the public internet without configuring HTTPS, authentication, and CORS settings.

Verify Installation

Test your WMS endpoint using curl or a browser:

                    bash
                    Terminal
                
curl "http://localhost:8080/geoserver/ows?service=WMS&version=1.1.1&request=GetCapabilities"

A successful response returns XML containing your server metadata, supported operations, and available layers.

Next Steps

Now that your server is running, explore these topics:

← Previous

Overview

Installation Methods