> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.netmap.dev/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.netmap.dev/troubleshooting/installation-problems.md).

# Installation Problems

## Container exits immediately

Likely causes: missing production secrets, placeholder secrets, invalid Fernet `MASTER_KEY`, unwritable `DATA_DIR`, invalid retention values.

Confirm:

```bash
docker compose logs --tail=200 netmap
```

Fix the reported environment variable and restart.

## Health Check Fails

Confirm the configured web port and health endpoint:

```bash
docker compose config | grep APP_PORT
curl --fail http://127.0.0.1:8080/api/health
```

If `APP_PORT` is not `8080`, use the configured port.

## Data Directory Permission Failure

Confirm:

```bash
ls -ld <install-dir>/data
docker compose logs netmap | grep -i permission
```

Fix ownership to match `PUID`/`PGID`:

```bash
sudo chown -R 1000:1000 <install-dir>/data
docker compose up -d
```

## Invalid Production Secrets

Production rejects missing or placeholder `SECRET_KEY` and `MASTER_KEY` values. Generate real values:

```bash
python3 -c "import secrets; print(secrets.token_urlsafe(32))"
python3 -c "from cryptography.fernet import Fernet; print(Fernet.generate_key().decode())"
```

## Related Pages

* [Quick Start](/installation/quick-start.md)
* [Storage](/configuration/storage.md)
* [Secrets Management](/security/secrets-management.md)


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.netmap.dev/troubleshooting/installation-problems.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.