Deploying applications
This guide walks you through deploying an application from the Clouve marketplace. The whole process typically takes 5 to 15 minutes, and it ends with your application live at its own HTTPS URL.
Before you start
Confirm that:
- You have access to your organization's Clouve account
- Your organization has a workspace set up (if not, contact your Clouve administrator)
- You know which application you want to deploy (see Browsing the marketplace)
- You have the required information ready: administrator email, preferred admin username, and any configuration specific to your organization
The deployment process
Deploying an application has three stages:
Stage 1: Choose and configure (you do this) ~5 minutes
Stage 2: Platform provisioning (automatic) ~3-10 minutes
Stage 3: Application ready Immediate
Stage 1: Configure your deployment
Step 1: Open the application listing
Find your application in the marketplace and click Deploy.
Step 2: Choose your target workspace
If your organization has more than one workspace (for example, a development environment and a production environment), select where you want to deploy. If you only have one workspace, it will be pre-selected.
Step 3: Fill in the configuration form
The form varies by application, but typically includes:
Application credentials
Most applications ask you to set up an administrator account:
| Field | What it is | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Admin Username | Your login username for the application | Choose something you'll remember |
| Admin Password | Your login password | Use a strong, unique password |
| Admin Email | Email address for the admin account | Use a real, monitored email |
Security tip: Use a password manager to generate and store a strong password. Application passwords are not recoverable by the Clouve platform. If you lose your admin password, you will need to reset it inside the application itself.
Application settings
Some applications have additional settings that vary by organization:
| Field | Example applications | What to enter |
|---|---|---|
| Site Name / Title | WordPress, Moodle | Your organization's name or project name |
| Admin Email | Most applications | An email address that receives admin notifications |
| Organization Name | SuiteCRM, Odoo | Your organization's legal or display name |
| Language | Moodle, Odoo | Select your preferred language |
| Time Zone | Moodle, Odoo | Your organization's time zone |
Fill in every required field (marked with an asterisk *). Optional fields have sensible defaults; you can leave them alone and change them later from inside the application.
Step 4: Review and confirm
- Review the settings you entered
- Confirm the target workspace is correct
- Click Deploy
Stage 2: Platform provisioning
After you click Deploy, the platform sets up your application on its own:
Platform provisions your deployment:
1. Creates your isolated environment (Kubernetes namespace)
2. Creates encrypted storage for your passwords and secrets
3. Assigns and configures your HTTPS domain
4. Pulls the application images from the registry
5. Starts all application containers (database, app, etc.)
6. Waits for health checks to confirm everything is running
7. Configures your application URL
A progress indicator on the dashboard tracks this process. The status moves through:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Provisioning | Infrastructure is being set up |
| Starting | Containers are starting; waiting for health checks |
| Running | Application is live and healthy |
| Failed | Something went wrong (see troubleshooting below) |
Most applications are ready within 5 to 10 minutes. Applications with complex initialization, like Moodle or Odoo, can take up to 15 minutes on first start.
Stage 3: Accessing your application
When the status shows Running, your application is live. You'll see:
- Application URL: the HTTPS address where you can access the app (e.g.,
https://mycompany.clouve.dev) - Login credentials: a summary of the admin credentials you set
Click the URL to open your application and log in with the credentials you set during deployment.
What to do after deployment
First login
- Open your application URL
- Log in with your admin credentials
- Complete any first-run setup wizard the application presents (some apps, like Moodle, have additional setup steps after initial deployment)
- Invite other users and configure access permissions
Configure the application
Most business applications have their own settings panels. Configure them from inside the application according to your organization's needs:
- Set up user accounts and roles
- Import existing data
- Configure integrations with other tools
- Apply your organization's branding
The application behaves the same as if you had installed it yourself. Clouve handles the infrastructure; the application itself is yours to configure.
Deploying multiple environments
For important applications, consider deploying to two workspaces:
- Development/staging: a test environment where you try new configurations and updates before applying them to production
- Production: the live environment your team uses daily
This lets you validate changes before they reach your real workflows. Contact your Clouve administrator to set up additional workspaces.
Deploying a bundle
Bundles deploy like single applications, with one difference: you may need to configure settings for each app in the bundle.
For example, deploying an "Education Kit" bundle might ask you to configure:
- Moodle admin credentials and site name
- Gibbon admin credentials and school name
After deployment, you receive a separate URL for each app:
https://myschool.clouve.dev→ Moodlehttps://gibbon.myschool.clouve.dev→ Gibbon
Troubleshooting deployment issues
Deployment status shows "Failed"
Something went wrong during provisioning. Common causes:
Configuration error: required fields were left empty or filled in incorrectly. Review the deployment form and try again with corrected values.
Temporary platform issue: the platform may have had a brief outage. Wait a few minutes and try again. If the problem persists, contact support.
Resource availability: your workspace may not have enough resources. Contact your Clouve administrator.
Application URL doesn't load
If the deployment shows "Running" but the URL doesn't load:
- Wait a few more minutes. DNS propagation can take up to 5 minutes after the application is marked as running.
- Clear your browser cache and refresh.
- Check that you are using the exact URL from the dashboard, including
https://.
If the URL still doesn't load after 10 minutes, contact support.
Application loads but login fails
If you can reach the application but can't log in with the credentials you set:
- Check for typos in the username and password
- Make sure you're using the correct username format (some apps use email, others use a username)
- If you're certain the credentials are correct and login still fails, the application may need a few more minutes to fully initialize
If none of these resolve the issue, see Support →.
Next steps
- Configuration options →: customize your deployment settings
- Managing deployments →: day-to-day management and lifecycle