Comentario Self-Hosted Comment Server

This is a repackaged open source software product wherein additional charges apply for cloudimg support services.

## Why This AMI Instead of a Manual Install?

Setting up a self-hosted comment server from scratch means provisioning PostgreSQL, hardening credentials, running database migrations, wiring a system service to bind port 80, and troubleshooting dependency conflicts. This AMI eliminates all of that. You get a production-ready, privacy-focused commenting platform running on your own infrastructure with unique credentials generated automatically on first boot - no shared or default passwords ever ship in the image.

Compared to hosted commenting services like Disqus, you keep full control of your readers' comments and data instead of handing them to a third party. Compared to other Marketplace images, this stack is hardened by default and backed by 24/7 expert support from cloudimg.

## Application Stack

• Comentario - fast, flexible, privacy-focused open source comment server, a self-hosted alternative to hosted commenting services
• PostgreSQL - datastore for users, domains, pages, and comments
• A single Go service serves both the embeddable comments widget and the Angular administration UI directly, with the database bound to the loopback interface for security
• The PostgreSQL datadir lives on a dedicated, independently resizable EBS volume

## Secure by Default - Privacy and Data Control

On first boot, a one-shot service recreates an empty database, runs migrations, rotates the PostgreSQL password to a unique per-instance value, and creates an instance owner and administrator account through Comentario's own signup flow with a strong per-instance password. Credentials are written to a root-only file - no manual hardening steps required. This eliminates the risk of shared default credentials found in many community images.

Because Comentario does not track readers and all data resides entirely within your AWS account, you maintain complete data residency control. This architecture supports organizations working toward GDPR alignment by ensuring comment data never leaves your chosen AWS region and no third-party analytics or tracking scripts are injected into the widget.

## Ready To Use

1. Launch the AMI from AWS Marketplace.

2. SSH into your instance and retrieve the owner credentials from the root-only file.

3. Navigate to your instance's public IP in a browser and sign in to the administration UI.

4. Add your first domain, copy the embed snippet into your website, and start moderating comments.

Comentario supports Markdown, threaded replies, voting, moderation, multiple sign-in options, and an API for automation.

## Example Use Cases

• Blogger or publisher: Add fast, self-hosted comments to a blog or publication and keep your readers' discussions and data on your own infrastructure.
• Documentation site: Drop a lightweight comments widget onto documentation pages so readers can ask questions and leave feedback in context.
• Team running multiple sites: Moderate threaded discussions across several domains from one administration console, with per-domain settings and roles.

## Key Features

• Embeddable comments widget you drop into any site with a snippet of HTML
• Full administration UI for domains, pages, users, moderation, and comment threads
• Privacy-focused: does not track readers and stores no third-party cookies
• Markdown, threaded replies, voting, and moderation
• Multiple sign-in options and an API for automation
• Dedicated EBS volume for PostgreSQL data - resize storage independently of compute

## cloudimg Support

24/7 technical support by email and live chat covers deployment, configuration, integrations, upgrades, TLS termination, and database administration. Critical issues receive a one-hour average response time.

Ready to get started? Launch the AMI and have your private comment server running in minutes. For a guided deployment walkthrough, reach out to cloudimg support directly.

Comentario is a trademark of its respective owner. All product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.