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Initial Setup

After deploying GeoPulse, you may want to configure system-wide settings that affect all users. This section provides a guided overview of the most important configuration areas, including authentication, geocoding, data processing, AI integration, and UI behavior.

Many settings can be managed through the Admin Panel web interface once you have an administrator account.


What to Configure Next

Depending on your environment and the features you want to enable, review the following configuration areas.


Authentication & Security

Admin Panel & First Administrator

Promote your first user to administrator to access the Admin Panel for managing users, OIDC providers, and system settings. ➡️ Admin Panel

Authentication Options

Configure authentication cookies behavior. ➡️ Authentication

User Registration

Control whether new users can register via email/password or OIDC.
➡️ User Registration

OIDC Single Sign-On

Enable login via Keycloak, Auth0, Azure AD, or any OpenID Connect identity provider.
➡️ OIDC / SSO


Location & Mapping

Reverse Geocoding

Configure providers such as Nominatim or Photon for converting GPS coordinates into place names. This is optional, by default Nominatim is used for reverse geocoding.
➡️ Reverse Geocoding

GPS Data Filtering

Adjust smoothing, noise reduction, accuracy filtering, and other GPS processing options. This is optional, each user can customize their own settings via UI.
➡️ GPS Data Filtering


AI & Automation

AI Assistant

Optionally configure AI encryption key that will be used to encrypt AI settings in DB. GeoPulse creates this key automatically during initial setup.
➡️ AI Assistant Configuration


User Experience

Frontend Nginx Settings

Set global options like Max Upload File Size, OSM Resolver DNS Servers.
➡️ Frontend Settings

Location Sharing

Override default base URL for sharing links.
➡️ Location Sharing


GPS Source Integrations

OwnTracks Additional Configuration

Fine-tune how OwnTracks payloads are processed beyond the default supported settings.
➡️ OwnTracks Advanced Configuration


  1. Deploy GeoPulse (Docker Compose / Kubernetes / Helm).
  2. Set GEOPULSE_ADMIN_EMAIL to your email address to become the first administrator.
  3. Configure Authentication cookies and optionally OIDC/SSO and User Registration settings.
  4. Configure Reverse Geocoding for place names.
  5. Create your first user and log in.
  6. Access the Admin Panel at /app/admin to manage users and settings via UI.