The Complete Guide to Self-Hosting Snipe-IT: The Open-Source IT Asset Management Tool That Replaces JAMF and Snipe-IT Cloud

mkdir -p ~/snipe-it && cd ~/snipe-it

version: '3.8'

services:
  snipeit-db:
    image: mysql:8.0
    container_name: snipeit-db
    environment:
      MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD: rootpassword123
      MYSQL_DATABASE: snipeit
      MYSQL_USER: snipeit
      MYSQL_PASSWORD: snipeit_password_456
    volumes:
      - db-data:/var/lib/mysql
    restart: always
    healthcheck:
      test: ["CMD", "mysqladmin", "ping", "-h", "localhost"]
      interval: 10s
      timeout: 5s
      retries: 5

  snipeit:
    image: snipe/snipe-it:latest
    container_name: snipe-it
    ports:
      - "8080:80"
    environment:
      # Database config
      DB_HOST: snipeit-db
      DB_DATABASE: snipeit
      DB_USERNAME: snipeit
      DB_PASSWORD: snipeit_password_456
      # App config
      APP_KEY: base64:CHANGE_ME_GENERATE_KEY
      APP_ENV: production
      APP_DEBUG: false
      APP_URL: http://localhost:8080
      APP_TIMEZONE: Asia/Shanghai
      APP_LOCALE: en
      # Email config (optional)
      MAIL_PORT_587_TCP_ADDR: smtp.example.com
      MAIL_PORT_587_TCP_PORT: 587
      MAIL_ENV_FROM_ADDR: admin@yourcompany.com
      MAIL_ENV_FROM_NAME: Snipe-IT Admin
      MAIL_ENV_ENCRYPTION: tls
      MAIL_ENV_USERNAME: admin@yourcompany.com
      MAIL_ENV_PASSWORD: your-email-password
    depends_on:
      snipeit-db:
        condition: service_healthy
    volumes:
      - snipeit-images:/var/lib/snipeit
    restart: always

volumes:
  db-data:
  snipeit-images:

# Spin up a temporary container to generate the key
docker run --rm snipe/snipe-it:latest php artisan key:generate --show

# Output looks like: base64:abcdef1234567890...
# Replace the APP_KEY value in docker-compose.yml with this output

docker compose up -d

# Check the logs to confirm everything started
docker compose logs -f snipeit

Asset Name: MacBook Pro 14" M3
Asset Tag: MBP-2026-001     ← This is the unique identifier; use a consistent naming scheme
Category: Laptops
Status: Ready to Deploy
Location: HQ Office
Purchase Date: 2026-03-15
Purchase Cost: $1,999
Supplier: Apple Store
Warranty Expires: 2029-03-15
Model: MacBook Pro 14-inch M3 Pro
Serial Number: C02XXXXX

Assign to: User (must be created in People first)
Expected Check-In Date: 2027-03-15 (optional)
Note: For the new R&D project
Send notification email: ✓

Name: 3-Year Straight-Line (Computers)
Months: 36 (3 years)
Depreciation Type: Straight-Line

Name: Microsoft 365 Business
License Key: XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX
Total Seats: 25
Assigned: 18
Purchase Date: 2026-01-01
Expiration Date: 2027-01-01
Supplier: Microsoft
Purchase Cost: $149/user/year

# Via Admin → Custom Fields
Field Name       Type          Format
CPU Model        Text
RAM Size         Text
Operating System Dropdown      macOS, Windows, Linux
Department       Dropdown      Engineering, Product, Design
LAN IP Address   Text          ^\d{1,3}\.\d{1,3}\.\d{1,3}\.\d{1,3}$

curl -X GET "https://snipeit.yourcompany.com/api/v1/hardware" \
  -H "Accept: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN"

curl -X POST "https://snipeit.yourcompany.com/api/v1/hardware" \
  -H "Accept: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "name": "Dell XPS 15",
    "asset_tag": "DELL-2026-001",
    "model_id": 3,
    "status_id": 1,
    "rtd_location_id": 1,
    "purchase_date": "2026-07-30",
    "purchase_cost": "9999.00",
    "serial": "SN123456789"
  }'

#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""Auto-create IT asset records for new employee onboarding"""

import requests

SNIPE_URL = "https://snipeit.yourcompany.com/api/v1"
API_TOKEN = "YOUR_API_TOKEN"

def onboard_employee(name, email, asset_tag, model_id=1):
    """Assign a laptop to a new employee"""
    headers = {
        "Accept": "application/json",
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {API_TOKEN}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    }

    # 1. Create user
    user = requests.post(f"{SNIPE_URL}/users", headers=headers, json={
        "first_name": name.split()[0],
        "last_name": name.split()[-1],
        "username": email.split("@")[0],
        "email": email,
    })

    if user.status_code != 200:
        print(f"Failed to create user: {user.text}")
        return

    user_id = user.json()["payload"]["id"]

    # 2. Check out asset
    checkout = requests.post(
        f"{SNIPE_URL}/hardware/{asset_tag}/checkout",
        headers=headers,
        json={"assigned_user": user_id}
    )

    if checkout.status_code == 200:
        print(f"✅ {name} has been assigned asset {asset_tag}")
    else:
        print(f"❌ Asset assignment failed: {checkout.text}")

# Usage example
onboard_employee("John Doe", "john@company.com", "MBP-2026-015")

# Export the database
docker exec snipeit-db mysqldump -u snipeit -psnipeit_password_456 snipeit > \
  ~/backup/snipeit-$(date +%Y%m%d).sql

# Export the persistent data volume
tar czf ~/backup/snipeit-images-$(date +%Y%m%d).tar.gz \
  /var/lib/docker/volumes/snipe-it_snipeit-images/

cd ~/snipe-it

# Pull the latest image
docker compose pull snipeit

# Recreate the container
docker compose up -d snipeit

# Check the version
docker exec snipe-it php artisan snipeit:version