Step-by-Step SafeLine WAF Setup Using Docker

Keeping your web applications safe from malicious attacks is critical. SafeLine WAF, developed by Chaitin Technology, is a powerful and easy-to-use Web Application Firewall that helps defend your site against a wide range of threats.

In this guide, we’ll walk through how to deploy SafeLine WAF securely using Docker, so your applications stay protected with minimal setup effort.

Step 1: Install Docker

First, make sure Docker is installed on your server. If you don’t already have it, run:

curl -sSL "https://get.docker.com/" | bash

Step 2: Create a SafeLine Directory

Set up a dedicated directory where SafeLine will store its configuration and data:

mkdir -p "/data/safeline"

Step 3: Download the Docker Compose File

Download the latest Docker Compose configuration for SafeLine:

cd "/data/safeline"
wget "https://waf.chaitin.com/release/latest/compose.yaml"

Step 4: Configure Environment Variables

Set the required environment variables. Replace {postgres-password} with your actual PostgreSQL password:

SAFELINE_DIR=/data/safeline
IMAGE_TAG=latest
MGT_PORT=9443
POSTGRES_PASSWORD={postgres-password}
SUBNET_PREFIX=172.22.222
IMAGE_PREFIX=chaitin

Step 5: Launch SafeLine

Start SafeLine with Docker Compose:

docker compose up -d

Step 6: Access the SafeLine Dashboard

Once running, open your browser and go to:

https://<your-server-ip>:9443

Follow the on-screen instructions to log in and complete the initial setup.

Conclusion

With these steps, you’ll have SafeLine WAF deployed and actively protecting your web applications.
Using Docker makes the setup process fast and repeatable, so you can focus on keeping your applications secure — not wrestling with configurations.

For detailed documentation and troubleshooting, check out the official SafeLine docs.
If you run into issues or want to share feedback, join our community on Discord!