# Zela > Zela is an open-source, self-hosted Docker cluster management platform written in Go by NEXUS AI. Zela manages container deployments, Linux workers, optional encrypted networking, monitoring, and access through a browser dashboard, CLI, REST API, and MCP tools. Licensed under Apache 2.0. Hosting and third-party services have their own costs. Demo workers are simulated. Live workers require Linux and Docker. Container moves do not copy application volumes or database files. MCP management credentials can change workloads; read credentials support inspection. The documentation is a snapshot. Consult the linked upstream source for current project behavior. ## Website - [Open-source Docker cluster management](https://zela.nexusai.run/): Zela is the open-source Docker cluster platform by NEXUS AI. Deploy, connect, observe, and manage your infrastructure from a dashboard, CLI, or AI assistant. - [Docker deployment, networking & monitoring](https://zela.nexusai.run/features/): Explore Zela worker provisioning, deployment, encrypted networking, monitoring, MCP, Docker gateway, security, and high availability. - [Why we build in Go](https://zela.nexusai.run/why-go/): Why Go fits Zela: native binaries, concurrent worker communication, a strong standard library, and approachable operations. - [Built by NEXUS AI](https://zela.nexusai.run/about/): Meet Zela, the open-source infrastructure project by NEXUS AI. Self-host your cluster and help shape what comes next. - [Sitemap](https://zela.nexusai.run/sitemap/): Browse every Zela page: platform features, project information, and complete setup, deployment, networking, security, API, and MCP documentation. ## Documentation - [Getting started](https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/getting-started/): Choose Demo or Live mode, start the manager, and sign in. Markdown: https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/getting-started/index.md - [Browser management](https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/console-guide/): Connect your first worker, deploy a website, and manage it in the dashboard. Markdown: https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/console-guide/index.md - [Plain-language glossary](https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/glossary/): Learn the words you will see in Zela, without the jargon. Markdown: https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/glossary/index.md - [Installation](https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/installation/): Install services, configure PostgreSQL, and connect Linux workers. Markdown: https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/installation/index.md - [Networking](https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/networking/): Configure the mesh, worker networks, service names, and application routes. Markdown: https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/networking/index.md - [Operations & recovery](https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/operations/): Back up, upgrade, maintain workers, and investigate failures. Markdown: https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/operations/index.md - [Security & access](https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/security/): Protect credentials, SSH identities, transport, and integration access. Markdown: https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/security/index.md - [High availability](https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/high-availability/): Run active/standby managers with PostgreSQL and readiness-aware routing. Markdown: https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/high-availability/index.md - [AI assistants & MCP](https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/mcp/): Connect cloud or local assistants with read or management permissions. Markdown: https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/mcp/index.md - [Command-line interface](https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/cli/): Use profiles, verified TLS, JSON output, and remote administration. Markdown: https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/cli/index.md - [Architecture](https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/architecture/): Understand managers, workers, state, and how the pieces connect. Markdown: https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/architecture/index.md - [Configuration reference](https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/configuration/): Look up flags, environment variables, files, and defaults. Markdown: https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/configuration/index.md - [Administrator & API reference](https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/admin-reference/): Read detailed gateway, provisioning, storage, and API behavior. Markdown: https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/admin-reference/index.md - [Contributing](https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/contributing/): Build, test, and contribute improvements to the project. Markdown: https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/contributing/index.md - [Report a vulnerability](https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/security-policy/): Follow the project’s security reporting policy. Markdown: https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/security-policy/index.md - [Deployment files](https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/deployment-files/): Find systemd and HAProxy templates for your installation. Markdown: https://zela.nexusai.run/docs/deployment-files/index.md ## Project sources - [Source code](https://github.com/nexusrun/zela) - [NEXUS AI](https://nexusai.run/) - [XML sitemap](https://zela.nexusai.run/sitemap.xml) - [Complete reading copy](https://zela.nexusai.run/llms-full.txt)