How We Self-Hosted ERPNext with Cloudflare Tunnel and Fixed Static Asset Issues

Mradul Mishra

CTO Techsolvo

Table of Contents

At Techsolvo, we recently set up a self-hosted ERPNext instance for a client who preferred not to use public cloud platforms. The goal was to keep the entire ERP system in a private, locally-hosted environment, while still allowing external access through a secure and stable tunnel.

This blog covers our full experience — the challenges, debugging, and final solution that made everything work seamlessly.

The Objective

Self-host ERPNext (latest version) on a local server.
Make it accessible over the internet using a custom domain (erp.xyz.in).
Avoid exposing the local IP directly.
Use Cloudflare Tunnel to securely expose the service.

Key Setup Steps

ERPNext Installation
- We set up ERPNext and HRMS on a fresh site.
- Configured Nginx to serve multiple ports (80 and 8001).
- Linked the custom domain via Cloudflare.
Cloudflare Tunnel Configuration
- Created a named tunnel using:
```
cloudflared tunnel create erpnext-tunnel
```
- Configured the tunnel to forward requests to localhost:8001.
- Mapped the tunnel to our domain using a CNAME record to cfargotunnel.com.
Nginx Configuration
- We ensured public/assets was symlinked properly to ../../assets.
- All static files (CSS, JS, images) were served through the /assets route.
Common Issue: CSS/JS Not Loading
- After running bench build or bench migrate, static assets sometimes failed to load unless the page was hard refreshed.
- This was due to Cloudflare or browser cache serving outdated or missing asset versions.
The Fixes
- Purged Cloudflare cache after every build:
  
  Cloudflare Dashboard → Caching → Purge Everything
- Ensured correct symlinks:
```
ln -sfn ../../assets sites/erp.xyz.in/public/assets
```
- Rebuilt assets cleanly:
```
bench build --force bench clear-cache bench restart
```
Automating the Tunnel
- Ran the tunnel as a system service to ensure it starts on reboot:
```
cloudflared service install
```

Final Result

✅ ERPNext accessible securely via https://erp.xyz.in
✅ No need to open ports to the public internet
✅ Static assets now load consistently across sessions
✅ System reboot-proof thanks to cloudflared service

Why This Matters

For clients who are strict about data privacy and on-premise infrastructure, this setup is ideal. You get all the features of ERPNext without compromising security or depending on a third-party cloud.

At Techsolvo, we believe in offering practical and efficient automation setups — even for complex, hybrid environments.

Need Help with a Similar Setup?

Whether you're looking to:

Set up ERPNext for manufacturing
Integrate eCommerce with ERP
Secure self-hosted apps with Cloudflare

📧 Reach out to us at mradul.mishra@techsolvo.com or visit techsolvo.com/contact-us

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