Running a web application firewall on a Raspberry Pi begins with compatibility, not installation. The official SafeLine deployment guide lists Linux, x86_64 or arm64 instruction architecture, Docker 20.10.14 or newer, Docker Compose 2.0.0 or newer, at least one CPU core, 1 GB of memory, 5 GB of disk space, and the ssse3 CPU instruction as minimum requirements (official deployment guide). Check the exact Raspberry Pi operating system, architecture, CPU instructions, storage, and Docker versions before making a deployment decision.
There is also an edition requirement that matters for ARM systems. The official guide says that an ARM deployment requires a Pro license and that the Personal Edition is not supported on ARM. It also instructs ARM users to set ARCH_SUFFIX=-arm in the environment file. This means a Raspberry Pi should be treated as a compatibility candidate rather than an automatically supported target. Confirm that the specific board and operating system satisfy every documented requirement and that the required license is available.
Start by collecting the values SafeLine’s guide recommends checking:
uname -m
docker version
docker compose version
cat /proc/cpuinfo | grep "processor"
free -h
df -h
lscpu | grep ssse3
If the results match the documented requirements, the manual deployment sequence is the clearest checklist. Install Docker if necessary using the command in the official guide, create the data directory, download the Compose file, and create the environment file:
curl -sSL "https://get.docker.com/" | bash
mkdir -p "/data/safeline"
cd "/data/safeline"
wget "https://waf.chaitin.com/release/latest/compose.yaml"
touch ".env"
The .env file must contain the variables documented by SafeLine, including SAFELINE_DIR=/data/safeline, IMAGE_TAG=latest, MGT_PORT=9443, a PostgreSQL password, and the ARM setting ARCH_SUFFIX=-arm. The guide also documents SUBNET_PREFIX, IMAGE_PREFIX, RELEASE, REGION, and MGT_PROXY; copy those values from the official instructions rather than improvising them. Replace {postgres-password} with a suitable database initialization password.
Launch the service from the SafeLine directory with docker compose up -d. The guide says startup may take several minutes. When it is ready, open https://<safeline-ip>:9443/, run docker exec safeline-mgt resetadmin, and use the generated administrator credentials to sign in. Keep those credentials available during the first login.
Installation alone does not protect an application. SafeLine works as an HTTP/HTTPS reverse proxy: it receives traffic for the original application, filters malicious requests, and forwards safe traffic upstream (official application guide). In the Web Admin Console, add an application with its domain, listening port, SSL selection when applicable, and upstream address. Then point the domain to the SafeLine server so requests pass through the proxy.
Is every Raspberry Pi supported?
The supplied deployment documentation lists arm64 as a supported instruction architecture, but it also requires ssse3 and states that ARM deployments need a Pro license. Verify the individual device against all documented requirements before proceeding.
Which installation method should I use?
The official guide recommends automatic deployment, but its manual deployment section exposes the ARM-specific environment setting. For a Raspberry Pi evaluation, the manual checklist can make configuration review easier. Use only the commands and values from the official deployment guide.
How do I confirm that protection is active?
After configuring an application and resolving its domain to the SafeLine server, inspect the Web Admin Console. The application guide describes checking the attack list after a blocked request. Test only an application you own or are authorized to assess.
How can I remove the installation?
From the SafeLine directory, run docker compose down. If you are certain the data is no longer needed, the official guide documents removing the SafeLine directory with rm -rf <safeline-directory>.
If you are evaluating SafeLine on a Raspberry Pi, compare your hardware and license against the official checklist first, then consult the project and documentation for current deployment details: https://github.com/chaitin/SafeLine and https://docs.waf.chaitin.com/en/home
SafeLine has surpassed 700,000 installations worldwide as of September 30, 2026. To celebrate, SafeLine Pro annual promotional pricing is $650-$880, compared with the regular $1,000 per year. See the offer details: https://cyberserval.tech/landing/lto
