> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.kombify.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Get your first kombify.me address

> Step by step: pick a name, point it at your service and switch it on

This guide walks you through your first `kombify.me` address, from choosing a
name to opening it in a browser.

<Warning>
  kombify.me is Alpha software. Names and error messages can still change.
</Warning>

## What you get

An address has two levels:

* A **base name** for your home server, for example `mylab-u8f3k2.kombify.me`.
* A **service name** for each app on it, for example
  `mylab-u8f3k2-grafana.kombify.me`.

kombify.me builds these names for you. You choose the home server name and the
app name. kombify.me adds the rest.

| Account type | Base name looks like |
| - | - |
| kombify account | `{your name}-{short id}.kombify.me` |
| Self-hosted | `sh-{your name}-{device code}.kombify.me` |

Good to know:

* Names use lowercase letters, numbers and hyphens, up to 63 characters.
* An app name can be up to 20 characters.
* You can have up to 5 base names and up to 20 apps per base name.
* Names such as `auth`, `api` or `www` cannot be used on their own. Kit apps
  such as `auth` still work and become `{base}-auth.kombify.me`.

## Before you start

* Decide which app you want to share.
* Find out if the app is reachable from the internet. If it is, read on. If it
  only works inside your home network, read
  [Public or private](/kombify-me/public-or-private) first.
* Have access to kombify.me. Hosted accounts register through the connected
  kombify flows. Self-hosted installs register with an email address and get an
  API key. kombify.me has no screen for this today.

## Steps

1. **Register your home server.** Give it a short name such as `mylab`.
   kombify.me answers with the full base name.
2. **Point the base name at your server.** For an app that is reachable from the
   internet, use its public `http://` or `https://` address.
3. **Add an app.** Give it a short name such as `grafana` and its address.
   Connected StackKits and Techstack flows can do steps 1 to 3 for you.
4. **Switch the app on.** New apps are off by default. Turn the app on
   ("exposed") when you want the address to accept visitors.
5. **Open the address.** Go to `https://mylab-u8f3k2-grafana.kombify.me` in a
   browser. HTTPS is handled for you.

Registering the same name again for the same account does not create a second
one. It returns the one you already have.

## If something goes wrong

| What you see | What to do |
| - | - |
| "service subdomain not exposed" (404) | Switch the app on (step 4). |
| "subdomain inactive" (503) | The address is paused. Set it back to active. |
| "subdomain already taken" (409) | Choose another name. |
| Quota error (429) | You reached 5 base names or 20 apps. Remove one you no longer use. |
| "reserved" error | Choose another name. |
| 502 "Bad Gateway" | Your server did not answer. Check that it is running and public. |
| Registration says the mail service is unavailable | Try again later. No account is created in that case. |

More checks are on the [troubleshooting page](/kombify-me/troubleshooting).
Hosted `*.lan.kombify.me` names do not exist. For names inside your home
network, use the local names that StackKits sets up.


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.