---
id: self-hosted-instances
title: Self-hosted instances
sidebar_label: Self-hosted instances
---

A self-hosted instance is your install, licensed through HQ. HQ never touches
it: it issues a signed file that your install verifies locally.

## Free

Install first, then link and claim. Step by step in
[Claim a Free licence](../getting-started/claim-free-licence.md).

## Paid

**Install first.** A licence is issued to one instance, so your control plane
has to exist and report an instance ID before you can buy for it — the same
precondition Free has.

```mermaid
flowchart LR
    A["Install Vantage<br/>find its instance ID"] --> B["Buy in Vantage HQ<br/>paste that ID"]
    B --> C["Payment confirms"]
    C --> D["Licence issued<br/>for that instance"]
```

1. [Install Vantage](../getting-started/self-hosted-install.md) and find its
   instance ID on the **Licence** page.
2. On **Overview**, choose **Buy a plan**. Pick **Self-hosted**, then your tier
   and configuration.
3. Under **Your install**, paste the instance ID. Enter an **Instance name** and
   click **Continue to payment**.
4. The licence is issued as soon as payment confirms. Download it and paste it
   into your install.

## Upgrading an instance you already have

Paste the same instance ID you already hold — an install on Free moves to the
paid plan in place, keeping its ID and its history. An ID belonging to another
account is refused.

For a Free licence, see
[Claim a Free licence](../getting-started/claim-free-licence.md).

## Relinking

Rebuilding the host gives you a new instance ID, which your old licence does not
match. **Relink** moves the licence across and reissues it.

The number of relinks per term is capped, and the portal shows how many you have
left. If you have used them all for a genuine reason, ask support.

## Installing the licence

Paste it on the **Licence** page in your install. It confirms the licence was
issued to that instance before applying it.

Pasting works even while your current licence has expired, because that is how
you get out of degraded mode.

## Keeping it current

Your install never downloads a licence by itself. Whenever one is reissued, on
renewal, on a configuration change or after a relink, download it from Vantage
HQ and paste it in.

:::warning Nothing reminds your install
The control plane knows only what its licence says. Expiry emails come from HQ,
to the account's address. Make sure someone reads them.
:::