matrix-docker-ansible-deploy/docs/configuring-playbook-ntfy.md

# Setting up ntfy (optional)

The playbook can install and configure the [ntfy](https://ntfy.sh/) push notifications server for you.

Using the [UnifiedPush](https://unifiedpush.org) standard, ntfy enables self-hosted (Google-free) push notifications from Matrix (and other) servers to UnifiedPush-compatible matrix compatible client apps running on Android and other devices.

This role is intended to support UnifiedPush notifications for use with the Matrix and Matrix-related services that this playbook installs. This role is not intended to support all of ntfy's other features.

**Note**: In contrast to push notifications using Google's FCM or Apple's APNs, the use of UnifiedPush allows each end-user to choose the push notification server that they prefer.  As a consequence, deploying this ntfy server does not by itself ensure any particular user or device or client app will use it.


## Adjusting the playbook configuration

Add the following configuration to your `inventory/host_vars/matrix.DOMAIN/vars.yml` file (adapt to your needs):

```yaml
# Enabling it is the only required setting
matrix_ntfy_enabled: true

# Some other options
matrix_server_fqn_ntfy: "ntfy.{{ matrix_domain }}"
matrix_ntfy_configuration_extension_yaml: |
  log_level: DEBUG
```

For a more complete list of variables that you could override, see `roles/matrix-ntfy/defaults/main.yml`.

For a complete list of ntfy config options that you could put in `matrix_ntfy_configuration_extension_yaml`, see the [ntfy config documentation](https://ntfy.sh/docs/config/#config-options).


## Installing

Don't forget to add `ntfy.<your-domain>` to DNS as described in [Configuring DNS](configuring-dns.md) before running the playbook.

After configuring the playbook, run the [installation](installing.md) command again:

```
ansible-playbook -i inventory/hosts setup.yml --tags=setup-all,start
```


## Usage

To make use of your ntfy installation, on Android for example, first you need to install the `ntfy` client app and configure it to point to your ntfy server, such as `https://ntfy.DOMAIN`. That is the only thing you need to do in the ntfy client app. (It has many other features, but for our purposes you can ignore them.)

Then any UnifiedPush-enabled matrix app on that device will discover it and tell your matrix server to use your ntfy server to send push notifications to that matrix app.

If the matrix app asks, "Choose a distributor: FCM Fallback or ntfy", then choose "ntfy".

If the matrix app doesn't seem to pick it up, try restarting it and try the Troubleshooting section below.


## Troubleshooting

First check that the matrix client app you are using supports UnifiedPush. There may well be different variants of the app.

Set the ntfy server's log level to 'DEBUG', as shown in the example settings above, and watch the server's logs with `sudo journalctl -fu matrix-ntfy`.

To check if UnifiedPush is correctly configured on the client device, look at "Settings -> Notifications -> Notification Targets" in Element-Android or SchildiChat, or "Settings -> Notifications -> Devices" in FluffyChat. There should be one entry for each matrix client app that has enabled push notifications, and when that client is using UnifiedPush you should see a URL that begins with your ntfy server's URL. In Element-Android or SchildiChat, two URLs are shown: "push\_key" and "Url", and both should begin with your ntfy server's URL.

If it is not working, useful tools are "Settings -> Notifications -> Re-register push distributor" and "Settings -> Notifications -> Troubleshoot Notifications" in SchildiChat (possibly also Element-Android). In particular the "Endpoint/FCM" step of that troubleshooter should display your ntfy server's URL that it has discovered from the ntfy client app.

The simple [UnifiedPush troubleshooting](https://unifiedpush.org/users/troubleshooting/) app [UP-Example](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.unifiedpush.example/) can be used to manually test UnifiedPush registration and operation on an Android device.