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Step 1Open the server Apps tab
Select the tutorial-vps VPS, open the Apps tab, and start a new app deployment. Keep sensitive server details hidden before capturing or sharing screenshots.
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Cassandra
Database2048MB+ RAM
Highly scalable distributed database with authentication enabled
databasenosqldistributedwide-column
Deploy Cassandra in 3 Steps
1
Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
2
Select Cassandra
Choose from our template library
3
Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy Cassandra on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the Cassandra template in Server Compass to deploy an authenticated wide-column database on your VPS, then verify the CQL service from inside the container.
About 10 minutesBrowser verified
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Step 2Choose an app template
Click New App and choose the template deployment path so Server Compass can load the built-in catalog.
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Step 3Search for Cassandra
Use the template picker search to find Cassandra in the Server Compass template catalog.
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Step 4Select the Cassandra template
Choose the Cassandra template. Server Compass fills the Cassandra container, persistent data volume, CQL port, JMX port, cluster name, datacenter, rack, and heap settings.
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Step 5Review the Cassandra settings
Confirm the app name and compose service. In this run, the app was named cassandra-demo and used host port 9042.
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Step 6Deploy Cassandra
Review the generated environment values, confirm the CQL and JMX ports are available, and click Deploy Now.
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Step 7Watch the deployment progress
Keep the deployment modal open while Server Compass uploads the compose file, pulls the Cassandra image, starts the container, and verifies the stack.
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Step 8Confirm Cassandra is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the Cassandra app is marked Running with the database port available.
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Step 9Verify Cassandra is reachable
Open the app detail view and verify the running Cassandra container. In this tutorial run, cqlsh described the cluster from inside the container without exposing credentials.
After Cassandra Opens
- Immediately change the default cassandra/cassandra credentials before production use.
- Create application-specific Cassandra users and keyspaces before production use.
- Restrict external access to port 9042 unless remote clients explicitly need it.
- Configure regular backups for the Cassandra data volume before storing production data.
- Restrict JMX access and configure backups for the Cassandra data volume.
Verified Result
The Cassandra container returned the cluster description from an internal cqlsh verification command.
Cassandra deployment questions
What does the Cassandra template deploy?
It deploys a Cassandra container with authentication enabled, a persistent data volume, CQL and JMX ports, and configurable cluster/datacenter/rack values.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host port 9042, which maps to Cassandra CQL port 9042.
Why is there no browser verification screenshot?
Cassandra is a database service, not a web application. The tutorial verifies it with cqlsh inside the running container instead of opening a browser page.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the Cassandra template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
Manual Deployment Guide
Manual Cassandra Setup
For terminal enthusiasts: deploy Cassandra manually with these simple steps.
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Access Your VPS via Terminal
Open a terminal session and log into your VPS. Replace the placeholder with your actual IP.
terminal
# Connect via SSH
ssh root@your-vps-ip
# Alternative with key file
ssh -i /path/to/key root@your-vps-ipFirst time? Make sure Docker is installed on your VPS. Run: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
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Set Up Project Folder
Create a workspace for your deployment files.
terminal
# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/cassandra
cd ~/apps/cassandra3
Create the Compose File
Configure your containers with this Docker Compose setup:
docker-compose.yml
services:
cassandra:
image: cassandra:4.1
ports:
- "9042:9042"
- "7199:7199"
environment:
- CASSANDRA_CLUSTER_NAME=ServerCompass
- CASSANDRA_DC=dc1
- CASSANDRA_RACK=rack1
- CASSANDRA_AUTHENTICATOR=PasswordAuthenticator
- CASSANDRA_AUTHORIZER=CassandraAuthorizer
- HEAP_NEWSIZE=128M
- MAX_HEAP_SIZE=512M
volumes:
- cassandra_data:/var/lib/cassandra
restart: unless-stopped
healthcheck:
test: ["CMD-SHELL", "cqlsh -u cassandra -p cassandra -e 'describe cluster' || exit 1"]
interval: 30s
timeout: 10s
retries: 5
start_period: 60s
volumes:
cassandra_data:
Environment Configuration
PORTCQL native transport port(default: 9042)JMX_PORTJMX monitoring port(default: 7199)CLUSTER_NAMECluster name(default: ServerCompass)DATACENTERDatacenter name(default: dc1)RACKRack name(default: rack1)HEAP_NEWSIZEJVM heap new size(default: 128M)4
Deploy Your Stack
Spin up the containers and verify the deployment.
terminal
# Start all services
docker compose up -d
# List running containers
docker compose ps
# Watch the logs
docker compose logs -f5
Update Firewall Settings
Allow incoming traffic on the application port.
terminal
# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 9042/tcp
sudo ufw reload
# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:9042Skip the Terminal
Skip the terminal. Use Server Compass instead.
Deploy Cassandra without touching the command line. Server Compass gives you a clean UI for one-click deployments.
- Beautiful interface
- One-click deploys
- Let's Encrypt SSL
- Zero downtime
- Container monitoring
- Easy rollbacks
Download Server Compass$29 one-time • Lifetime license
After Deployment
After deploying Cassandra with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
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Connect with cqlsh using default credentials (cassandra/cassandra)
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IMMEDIATELY change the default password
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Create a keyspace for your application
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Create application-specific users with limited permissions
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Set up monitoring via JMX
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Configure backup schedules for the data volume
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
Cassandra FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting Cassandra
How do I deploy Cassandra with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Cassandra from the templates list. Fill in the required configuration and click Deploy. The entire process takes under 3 minutes.
What are the system requirements for Cassandra?
Cassandra requires a minimum of 2048MB RAM. We recommend a VPS with at least 4096MB RAM for optimal performance. Any modern Linux server with Docker support will work.
Can I migrate my existing Cassandra data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Cassandra backup and restore procedures.
How do I update Cassandra to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Cassandra image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is Cassandra free to self-host?
Cassandra is open-source software. You only pay for your VPS hosting (typically $5-20/month) and optionally Server Compass ($29 one-time). No subscription fees or per-seat pricing.
Ready to Self-Host Cassandra?
Download Server Compass and deploy Cassandra to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.
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