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Step 1Open the server Apps tab
Select your 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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Castopod
Application512MB+ RAM
Open-source podcast hosting platform
podcastaudiohosting
Deploy Castopod in 3 Steps
1
Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
2
Select Castopod
Choose from our template library
3
Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy Castopod on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the Castopod template in Server Compass to deploy an open-source podcast hosting platform with MariaDB, Redis, analytics salt, and podcast media storage, then verify the Castopod web UI in a browser.
About 7 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 Castopod
Use the template picker search to find Castopod in the Server Compass template catalog.
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Step 4Select the Castopod template
Choose the Castopod template. Server Compass fills the Castopod image, base URL, analytics salt, MariaDB, Redis, and persistent podcast media storage.
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Step 5Review the Castopod settings
Confirm the app name and compose services. In this run, the app was named castopod-demo and used host port 8080.
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Step 6Deploy Castopod
Review the generated environment values, confirm the port is 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 Castopod image, starts the containers, and verifies the stack.
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Step 8Confirm Castopod is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the Castopod app is marked Running with its application URL available.
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Step 9Open Castopod in the browser
Open the application URL in a browser. The Castopod web UI confirms the site is reachable.
After Castopod Opens
- Sign in with the generated admin account before accepting production uploads.
- Confirm the podcast media volume location before importing production media.
- Add a domain and HTTPS before exposing the podcast platform to users.
- Configure site settings, podcast settings, users, and moderation before production use.
- Back up the Castopod data and MariaDB volumes before relying on the server for production podcast episodes.
Castopod deployment questions
What does the Castopod template deploy?
It deploys Castopod with MariaDB, Redis, and persistent Castopod and database volumes.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host port 8080, which maps to the Castopod web server on container port 8080.
Why does the guide stop at the homepage?
The tutorial verifies the homepage because instance settings, admin account, podcast settings, and site settings should be configured for the real server.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the Castopod template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
Manual Setup Guide
Set Up Castopod from Terminal
Get your hands dirty: manual Castopod deployment guide for developers.
1
Log into Your Server
Access your server's command line by opening a terminal and running the SSH command below.
terminal
# SSH into your server
ssh root@your-server-ip
# Using a custom SSH key
ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa root@your-server-ipFirst time? Need Docker? Install it: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
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Prepare the Install Location
Set up the folder structure for your Docker deployment.
terminal
# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/castopod
cd ~/apps/castopod3
Create docker-compose.yml
Set up your Docker Compose file with this configuration:
docker-compose.yml
services:
castopod:
image: castopod/castopod:latest
ports:
- "8080:8000"
environment:
- CP_BASEURL=<your-base-url>
- CP_ANALYTICS_SALT=<your-analytics-salt>
- CP_DATABASE_HOSTNAME=db
- CP_DATABASE_NAME=castopod
- CP_DATABASE_USERNAME=castopod
- CP_DATABASE_PASSWORD=<your-db-password>
- CP_CACHE_HANDLER=redis
- CP_REDIS_HOST=redis
volumes:
- castopod_media:/var/www/castopod/public/media
restart: unless-stopped
depends_on:
db:
condition: service_healthy
redis:
condition: service_started
db:
image: mariadb:11
environment:
- MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD=<your-db-root-password>
- MARIADB_DATABASE=castopod
- MARIADB_USER=castopod
- MARIADB_PASSWORD=<your-db-password>
volumes:
- mariadb_data:/var/lib/mysql
restart: unless-stopped
healthcheck:
test: ["CMD-SHELL", "healthcheck.sh --connect --innodb_initialized"]
interval: 10s
timeout: 5s
retries: 5
redis:
image: redis:7-alpine
restart: unless-stopped
volumes:
castopod_media:
mariadb_data:
Environment Variables
PORTHost port(default: 8080)BASE_URLBase URLANALYTICS_SALTAnalytics saltDB_PASSWORDDB passwordDB_ROOT_PASSWORDRoot password4
Run the Deployment
Start all services defined in your compose file.
terminal
# Start the containers in detached mode
docker compose up -d
# Check if containers are running
docker compose ps
# View logs
docker compose logs -f5
Configure Network Access
Open the port so you can access the application externally.
terminal
# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 8080/tcp
sudo ufw reload
# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:8080Skip the Terminal
Want one-click deploys? Try Server Compass.
Why type commands when you can click? Deploy Castopod the easy way with Server Compass.
- Visual configuration UI
- One-click deployment
- Automatic SSL setup
- Zero-downtime updates
- Built-in monitoring
- One-click rollbacks
Download Server Compass$29 one-time • Lifetime license
After Deployment
After deploying Castopod with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
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Complete installation wizard
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Create podcast
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Upload episodes
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
Castopod FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting Castopod
How do I deploy Castopod with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Castopod 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 Castopod?
Castopod requires a minimum of 512MB RAM. We recommend a VPS with at least 1024MB RAM for optimal performance. Any modern Linux server with Docker support will work.
Can I migrate my existing Castopod data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Castopod backup and restore procedures.
How do I update Castopod to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Castopod image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is Castopod free to self-host?
Castopod 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 Castopod?
Download Server Compass and deploy Castopod to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.
Download Server Compass