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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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Directus
Application512MB+ RAM
Open-source headless CMS and data platform with REST/GraphQL APIs
cmsheadlessapigraphql
Deploy Directus in 3 Steps
1
Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
2
Select Directus
Choose from our template library
3
Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy Directus on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the Directus template in Server Compass to deploy a self-hosted headless CMS and data platform on your VPS, then verify the Directus login screen 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 Directus
Use the template picker search to find Directus in the Server Compass template catalog.
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Step 4Select the Directus template
Choose the Directus template. Server Compass fills the Directus image, PostgreSQL service, persistent upload and extension volumes, admin fields, and required secret values.
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Step 5Review the Directus settings
Confirm the app name and compose services. In this run, the app was named directus-demo and used host port 8055.
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Step 6Deploy Directus
Review the generated environment values, keep the admin password and Directus secret masked, 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 Directus and PostgreSQL images, starts the containers, and verifies the stack.
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Step 8Confirm Directus is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the Directus app is marked Running with its application URL available.
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Step 9Open Directus in the browser
Click Open Application or open the application URL in a browser. The Directus login screen confirms the deployed app is reachable and ready for the generated admin credentials.
After Directus Opens
- Log in with the generated admin email and password from Server Compass, then immediately store the credentials in a secure password manager.
- Keep the Directus SECRET, database password, and admin password masked in screenshots and docs.
- Add a domain and HTTPS before inviting users or exposing APIs publicly.
- Create roles and permissions before publishing collections or API endpoints.
- Back up both the Directus uploads/extensions volumes and the PostgreSQL data volume before storing production content.
Verified Result
The Directus app loaded successfully in a browser and displayed the login screen.
Directus deployment questions
What does the Directus template deploy?
It deploys Directus 11 with a PostgreSQL 16 database, persistent uploads, persistent extensions, generated secret values, and an initial admin account.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host port 8055, which maps to the Directus web UI on container port 8055.
Why does the browser verification stop at the login screen?
A fresh Directus deployment is considered reachable when the login screen loads. Logging in would expose generated credentials in the capture flow, so the public guide verifies the safe pre-login screen.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the Directus template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
CLI Deployment
Deploy Directus Yourself
Want full control? Here's how to deploy Directus yourself using Docker Compose.
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Access Your VPS Terminal
Use your terminal to securely access your server. You'll need your server's IP address.
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 the Deployment Folder
Initialize a project folder on your server.
terminal
# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/directus
cd ~/apps/directus3
Set Up the Stack Definition
Use this Docker Compose configuration for your deployment:
docker-compose.yml
services:
directus:
image: directus/directus:11
ports:
- "8055:8055"
environment:
- SECRET=<your-secret>
- [email protected]
- ADMIN_PASSWORD=<your-admin-password>
- DB_CLIENT=pg
- DB_HOST=postgres
- DB_PORT=5432
- DB_DATABASE=directus
- DB_USER=directus
- DB_PASSWORD=<your-db-password>
- WEBSOCKETS_ENABLED=true
volumes:
- directus_uploads:/directus/uploads
- directus_extensions:/directus/extensions
restart: unless-stopped
depends_on:
postgres:
condition: service_healthy
postgres:
image: postgres:16-alpine
environment:
- POSTGRES_DB=directus
- POSTGRES_USER=directus
- POSTGRES_PASSWORD=<your-db-password>
volumes:
- postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
restart: unless-stopped
healthcheck:
test: ["CMD-SHELL", "pg_isready -U directus -d directus"]
interval: 10s
timeout: 5s
retries: 5
start_period: 30s
volumes:
directus_uploads:
directus_extensions:
postgres_data:
Required Settings
PORTHost port to expose(default: 8055)SECRETSecret key for encryptionDB_PASSWORDDatabase passwordADMIN_PASSWORDAdmin password4
Start the Containers
Bring up your containers in detached mode.
terminal
# Start all services
docker compose up -d
# List running containers
docker compose ps
# Watch the logs
docker compose logs -f5
Set Up Firewall Rules
Allow the application port through your server's firewall.
terminal
# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 8055/tcp
sudo ufw reload
# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:8055Skip the Terminal
Let Server Compass do the heavy lifting.
Skip the terminal and deploy Directus with a visual interface. Configure everything with clicks, not commands.
- 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 Directus with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
1
Log in with admin credentials
2
Create your data collections
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
Directus FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting Directus
How do I deploy Directus with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Directus 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 Directus?
Directus 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 Directus data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Directus backup and restore procedures.
How do I update Directus to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Directus image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is Directus free to self-host?
Directus 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 Directus?
Download Server Compass and deploy Directus to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.
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