1
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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Drone CI
Development256MB+ RAM
Container-native CI/CD platform
ci-cdcontainersautomation
Deploy Drone CI in 3 Steps
1
Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
2
Select Drone CI
Choose from our template library
3
Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy Drone CI on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the Drone CI template in Server Compass to deploy the Drone server and Docker runner, then verify the welcome UI and runner connection.
About 10 minutesBrowser verified
2
Step 2Choose an app template
Click New App and choose the template deployment path so Server Compass can load the built-in catalog.
3
Step 3Search for Drone CI
Use the template picker search to find Drone CI in the Server Compass template catalog.
4
Step 4Select the Drone CI template
Choose the Drone CI template. Server Compass fills the Drone server, persistent data volume, Docker runner, RPC secret, and public server host.
5
Step 5Review the Drone CI settings
Confirm the app name, GitHub OAuth fields, RPC secret, server host, and web port. In this run, the app was named drone-demo and used host web port 4085.
6
Step 6Deploy Drone CI
Review the generated compose settings, confirm the Drone CI web port is available, and click Deploy.
7
Step 7Watch the deployment progress
Keep the deployment modal open while Server Compass uploads the compose file, pulls the Drone server and runner images, starts both containers, and verifies the stack.
8
Step 8Confirm Drone CI is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the Drone CI app is marked Running with its application URL available.
9
Step 9Open Drone CI in the browser
Open the application URL in a browser. The Drone CI welcome page confirms the self-hosted Drone server is reachable.
After Drone CI Opens
- Create a real GitHub OAuth app and use its client ID and secret before activating repositories.
- Use the Drone callback URL shown by your GitHub OAuth configuration, based on the same public host and port.
- Configure HTTPS before production use.
- Sign in with GitHub, activate only the repositories that should run builds, and review trusted-user settings.
- Monitor Drone server and runner logs before putting real pipelines on the server.
Verified Result
The Drone CI welcome page loaded successfully, and runner logs showed the runner pinging and polling the server.
Drone CI deployment questions
What does the Drone CI template deploy?
It deploys the official Drone server with a persistent data volume and a Docker runner connected through the shared RPC secret.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host web port 4085, which maps to the Drone server HTTP listener on container port 80.
Does Drone CI need setup after deployment?
Yes. Configure a real GitHub OAuth app, sign in with GitHub, activate repositories, and put the server behind HTTPS before production use.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the Drone CI template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
Manual Deployment Guide
Manual Drone CI Setup
For terminal enthusiasts: deploy Drone CI manually with these simple steps.
1
Start a Secure Shell Session
Open your terminal and connect to your server. Replace the IP address with your VPS IP.
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
2
Prepare Your Workspace
Set up a clean directory for your application.
terminal
# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/drone
cd ~/apps/drone3
Set Up Container Configuration
Set up the container stack using this Docker Compose configuration:
docker-compose.yml
services:
drone:
image: drone/drone:latest
ports:
- "80:80"
environment:
- DRONE_GITHUB_CLIENT_ID=<your-github-client-id>
- DRONE_GITHUB_CLIENT_SECRET=<your-github-client-secret>
- DRONE_RPC_SECRET=<your-rpc-secret>
- DRONE_SERVER_HOST=<your-server-host>
- DRONE_SERVER_PROTO=http
volumes:
- drone_data:/data
restart: unless-stopped
drone-runner:
image: drone/drone-runner-docker:latest
environment:
- DRONE_RPC_HOST=drone
- DRONE_RPC_SECRET=<your-rpc-secret>
- DRONE_RUNNER_CAPACITY=2
volumes:
- /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock
restart: unless-stopped
depends_on:
- drone
volumes:
drone_data:
Environment Configuration
PORTHost port(default: 80)GITHUB_CLIENT_IDGitHub IDGITHUB_CLIENT_SECRETGitHub secretRPC_SECRETRPC secretSERVER_HOSTServer host4
Bring Up the Application
Launch your application stack in the background.
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 Firewall
Configure your firewall to permit external connections.
terminal
# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 80/tcp
sudo ufw reload
# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:80Skip the Terminal
Prefer a visual interface? Use Server Compass.
Deploy Drone CI without touching the command line. Server Compass gives you a clean UI for one-click deployments.
- 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 Drone CI with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
1
Create GitHub OAuth app
2
Login via GitHub
3
Activate repos
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
Drone CI FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting Drone CI
How do I deploy Drone CI with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Drone CI 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 Drone CI?
Drone CI requires a minimum of 256MB 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 Drone CI data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Drone CI backup and restore procedures.
How do I update Drone CI to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Drone CI image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is Drone CI free to self-host?
Drone CI 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.
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