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Drupal

Application512MB+ RAM

Enterprise-grade CMS for complex websites

cmsenterprisephp

Deploy Drupal in 3 Steps

1

Connect Your VPS

Add your server credentials to Server Compass

2

Select Drupal

Choose from our template library

3

Deploy & Configure

Fill in settings and click Deploy

No Docker knowledge required
Terminal Deployment

Drupal CLI Deployment

Deploy Drupal the traditional way with SSH and Docker Compose.

1

SSH into Your Server

Launch your preferred terminal and connect to your VPS using SSH.

terminal
# Log into your server
ssh root@<your-server-ip>

# If using key-based auth
ssh -i ~/.ssh/my-key root@<your-server-ip>

First time? Docker not installed? Run: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh

2

Create Working Directory

Prepare a directory for your application files and configuration.

terminal
# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/drupal
cd ~/apps/drupal
3

Configure Your Containers

Create the Docker Compose configuration file with these contents:

docker-compose.yml
services:
  drupal:
    image: drupal:10-apache
    ports:
      - "8080:80"
    volumes:
      - drupal_modules:/var/www/html/modules
      - drupal_profiles:/var/www/html/profiles
      - drupal_themes:/var/www/html/themes
      - drupal_sites:/var/www/html/sites
    restart: unless-stopped
    depends_on:
      db:
        condition: service_healthy

  db:
    image: postgres:16-alpine
    environment:
      - POSTGRES_USER=drupal
      - POSTGRES_PASSWORD=<your-db-password>
      - POSTGRES_DB=drupal
    volumes:
      - postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    restart: unless-stopped
    healthcheck:
      test: ["CMD-SHELL", "pg_isready -U drupal"]
      interval: 10s
      timeout: 5s
      retries: 5

  db_localhost_proxy:
    image: alpine/socat
    command:
      - "-d"
      - "-d"
      - "TCP-LISTEN:5432,fork,reuseaddr"
      - "TCP:db:5432"
    network_mode: "service:drupal"
    depends_on:
      db:
        condition: service_healthy
    restart: unless-stopped

volumes:
  drupal_modules:
  drupal_profiles:
  drupal_themes:
  drupal_sites:
  postgres_data:
Deployment Settings
PORTHost port(default: 8080)
DB_PASSWORDDB password
4

Deploy with Docker Compose

Launch the application stack using Docker Compose.

terminal
# Deploy the application
docker compose up -d

# Check container health
docker compose ps

# Monitor logs
docker compose logs -f --tail=100
5

Open Required Ports

Enable external access by opening the necessary port.

terminal
# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 8080/tcp
sudo ufw reload

# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:8080
Skip the Terminal

There's an easier way. Meet Server Compass.

Server Compass makes deploying Drupal effortless. Visual setup, one-click deploy, done.

  • Intuitive dashboard
  • Deploy in 3 minutes
  • Free SSL included
  • Blue-green deploys
  • Real-time logs
  • Version history
Download Server Compass$29 one-time • Lifetime license

After Deployment

After deploying Drupal with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup

1

Open /core/install.php

2

In Setup database, select PostgreSQL and use host db on port 5432

3

Finish installation, install essential modules, and configure content types

Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.

Drupal FAQ

Common questions about self-hosting Drupal

How do I deploy Drupal with Server Compass?

Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Drupal 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 Drupal?

Drupal 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 Drupal data?

Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Drupal backup and restore procedures.

How do I update Drupal to the latest version?

Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Drupal image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.

Is Drupal free to self-host?

Drupal 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 Drupal?

Download Server Compass and deploy Drupal to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.

Download Server Compass