
Ghost
Publishing platform with MySQL database
Deploy Ghost in 3 Steps
Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
Select Ghost
Choose from our template library
Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
Learn How to Deploy Ghost
Deploy Ghost Yourself
Want full control? Here's how to deploy Ghost yourself using Docker Compose.
Access Your VPS Terminal
Use your terminal to securely access your server. You'll need your server's IP address.
# 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
Set Up the Deployment Folder
Initialize a project folder on your server.
# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/ghost
cd ~/apps/ghostSet Up the Stack Definition
Use this Docker Compose configuration for your deployment:
services:
ghost:
image: ghost:5-alpine
ports:
- "2368:2368"
environment:
- url=http://localhost:2368
- database__client=mysql
- database__connection__host=db
- database__connection__user=root
- database__connection__password=<your-db-root-password>
- database__connection__database=ghost
volumes:
- ghost_data:/var/lib/ghost/content
depends_on:
db:
condition: service_healthy
restart: unless-stopped
db:
image: mysql:5.7
environment:
- MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=<your-db-root-password>
- MYSQL_DATABASE=ghost
volumes:
- db_data:/var/lib/mysql
restart: unless-stopped
healthcheck:
test: ["CMD-SHELL", "mysqladmin ping -h localhost -u root -p$$MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD || exit 1"]
interval: 10s
timeout: 5s
retries: 5
start_period: 30s
volumes:
ghost_data:
db_data:
PORTHost port to expose(default: 2368)DB_NAMEDatabase name(default: ghost)DB_ROOT_PASSWORDMySQL root passwordStart the Containers
Bring up your containers in detached mode.
# Start all services
docker compose up -d
# List running containers
docker compose ps
# Watch the logs
docker compose logs -fSet Up Firewall Rules
Allow the application port through your server's firewall.
# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 2368/tcp
sudo ufw reload
# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:2368Let Server Compass do the heavy lifting.
Skip the terminal and deploy Ghost 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
After Deployment
After deploying Ghost with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
Complete Ghost setup wizard
Configure site settings and theme
Set up HTTPS with a reverse proxy
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
Ghost FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting Ghost
How do I deploy Ghost with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Ghost 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 Ghost?
Ghost 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 Ghost data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Ghost backup and restore procedures.
How do I update Ghost to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Ghost image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is Ghost free to self-host?
Ghost 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 Ghost?
Download Server Compass and deploy Ghost to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.
Download Server Compass



