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Ghost

Application512MB+ RAM

Publishing platform with MySQL database

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Deploy Ghost in 3 Steps

1

Connect Your VPS

Add your server credentials to Server Compass

2

Select Ghost

Choose from our template library

3

Deploy & Configure

Fill in settings and click Deploy

No Docker knowledge required
CLI Deployment

Deploy Ghost Yourself

Want full control? Here's how to deploy Ghost yourself using Docker Compose.

1

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-ip

First time? Make sure Docker is installed on your VPS. Run: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh

2

Set Up the Deployment Folder

Initialize a project folder on your server.

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

Set Up the Stack Definition

Use this Docker Compose configuration for your deployment:

docker-compose.yml
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:
Required Settings
PORTHost port to expose(default: 2368)
DB_NAMEDatabase name(default: ghost)
DB_ROOT_PASSWORDMySQL root password
4

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 -f
5

Set Up Firewall Rules

Allow the application port through your server's firewall.

terminal
# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 2368/tcp
sudo ufw reload

# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:2368
Skip the Terminal

Let 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
Download Server Compass$29 one-time • Lifetime license

After Deployment

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

1

Complete Ghost setup wizard

2

Configure site settings and theme

3

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.

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