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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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Grafana
Infrastructure256MB+ RAM
Open-source analytics and monitoring platform
monitoringdashboardsvisualization
Deploy Grafana in 3 Steps
1
Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
2
Select Grafana
Choose from our template library
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Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy Grafana on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the Grafana template in Server Compass to deploy a self-hosted monitoring dashboard on your VPS, then open the Grafana 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 Grafana
Use the template picker search to find Grafana in the Server Compass template catalog.
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Step 4Select the Grafana template
Choose the Grafana template. Server Compass fills the Grafana image, persistent data volume, admin variables, and default web port.
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Step 5Review the Grafana settings
Confirm the app name, service image, volume, and host port. In the pilot run, the app was named grafana-demo and used host port 3000.
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Step 6Deploy Grafana
Review the admin username, masked admin password, and host port. When the port check passes, click Deploy Now.
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Step 7Watch the deployment progress
Keep the deployment modal open while Server Compass prepares the server, installs Docker if needed, pulls the Grafana image, starts the container, and verifies the service.
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Step 8Confirm Grafana is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm Grafana is marked Running. The app card keeps the URL and generated login credentials available.
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Step 9Open Grafana in the browser
Click Open Application or open the application URL in a browser. The Grafana login screen confirms the service is reachable and ready for setup.
After Grafana Opens
- Log in with the generated admin username and password from Server Compass.
- Change the default generated admin password after first login if you share the app with a team.
- Add data sources such as Prometheus, Loki, InfluxDB, or PostgreSQL.
- Create dashboards for the metrics that matter before exposing Grafana publicly.
- Put Grafana behind a domain and HTTPS before production use.
Verified Result
The browser loaded Grafana successfully. The root URL returned HTTP 302 to /login, and the login page rendered with title Grafana.
Grafana deployment questions
What does the Grafana template deploy?
It deploys the official Grafana Docker image, a persistent Grafana data volume, generated admin credentials, and the default Grafana web port.
Which port did the pilot use?
The pilot used host port 3000, which maps to Grafana's default container port.
Why does the final screenshot show the login page?
A fresh Grafana deployment starts at the login screen. Seeing that page confirms the container is running and reachable from a browser.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the Grafana template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
Terminal Deployment
Grafana CLI Deployment
Deploy Grafana the traditional way with SSH and Docker Compose.
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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
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Create Working Directory
Prepare a directory for your application files and configuration.
terminal
# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/grafana
cd ~/apps/grafana3
Configure Your Containers
Create the Docker Compose configuration file with these contents:
docker-compose.yml
services:
grafana:
image: grafana/grafana:latest
ports:
- "3000:3000"
environment:
- GF_SECURITY_ADMIN_USER=admin
- GF_SECURITY_ADMIN_PASSWORD=<your-admin-password>
- GF_USERS_ALLOW_SIGN_UP=false
volumes:
- grafana_data:/var/lib/grafana
restart: unless-stopped
volumes:
grafana_data:
Deployment Settings
PORTHost port(default: 3000)ADMIN_USERAdmin user(default: admin)ADMIN_PASSWORDAdmin password4
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=1005
Open Required Ports
Enable external access by opening the necessary port.
terminal
# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 3000/tcp
sudo ufw reload
# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:3000Skip the Terminal
There's an easier way. Meet Server Compass.
Server Compass makes deploying Grafana 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 Grafana with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
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Log in with admin credentials
2
Add data sources (Prometheus, InfluxDB, etc.)
3
Create dashboards
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
Grafana FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting Grafana
How do I deploy Grafana with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Grafana 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 Grafana?
Grafana 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 Grafana data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Grafana backup and restore procedures.
How do I update Grafana to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Grafana image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is Grafana free to self-host?
Grafana 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 Grafana?
Download Server Compass and deploy Grafana to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.
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