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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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Grav
Application256MB+ RAM
Modern flat-file CMS with no database required
cmsflat-filephpmarkdown
Deploy Grav in 3 Steps
1
Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
2
Select Grav
Choose from our template library
3
Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy Grav on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the Grav template in Server Compass to deploy a self-hosted modern flat-file CMS with no database required on your VPS, then verify the Grav first-run page 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 Grav
Use the template picker search to find Grav in the Server Compass template catalog.
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Step 4Select the Grav template
Choose the Grav template. Server Compass fills the Grav image, host port, timezone, and persistent config volume.
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Step 5Review the Grav settings
Confirm the app name and compose services. In this run, the app was named grav-demo and used host port 8080.
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Step 6Deploy Grav
Review the generated compose settings, confirm the port is available, and click Deploy Now.
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Step 7Watch the deployment progress
Keep the deployment modal open while Server Compass uploads the compose file, pulls the Grav image, starts the container, and verifies the stack.
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Step 8Confirm Grav is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the Grav app is marked Running with its application URL available.
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Step 9Open Grav in the browser
Click Open Application or open the application URL in a browser. The Grav page confirms the deployed app is reachable and ready for site setup.
After Grav Opens
- Create the first admin account immediately after first launch.
- Add a domain and HTTPS before inviting users or publishing content publicly.
- Install the admin plugin, themes, and other plugins needed for your site.
- Back up the Grav config volume before storing production content.
Verified Result
The Grav app loaded successfully in a browser and displayed the first-run page.
Grav deployment questions
What does the Grav template deploy?
It deploys Grav with a persistent config volume and no database service.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host port 8080, which maps to the Grav web server on container port 80.
Why does the browser verification stop at the first-run page?
A fresh Grav deployment is considered reachable when the first-run page or homepage loads. Continuing further would require creating a site account, so the public guide verifies the safe pre-setup page.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the Grav template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
Manual Deployment Guide
Manual Grav Setup
For terminal enthusiasts: deploy Grav manually with these simple steps.
1
Connect to Your Remote Server
Begin by establishing a secure connection to your server through the terminal.
terminal
# Access your VPS
ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP
# With SSH key authentication
ssh -i ~/.ssh/your-private-key root@YOUR_SERVER_IPFirst time? Ensure Docker is installed first: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
2
Set Up Your App Folder
Create a dedicated folder for your application files.
terminal
# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/grav
cd ~/apps/grav3
Set Up Docker Compose
Create the following docker-compose.yml in your project directory:
docker-compose.yml
services:
grav:
image: lscr.io/linuxserver/grav:latest
ports:
- "8080:80"
environment:
- PUID=1000
- PGID=1000
- TZ=UTC
volumes:
- grav_config:/config
restart: unless-stopped
volumes:
grav_config:
Environment Configuration
PORTHost port to expose(default: 8080)4
Spin Up the Stack
Run Docker Compose to launch your application.
terminal
# Launch the stack
docker compose up -d
# Verify container status
docker compose ps
# Follow the logs
docker compose logs --follow5
Open the Application Port
Configure UFW to allow traffic to your application.
terminal
# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 8080/tcp
sudo ufw reload
# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:8080Skip the Terminal
Make it simple with Server Compass.
Deploy Grav without touching the command line. Server Compass gives you a clean UI for one-click deployments.
- No terminal required
- Point-and-click setup
- Auto SSL certificates
- Rolling deployments
- Health monitoring
- Instant rollbacks
Download Server Compass$29 one-time • Lifetime license
After Deployment
After deploying Grav with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
1
Access the admin panel at /admin
2
Create admin account on first visit
3
Install plugins and themes
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
Grav FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting Grav
How do I deploy Grav with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Grav 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 Grav?
Grav 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 Grav data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Grav backup and restore procedures.
How do I update Grav to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Grav image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is Grav free to self-host?
Grav 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 Grav?
Download Server Compass and deploy Grav to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.
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