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Step 1Open the server Apps tab
Select the tutorial-vps 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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Hydra
Database512MB+ RAM
Postgres-compatible columnar database for fast analytics queries
databasecolumnaranalyticspostgres-compatible
Deploy Hydra in 3 Steps
1
Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
2
Select Hydra
Choose from our template library
3
Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy Hydra on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the Hydra template in Server Compass to deploy a PostgreSQL-compatible analytics database on your VPS, then verify the deployed database with pg_isready.
About 10 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 Hydra
Use the template picker search to find Hydra in the Server Compass template catalog.
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Step 4Select the Hydra template
Choose the Hydra template. Server Compass fills the Hydra PostgreSQL container, persistent data volume, host port, username, database name, and generated password.
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Step 5Review the Hydra settings
Confirm the app name and compose service. In this run, the app was named hydra-demo and used host port 5432.
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Step 6Deploy Hydra
Review the generated environment values, keep the database password masked, confirm the web 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 Hydra image, starts the container, and verifies the stack.
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Step 8Confirm Hydra is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the Hydra app is marked Running with the database port available.
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Step 9Verify Hydra is reachable
Open the app detail view and verify the running Hydra container. In this tutorial run, pg_isready confirmed the database service was accepting connections without exposing the generated password.
After Hydra Opens
- Store the generated PostgreSQL password in a secure password manager.
- Create application-specific roles and databases before production use.
- Restrict external access to port 5432 unless remote clients explicitly need it.
- Configure regular backups for the Hydra data volume before storing production data.
- Create application-specific schemas and roles before production use.
Verified Result
The Hydra container returned a successful pg_isready result inside the deployed container.
Hydra deployment questions
What does the Hydra template deploy?
It deploys the Hydra PostgreSQL-compatible container with a persistent data volume, configured database name, configured username, and generated password.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host port 5432, which maps to Hydra container port 5432.
Why is there no browser verification screenshot?
Hydra is a database service, not a web application. The tutorial verifies it with pg_isready inside the running container instead of opening a browser page.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the Hydra template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
Self-Deploy Guide
DIY Hydra Deployment
Learn how to self-host Hydra with this hands-on deployment guide.
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Start a Secure Shell Session
Open your terminal and connect to your server. Replace the IP address with your VPS IP.
terminal
# SSH into your server
ssh root@your-server-ip
# Using a custom SSH key
ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa root@your-server-ipFirst time? Need Docker? Install it: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
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Prepare Your Workspace
Set up a clean directory for your application.
terminal
# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/hydra
cd ~/apps/hydra3
Set Up Container Configuration
Set up the container stack using this Docker Compose configuration:
docker-compose.yml
services:
hydra:
image: ghcr.io/hydradatabase/hydra:latest
ports:
- "5432:5432"
environment:
- POSTGRES_USER=hydra
- POSTGRES_PASSWORD=<your-postgres-password>
- POSTGRES_DB=hydra
volumes:
- hydra_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
restart: unless-stopped
healthcheck:
test: ["CMD-SHELL", "pg_isready -U hydra -d hydra"]
interval: 10s
timeout: 5s
retries: 5
volumes:
hydra_data:
Setup Variables
PORTHost port(default: 5432)POSTGRES_USERUsername(default: hydra)POSTGRES_PASSWORDPasswordPOSTGRES_DBDatabase(default: hydra)4
Bring Up the Application
Launch your application stack in the background.
terminal
# Start the containers in detached mode
docker compose up -d
# Check if containers are running
docker compose ps
# View logs
docker compose logs -f5
Configure Firewall
Configure your firewall to permit external connections.
terminal
# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 5432/tcp
sudo ufw reload
# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:5432Skip the Terminal
Prefer a visual interface? Use Server Compass.
Let Server Compass handle the complexity. Deploy Hydra with a simple, intuitive interface.
- Visual configuration UI
- One-click deployment
- Automatic SSL setup
- Zero-downtime updates
- Built-in monitoring
- One-click rollbacks
Download Server Compass$29 one-time • Lifetime license
After Deployment
After deploying Hydra with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
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Connect with psql or any Postgres client
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Create columnar tables with USING columnar
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Load data for analytics
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
Hydra FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting Hydra
How do I deploy Hydra with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Hydra 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 Hydra?
Hydra 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 Hydra data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Hydra backup and restore procedures.
How do I update Hydra to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Hydra image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is Hydra free to self-host?
Hydra 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 Hydra?
Download Server Compass and deploy Hydra to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.
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