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Jenkins

Development1024MB+ RAM

Leading open-source automation server

ci-cdautomationbuild

Deploy Jenkins in 3 Steps

1

Connect Your VPS

Add your server credentials to Server Compass

2

Select Jenkins

Choose from our template library

3

Deploy & Configure

Fill in settings and click Deploy

No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide

Deploy Jenkins on a VPS with Server Compass

Use the Jenkins template in Server Compass to deploy a self-hosted automation server on your VPS, then verify the Jenkins unlock screen in a browser.

About 10 minutesBrowser verified
1
Step 1

Open 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.

Server Compass Apps tab before creating a Jenkins app
2
Step 2

Choose an app template

Click New App and choose the template deployment path so Server Compass can load the built-in catalog.

Choosing to deploy an app from a Server Compass template
3
Step 3

Search for Jenkins

Use the template picker search to find Jenkins in the Server Compass template catalog.

Searching for Jenkins in the Server Compass template picker
4
Step 4

Select the Jenkins template

Choose the Jenkins template. Server Compass fills the Jenkins service, persistent Jenkins home volume, web port, and agent port.

Jenkins template selected in Server Compass
5
Step 5

Review the Jenkins settings

Confirm the app name and compose services. In this run, the app was named jenkins-demo and used host port 3001.

Reviewing Jenkins project settings and compose services
6
Step 6

Deploy Jenkins

Review the generated environment values, confirm the web and agent ports are available, and click Deploy Now.

Reviewing Jenkins environment variables and port before deployment
7
Step 7

Watch the deployment progress

Keep the deployment modal open while Server Compass uploads the compose file, pulls the Jenkins image, starts the container, and verifies the stack.

Server Compass deploying the Jenkins template on the VPS
8
Step 8

Confirm Jenkins is running

After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the Jenkins app is marked Running with its application URL available.

Jenkins template running in the Server Compass Apps tab
9
Step 9

Open Jenkins in the browser

Click Open Application or open the application URL in a browser. The Unlock Jenkins screen confirms the automation server is reachable and ready for final setup.

The deployed Jenkins unlock screen loaded in a browser

After Jenkins Opens

  • Complete the Jenkins installation wizard and create the first administrator account.
  • Retrieve the initial admin password from the Jenkins container logs or `/var/jenkins_home/secrets/initialAdminPassword` before completing setup.
  • Store the administrator credentials and any Jenkins secrets in a secure password manager.
  • Add a domain and HTTPS before inviting users or pushing repositories over the public internet.
  • Configure agents, plugins, credentials, and job permissions before using Jenkins for production CI/CD.
  • Back up the Jenkins home volume before relying on it for production jobs.

Verified Result

The Jenkins app loaded successfully in a browser and displayed the Unlock Jenkins setup screen.

Jenkins deployment questions

What does the Jenkins template deploy?

It deploys the official Jenkins LTS container with a persistent Jenkins home volume, web access on port 8080, and an agent port on 50000 by default.

Which port did the tutorial use?

The tutorial used host port 3001, which maps to the Jenkins web UI on container port 8080.

Why does the browser verification stop at the unlock screen?

A fresh Jenkins deployment is considered reachable when the Unlock Jenkins screen loads. Completing the wizard requires a real administrator password and creates real credentials, so the public guide stops before account creation.

Should this become a blog post?

No. The deployment guide should live on the Jenkins template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.

Self-Deploy Guide

DIY Jenkins Deployment

Learn how to self-host Jenkins with this hands-on deployment guide.

1

Access Your VPS via Terminal

Open a terminal session and log into your VPS. Replace the placeholder with your actual IP.

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 Project Folder

Create a workspace for your deployment files.

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

Create the Compose File

Configure your containers with this Docker Compose setup:

docker-compose.yml
services:
  jenkins:
    image: jenkins/jenkins:lts
    ports:
      - "8080:8080"
      - "50000:50000"
    environment:
      - JAVA_OPTS=-Djenkins.install.runSetupWizard=true
    volumes:
      - jenkins_home:/var/jenkins_home
    restart: unless-stopped

volumes:
  jenkins_home:
Setup Variables
PORTWeb port(default: 8080)
AGENT_PORTAgent port(default: 50000)
4

Deploy Your Stack

Spin up the containers and verify the deployment.

terminal
# Start all services
docker compose up -d

# List running containers
docker compose ps

# Watch the logs
docker compose logs -f
5

Update Firewall Settings

Allow incoming traffic on the application port.

terminal
# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 8080/tcp
sudo ufw reload

# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:8080
Skip the Terminal

Skip the terminal. Use Server Compass instead.

Let Server Compass handle the complexity. Deploy Jenkins with a simple, intuitive interface.

  • 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 Jenkins with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup

1

Get initial password from logs

2

Complete setup wizard

3

Install recommended plugins

Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.

Jenkins FAQ

Common questions about self-hosting Jenkins

How do I deploy Jenkins with Server Compass?

Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Jenkins 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 Jenkins?

Jenkins requires a minimum of 1024MB RAM. We recommend a VPS with at least 2048MB RAM for optimal performance. Any modern Linux server with Docker support will work.

Can I migrate my existing Jenkins data?

Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Jenkins backup and restore procedures.

How do I update Jenkins to the latest version?

Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Jenkins image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.

Is Jenkins free to self-host?

Jenkins 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 Jenkins?

Download Server Compass and deploy Jenkins to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.

Download Server Compass