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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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Loki
Infrastructure512MB+ RAM
Log aggregation system by Grafana
logginglogsaggregationgrafana
Deploy Loki in 3 Steps
1
Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
2
Select Loki
Choose from our template library
3
Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy Loki on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the Loki template in Server Compass to deploy a log aggregation service on your VPS, then verify the Loki readiness endpoint in a browser.
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 Loki
Use the template picker search to find Loki in the Server Compass template catalog.
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Step 4Select the Loki template
Choose the Loki template. Server Compass fills the Loki service, Promtail sidecar, persistent volumes, and API port.
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Step 5Review the Loki settings
Confirm the app name and compose services. In this run, the app was named loki-demo and used host port 3100.
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Step 6Deploy Loki
Review the generated compose settings, confirm the Loki API port is available, and click Deploy.
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Step 7Watch the deployment progress
Keep the deployment modal open while Server Compass uploads the compose file, pulls the Loki image, starts the container, and verifies the stack.
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Step 8Confirm Loki is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the Loki app is marked Running with its application URL available.
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Step 9Open the Loki readiness endpoint in the browser
Open the application URL with /ready appended. A ready response confirms the Loki HTTP API is reachable.
After Loki Opens
- Do not expose Loki directly to the public internet without a firewall, VPN, or authenticated reverse proxy.
- Configure Promtail or another log shipper to send the logs you want to retain.
- Use a VPN, IP allowlist, firewall rule, or authenticated reverse proxy for production access.
- Add Loki as a Grafana data source before building dashboards.
- Set retention, compaction, and storage settings before relying on Loki for production logs.
- Keep the Loki and Promtail images updated for logging, dependency, and security fixes.
Verified Result
The Loki /ready endpoint loaded successfully and reported the service is ready.
Loki deployment questions
What does the Loki template deploy?
It deploys the Loki container with a persistent data volume and a Promtail sidecar mounted to host logs.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host port 3100, which maps to the Loki HTTP API on container port 3100.
Why does this guide verify /ready instead of a dashboard?
Loki is an API service, not a standalone dashboard. The /ready endpoint proves the service is reachable; Grafana is the usual dashboard layer for browsing logs.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the Loki template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
DIY Deployment
Self-Host Loki with Docker
Take the DIY route and deploy Loki on your own server using Docker.
1
Log into Your Server
Access your server's command line by opening a terminal and running the SSH command below.
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
2
Prepare the Install Location
Set up the folder structure for your Docker deployment.
terminal
# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/loki
cd ~/apps/loki3
Create docker-compose.yml
Set up your Docker Compose file with this configuration:
docker-compose.yml
services:
loki:
image: grafana/loki:latest
ports:
- "3100:3100"
command: -config.file=/etc/loki/local-config.yaml
volumes:
- loki_data:/loki
restart: unless-stopped
promtail:
image: grafana/promtail:latest
volumes:
- /var/log:/var/log:ro
- promtail_config:/etc/promtail
restart: unless-stopped
depends_on:
- loki
volumes:
loki_data:
promtail_config:
Configurable Options
PORTHost port(default: 3100)4
Run the Deployment
Start all services defined in your compose file.
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 Network Access
Open the port so you can access the application externally.
terminal
# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 3100/tcp
sudo ufw reload
# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:3100Skip the Terminal
Want one-click deploys? Try Server Compass.
Forget SSH and YAML files. Deploy Loki visually with Server Compass in just a few clicks.
- 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 Loki with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
1
Configure Promtail
2
Add Loki as Grafana data source
3
Create log dashboards
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
Loki FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting Loki
How do I deploy Loki with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Loki 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 Loki?
Loki 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 Loki data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Loki backup and restore procedures.
How do I update Loki to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Loki image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is Loki free to self-host?
Loki 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 Loki?
Download Server Compass and deploy Loki to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.
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