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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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Moodle
Application2048MB+ RAM
Open-source learning management system (LMS) for online courses
lmseducationcoursese-learning
Deploy Moodle in 3 Steps
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Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
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Select Moodle
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 Moodle on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the Moodle template in Server Compass to deploy a self-hosted learning management system with MariaDB on your VPS, then verify the Moodle web UI 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 Moodle
Use the template picker search to find Moodle in the Server Compass template catalog.
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Step 4Select the Moodle template
Choose the Moodle template. Server Compass fills in the Moodle web service, MariaDB database, generated database password, and generated root database password.
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Step 5Review the Moodle settings
Confirm the app name and compose services. In this run, the app was named moodle-demo and used host port 8080.
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Step 6Deploy Moodle
Review the generated environment values, 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 Moodle image, starts the container, and verifies the stack.
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Step 8Confirm Moodle is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the Moodle app is marked Running with its application URL available.
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Step 9Open Moodle in the browser
Open the application URL in a browser. The Moodle web UI confirms the LMS is reachable.
After Moodle Opens
- Log in with the generated administrator account and change the password before production use.
- Configure HTTPS, email delivery, authentication, courses, roles, and enrollment settings before inviting course administrators.
- Back up the Moodle files and MariaDB volumes before relying on production course data.
Moodle deployment questions
What does the Moodle template deploy?
It deploys Moodle with MariaDB so teams can run a self-hosted learning management system.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host port 8080, which maps to the Moodle web service on container port 8080.
Why does the guide stop at the login or setup web UI?
The tutorial verifies the clean Moodle web UI because courses, users, authentication, email delivery, and enrollment workflows depend on the production instance.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the Moodle template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
Why Self-Host Moodle?
Moodle is the world's most popular open-source learning management system. Self-hosting gives educational institutions full control over student data, course content, and grading — critical for FERPA compliance and data sovereignty requirements.
Complete LMS with courses, quizzes, assignments, and grading
Student data stays on your server — critical for FERPA/GDPR
Support for SCORM, LTI, and other e-learning standards
Extensive plugin ecosystem with 1600+ plugins
No per-student pricing — host unlimited learners
Moodle vs Alternatives
Moodle vs Canvas LMS
Canvas charges per student. Self-hosted Moodle has no per-user fees and keeps student data on your infrastructure.
Moodle vs Google Classroom
Google Classroom sends student data to Google. Moodle is self-hosted with full compliance control and richer LMS features.
Moodle vs Blackboard
Blackboard is expensive and proprietary. Moodle is open-source with a larger community and more flexibility.
Why Deploy Moodle with Server Compass?
Server Compass deploys Moodle with PostgreSQL and persistent storage for course content, user data, and uploaded files. Your learning platform is ready for students within minutes of deployment.
Download Server CompassAfter Deployment
After deploying Moodle with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
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Complete the installation wizard
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Create admin account
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Create courses and enroll users
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
Moodle FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting Moodle
How do I deploy Moodle with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Moodle 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 Moodle?
Moodle requires a minimum of 2048MB RAM. We recommend a VPS with at least 4096MB RAM for optimal performance. Any modern Linux server with Docker support will work.
Can I migrate my existing Moodle data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Moodle backup and restore procedures.
How do I update Moodle to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Moodle image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is Moodle free to self-host?
Moodle 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 Moodle?
Download Server Compass and deploy Moodle to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.
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