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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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phpMyAdmin
Development128MB+ RAM
Web-based MySQL/MariaDB database management tool
databasemysqlmariadbadminweb-ui
Deploy phpMyAdmin in 3 Steps
1
Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
2
Select phpMyAdmin
Choose from our template library
3
Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy phpMyAdmin on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the phpMyAdmin template in Server Compass to deploy a web-based MySQL and MariaDB administration tool on your VPS, then verify the login screen 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.
3
Step 3Search for phpMyAdmin
Use the template picker search to find phpMyAdmin in the Server Compass template catalog.
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Step 4Select the phpMyAdmin template
Choose the phpMyAdmin template. Server Compass fills the phpMyAdmin service, arbitrary-server login mode, optional database host/port fields, and web port.
5
Step 5Review the phpMyAdmin settings
Confirm the app name and compose services. In this run, the app was named phpmyadmin-demo and used host port 3001.
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Step 6Deploy phpMyAdmin
Review the generated compose settings, 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 phpMyAdmin image, starts the container, and verifies the stack.
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Step 8Confirm phpMyAdmin is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the phpMyAdmin app is marked Running with its application URL available.
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Step 9Open phpMyAdmin in the browser
Click Open Application or open the application URL in a browser. The phpMyAdmin login form confirms the web database administration interface is reachable.
After phpMyAdmin Opens
- Do not expose phpMyAdmin directly to the public internet without HTTPS, strong database credentials, and an additional access-control layer.
- Use a VPN, IP allowlist, or authenticated reverse proxy for production database administration.
- Enter only the intended MySQL or MariaDB host on the login form; `PMA_ARBITRARY=1` allows arbitrary server targets.
- Keep the phpMyAdmin image updated for security fixes.
- Use least-privilege database users instead of root credentials for routine administration.
phpMyAdmin deployment questions
What does the phpMyAdmin template deploy?
It deploys the phpMyAdmin container with arbitrary-server login enabled, so you can enter the intended MySQL or MariaDB host on the login page.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host port 3001, which maps to the phpMyAdmin web UI on container port 80.
Why does the browser verification stop at the first web UI screen?
A fresh phpMyAdmin deployment is considered reachable when the login form loads. Connecting to a database requires your own database hostname, username, and password.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the phpMyAdmin template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
Manual Setup Guide
Set Up phpMyAdmin from Terminal
Get your hands dirty: manual phpMyAdmin deployment guide for developers.
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/phpmyadmin
cd ~/apps/phpmyadmin3
Create docker-compose.yml
Set up your Docker Compose file with this configuration:
docker-compose.yml
services:
phpmyadmin:
image: phpmyadmin:latest
ports:
- "8080:80"
environment:
- PMA_ARBITRARY=1
- PMA_HOST=<your-pma-host>
- PMA_PORT=3306
- UPLOAD_LIMIT=100M
restart: unless-stopped
Environment Variables
PORTHost port for phpMyAdmin web interface(default: 8080)PMA_HOSTDatabase server hostnamePMA_PORTDatabase server port(default: 3306)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 8080/tcp
sudo ufw reload
# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:8080Skip the Terminal
Want one-click deploys? Try Server Compass.
Why type commands when you can click? Deploy phpMyAdmin the easy way with Server Compass.
- 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 phpMyAdmin with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
1
Open phpMyAdmin in browser
2
Enter your MySQL/MariaDB host, username, and password
3
Start managing your databases
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
phpMyAdmin FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting phpMyAdmin
How do I deploy phpMyAdmin with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select phpMyAdmin 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 phpMyAdmin?
phpMyAdmin requires a minimum of 128MB 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 phpMyAdmin data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard phpMyAdmin backup and restore procedures.
How do I update phpMyAdmin to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest phpMyAdmin image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is phpMyAdmin free to self-host?
phpMyAdmin 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.
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