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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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Prometheus
Infrastructure512MB+ RAM
Time-series monitoring and alerting system
monitoringmetricsalerting
Deploy Prometheus in 3 Steps
1
Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
2
Select Prometheus
Choose from our template library
3
Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy Prometheus on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the Prometheus template in Server Compass to deploy a self-hosted monitoring and time-series metrics server on your VPS, then verify the Prometheus query 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 Prometheus
Use the template picker search to find Prometheus in the Server Compass template catalog.
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Step 4Select the Prometheus template
Choose the Prometheus template. Server Compass fills the official Prometheus image, persistent data volume, default command, and web port.
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Step 5Review the Prometheus settings
Confirm the app name, service image, preserved volume settings, and host port. In the pilot run, the app was named prometheus-demo and used host port 9090.
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Step 6Deploy Prometheus
Review the Build on VPS option and the PORT value. When Server Compass confirms port 9090 is available, click Deploy Now.
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Step 7Watch the deployment progress
Keep the deployment modal open while Server Compass prepares the server, pulls the Prometheus image, starts the container, and verifies the service.
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Step 8Confirm Prometheus is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm Prometheus is marked Running. The app card keeps the application URL available for browser access.
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Step 9Open Prometheus in the browser
Click Open Application or open the application URL in a browser. The Prometheus query screen confirms the service is reachable and ready to collect or query metrics.
After Prometheus Opens
- Add scrape targets in prometheus.yml or mount your production Prometheus configuration.
- Keep the Prometheus data volume backed up if you need metric retention across server moves.
- Connect Grafana to Prometheus when you want dashboards and team-friendly visualization.
- Restrict public access to port 9090 unless this is a private monitoring server.
- Put Prometheus behind a domain, HTTPS, and authentication before production use.
Verified Result
The browser loaded the Prometheus query UI successfully, and /-/ready returned 'Prometheus Server is Ready.'
Prometheus deployment questions
What does the Prometheus template deploy?
It deploys the official Prometheus Docker image, a persistent data volume, the default Prometheus web UI, and the default web port.
Which port did the pilot use?
The pilot used host port 9090, which maps to Prometheus's default container port.
Why does the final screenshot show the query page?
Prometheus redirects the root URL to the query UI. Seeing that page confirms the container is running and reachable from a browser.
Should I expose Prometheus directly to the internet?
Usually no. For production, restrict access with firewall rules or put Prometheus behind a protected proxy with HTTPS and authentication.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the Prometheus template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
Self-Deploy Guide
DIY Prometheus Deployment
Learn how to self-host Prometheus 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/prometheus
cd ~/apps/prometheus3
Set Up Container Configuration
Set up the container stack using this Docker Compose configuration:
docker-compose.yml
services:
prometheus:
image: prom/prometheus:latest
ports:
- "9090:9090"
command:
- '--config.file=/etc/prometheus/prometheus.yml'
- '--storage.tsdb.path=/prometheus'
- '--web.enable-lifecycle'
volumes:
- prometheus_data:/prometheus
- prometheus_config:/etc/prometheus
restart: unless-stopped
volumes:
prometheus_data:
prometheus_config:
Setup Variables
PORTHost port(default: 9090)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 9090/tcp
sudo ufw reload
# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:9090Skip the Terminal
Prefer a visual interface? Use Server Compass.
Let Server Compass handle the complexity. Deploy Prometheus 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 Prometheus with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
1
Create prometheus.yml configuration
2
Add scrape targets
3
Configure alerting rules
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
Prometheus FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting Prometheus
How do I deploy Prometheus with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Prometheus 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 Prometheus?
Prometheus 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 Prometheus data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Prometheus backup and restore procedures.
How do I update Prometheus to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Prometheus image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is Prometheus free to self-host?
Prometheus 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 Prometheus?
Download Server Compass and deploy Prometheus to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.
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