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WordPress

Application512MB+ RAM

WordPress CMS with MySQL database

cmsblogwebsitephp

Deploy WordPress in 3 Steps

1

Connect Your VPS

Add your server credentials to Server Compass

2

Select WordPress

Choose from our template library

3

Deploy & Configure

Fill in settings and click Deploy

No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide

Deploy WordPress on a VPS with Server Compass

Use the WordPress template in Server Compass to deploy a self-hosted WordPress site with MySQL on your VPS, then open the WordPress installer in a browser.

About 7 minutesBrowser verified
1
Step 1

Open 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.

Server Compass Apps tab before creating a WordPress 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 WordPress

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

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

Select the WordPress template

Choose the WordPress template. Server Compass fills the WordPress image, MySQL service, persistent volumes, database variables, and default host port.

WordPress template selected in Server Compass
5
Step 5

Review the WordPress settings

Confirm the app name and compose summary. In the pilot run, the app was named wordpress-demo and used host port 3002.

Reviewing the generated WordPress and MySQL services
6
Step 6

Deploy WordPress

Review the generated database name, database user, masked database passwords, and host port. When the port check passes, click Deploy Now.

Reviewing WordPress database variables and host port before deployment
7
Step 7

Watch the deployment progress

Keep the deployment modal open while Server Compass prepares the project, pulls the WordPress and MySQL images, starts both containers, and verifies the service.

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

Confirm WordPress is running

After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the WordPress app is marked Running with two services. The card also keeps the app URL available.

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

Open WordPress in the browser

Click Open or open the application URL in a browser. The WordPress installation screen confirms the deployed app is reachable and ready for the site setup wizard.

The deployed WordPress installation screen loaded in a browser

After WordPress Opens

  • Complete the WordPress installation wizard from a private browser session.
  • Use a strong WordPress admin password and store it securely.
  • Add a domain and HTTPS before using the site in production.
  • Back up both the WordPress files volume and the MySQL data volume before publishing important content.
  • Keep WordPress core, plugins, and themes updated.

Verified Result

The WordPress app loaded successfully in a browser and displayed the language selection step of the installation wizard.

WordPress deployment questions

What does the WordPress template deploy?

It deploys the official WordPress Docker image, a MySQL 8 database, persistent volumes for WordPress files and database data, and generated database passwords.

Which port did the pilot use?

The pilot used host port 3002 so it would not conflict with existing demo apps. For a public site, you can use port 80 or place WordPress behind a reverse proxy.

Why does the first browser screen ask for a language?

A fresh WordPress deployment starts with the installation wizard. Seeing the language selection screen confirms the app and database started successfully.

Should this become a blog post?

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

DIY Deployment

Self-Host WordPress with Docker

Take the DIY route and deploy WordPress on your own server using Docker.

1

Remote into Your Server

Initiate a secure shell connection to your server using the command below.

terminal
# Connect to your VPS
ssh root@your-server-ip

# Or with a specific SSH key
ssh -i ~/.ssh/your-key root@your-server-ip

First time? Docker required! Install it with: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh

2

Create the App Directory

Organize your deployment by creating a dedicated project folder.

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

Write Your docker-compose.yml

Create a new docker-compose.yml file and paste this configuration:

docker-compose.yml
services:
  wordpress:
    image: wordpress:latest
    ports:
      - "80:80"
    environment:
      - WORDPRESS_DB_HOST=db:3306
      - WORDPRESS_DB_USER=wordpress
      - WORDPRESS_DB_PASSWORD=<your-db-password>
      - WORDPRESS_DB_NAME=wordpress
    volumes:
      - wordpress_data:/var/www/html
    restart: unless-stopped
    depends_on:
      db:
        condition: service_healthy

  db:
    image: mysql:8.0
    environment:
      - MYSQL_DATABASE=wordpress
      - MYSQL_USER=wordpress
      - MYSQL_PASSWORD=<your-db-password>
      - MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=<your-db-root-password>
    volumes:
      - db_data:/var/lib/mysql
    restart: unless-stopped
    healthcheck:
      test: ["CMD-SHELL", "mysqladmin ping -h localhost -u root -p$$MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD || exit 1"]
      interval: 10s
      timeout: 5s
      retries: 5
      start_period: 30s

volumes:
  wordpress_data:
  db_data:
Configurable Options
PORTHost port to expose(default: 80)
DB_NAMEDatabase name(default: wordpress)
DB_USERDatabase user(default: wordpress)
DB_PASSWORDDatabase password
DB_ROOT_PASSWORDRoot password
4

Launch the Containers

Start the services and tail the logs to verify startup.

terminal
# Spin up containers
docker compose up -d

# Verify deployment
docker compose ps

# Check logs for errors
docker compose logs -f
5

Open Firewall Ports

Open the required port in your firewall to allow access.

terminal
# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 80/tcp
sudo ufw reload

# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:80
Skip the Terminal

Want the easy way? Try Server Compass.

Forget SSH and YAML files. Deploy WordPress visually with Server Compass in just a few clicks.

  • Visual config editor
  • Instant deployment
  • Automatic HTTPS
  • Smooth updates
  • Live monitoring
  • Quick rollbacks
Download Server Compass$29 one-time • Lifetime license

After Deployment

After deploying WordPress with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup

1

Complete WordPress installation wizard

2

Install essential plugins (security, backup, caching)

3

Configure permalinks

4

Set up SSL certificate with Let's Encrypt

Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.

WordPress FAQ

Common questions about self-hosting WordPress

How do I deploy WordPress with Server Compass?

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

WordPress 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 WordPress data?

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

How do I update WordPress to the latest version?

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

Is WordPress free to self-host?

WordPress 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 WordPress?

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

Download Server Compass