--- title: "How to Deploy Apps on a Docker Host Self-Managed VPS" id: "90035" type: "ht_kb" slug: "how-to-deploy-apps-on-a-docker-host-self-managed-vps" published_at: "2026-10-13T00:40:18+00:00" modified_at: "2026-10-27T22:33:56+00:00" url: "https://www.greengeeks.com/support/article/how-to-deploy-apps-on-a-docker-host-self-managed-vps/" markdown_url: "https://www.greengeeks.com/support/article/how-to-deploy-apps-on-a-docker-host-self-managed-vps.md" excerpt: "This article explains how to install one-click apps, such as WordPress, on a Self-Managed VPS running the Docker Host template. It also covers managing installed apps and connecting your own domain. Table of Contents Before You Begin Available One-Click Apps..." taxonomy_ht_kb_category: - "Self Managed VPS Hosting" - "Server Questions" --- This article explains how to install one-click apps, such as WordPress, on a Self-Managed VPS running the Docker Host template. It also covers managing installed apps and connecting your own domain. ## Table of Contents - [Before You Begin](#before-you-begin) - [Available One-Click Apps](#available-one-click-apps) - [How to Deploy a One-Click App](#how-to-deploy-a-one-click-app) - [What to Do After Deployment](#what-to-do-after-deployment) - [How to Manage an Installed App](#how-to-manage-an-installed-app) - [How to Add a Domain to an App](#how-to-add-a-domain-to-an-app) - [How to Deploy a Custom App](#how-to-deploy-a-custom-app) - [Support for Docker Apps](#support-for-docker-apps) ## Before You Begin - **Your server must use the Docker Host template.** The **Docker** page only appears in the dashboard for Docker Host servers. To switch, see [How to Rebuild Your Self-Managed VPS](https://www.greengeeks.com/support/article/how-to-rebuild-your-self-managed-vps/) . Rebuilding erases all data on the server. - **Each Docker Host server includes a free domain**, such as `abc123.ggsvm.net`. You can publish apps at this domain, at a subdomain of it, or at your own domain. - **Some apps need more memory.** OpenClaw and Buzz need at least 4 GB of RAM. ## Available One-Click Apps | Category | App | Description | | --- | --- | --- | | AI | Hermes Agent | Self-hosted AI agent with a web dashboard. Requires your own model API key. | | AI | OpenClaw | Personal AI agent gateway with a web control panel. Requires your own model API key and 4 GB+ RAM. | | AI | Paperclip | Runs a team of AI agents with goals, budgets, and a dashboard. Requires your own model API key. | | Communication | Buzz | Team workspace for people and AI agents, used with the Buzz desktop app. Requires 4 GB+ RAM. | | Developer tools | Gitea | Self-hosted Git service with pull requests, issues, and a web interface. | | Monitoring | Uptime Kuma | Monitors websites and services and sends alerts when they go down. | | Monitoring | Grafana | Dashboards for metrics, logs, and databases. | | Web | WordPress | Website and blogging platform, with its own MariaDB database. | | Web | Static website (Nginx) | Serves a static HTML, CSS, and image site. | | Custom | Custom app | Deploys your own docker-compose file. | ## How to Deploy a One-Click App These steps use WordPress as an example. Other apps follow the same process, with app-specific fields in step 7. 1. Log in to your GreenGeeks dashboard. 2. Select **Servers** in the left menu. 3. Click **Manage** next to your Docker Host server. 4. Select **Docker** in the left menu. 1. Click **Deploy New App**. 1. Click the app you want to install, such as **WordPress**. 1. Review the settings: - **App name:** how the app is listed under **Apps**. Use lowercase letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. - **Publish at a domain with HTTPS:** keep this selected to get a secure web address. - **Free domain** or **My own domain:** where the app is published. To use your own domain, see [How to Add a Domain to an App](#how-to-add-a-domain-to-an-app) . - **Subdomain:** optional. Leave blank to use the free domain itself. - **Path:**`/` publishes the app at the whole domain. - **Database password:** leave blank to generate one. 2. Click **Install**. 1. Click **Done**. The app is ready in about a minute. Its progress appears at the top of the Docker page. ## What to Do After Deployment Open the app’s address right away to finish setup. For WordPress, this is the WordPress setup screen, where you choose a language and create your admin account. **Complete setup immediately.** Until you create the admin account, anyone who visits the address can do it first. Seeing this setup screen means the deployment was successful. Setting up and running the app from this point is your responsibility. ## How to Manage an Installed App 1. Go to the **Docker** page. 2. Click **Manage** next to the app. The **Manage** page shows the app’s address, installed versions, generated passwords, and setup instructions. The buttons at the top open, restart, or stop the app. More actions are available from the menu icon (**?**) next to the app on the **Apps** tab: | Action | What it does | | --- | --- | | Edit compose file | Opens the app’s docker-compose configuration. | | Redeploy | Applies the compose file again. | | Update to the newest build | Downloads the newest image for each version tag and restarts the app. Your data is kept. | | Restart | Restarts the app’s containers. | | Stop | Stops the app. | | Start | Starts a stopped app. | | Take down (remove containers) | Removes the app’s containers. | | Delete app… | Removes the app from the server. | **Note:** **Update to the newest build** stays within the same version tag. Moving to a new major version requires changing the tag in the compose file. ## How to Add a Domain to an App 1. Point your domain’s DNS **A record** to your server’s **Primary IP**. You can find the IP on the **Overview** page. 2. Go to the **Docker** page. 3. Select the **Domains** tab. 1. Click **Add Domain**. 2. Select **My own domain**. 3. Enter your domain in the **Domain** field. 4. Enter `/` in the **Path** field to use the whole domain. 5. Select the app from the **App** list. 1. Click **Add**. The **DNS** column shows **OK** when your domain points to the server. HTTPS is set up automatically the first time someone visits the domain. To publish several apps on one domain, give each one a different path, such as `/blog`. The app must support running under a path. ## How to Deploy a Custom App Use **Custom app** to deploy software that is not in the catalog. 1. Go to the **Docker** page. 2. Click **Deploy New App**. 3. Click **Custom app**. 4. Paste your docker-compose file. 5. Follow the prompts to finish deployment. Custom apps and containers you start with **Run Container** are not covered by GreenGeeks support. ## Support for Docker Apps | Situation | Covered by GreenGeeks Support | | --- | --- | | App deployment fails or does not finish | Yes | | App does not reach its default setup screen after deployment | Yes | | Free domain or HTTPS certificate is not issued for a new app | Yes | | App configuration, content, plugins, or themes | No | | App stops working after you change or update it | No | | Custom apps and containers you run yourself | No | For the full support policy, see [Self-Managed VPS Scope of Support](https://www.greengeeks.com/support/article/self-managed-vps-scope-of-support/)