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The dependable production pattern is a two-service Docker Compose project: an official WordPress image for PHP and the web server, plus MySQL or MariaDB on a private Compose network. Persist /var/www/html and the database directory in named volumes, put a TLS-terminating reverse proxy in front, and treat secrets, updates, backups, and recovery as part of the deployment rather than optional follow-up work.

What the deployment looks like

A VPS runs Docker Engine and the Compose plugin. Compose starts a WordPress container and a separate database container. They communicate over the project’s private network using the service name db; the database port is not published to the Internet. A reverse proxy such as NGINX or Apache owns public ports 80 and 443, obtains and renews certificates, redirects HTTP to HTTPS, and forwards requests to WordPress.

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The default wordpress:apache image is the simplest baseline because Apache and PHP are included. The FPM variant is appropriate only when you already operate a FastCGI-capable proxy; its FastCGI port must remain private.

Requirements and sensible VPS sizing

WordPress.org’s 2026 requirements recommendation is PHP 8.3 or newer, MariaDB 10.11 or newer or MySQL 8.0 or newer, and HTTPS. Apache or NGINX is recommended as the most robust and featureful server choice. The Docker image supplies PHP and a web server, but it does not size the VPS for your workload.

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Component Minimum recommendation What you must plan for
PHP 8.3 or newer Confirm that your selected WordPress image and plugins support the PHP version you deploy.
Database MariaDB 10.11 or newer, or MySQL 8.0 or newer Allocate disk and I/O for growth, indexes, revisions, and plugin tables.
Web transport HTTPS Certificate issuance, automatic renewal, HTTP-to-HTTPS redirect, and correct proxy headers.
VPS capacity Workload-dependent CPU, memory, storage, IOPS, swap policy, firewall access, DNS control, and backup storage.

Traffic spikes, image-heavy media libraries, page builders, search indexes, WooCommerce-style workloads, and poorly behaved plugins can require substantially more resources than a small brochure site. Leave headroom for database growth and backups; the compressed size of a container image is not a capacity estimate.

Prepare the VPS and project directory

  1. Install a supported Linux distribution, apply security updates, and create an administrator account that can use sudo.
  2. Install Docker Engine and the Docker Compose plugin from the distribution or Docker’s supported packages. Verify with docker version and docker compose version.
  3. Configure the firewall to allow only SSH (preferably restricted to your administration addresses), HTTP, and HTTPS. Do not open MySQL or MariaDB to the public network.
  4. Create a project directory with permissions restricted to the administrator:
mkdir -p ~/wordpress-docker/secrets ~/wordpress-docker/backups
cd ~/wordpress-docker
umask 077

Point the domain’s A and, where applicable, AAAA records at the VPS before requesting a certificate. If DNS is proxied by another service, ensure that its origin settings still permit your reverse proxy to complete certificate validation and receive HTTPS traffic.

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Use protected database credentials

Do not commit passwords to a Compose file or a public repository. The official WordPress image supports _FILE variables, including WORDPRESS_DB_PASSWORD_FILE and MYSQL_PASSWORD_FILE. These variables make the container read a password from a mounted secret file.

openssl rand -base64 32 > secrets/wp_db_password.txt
chmod 600 secrets/wp_db_password.txt

Keep the project directory and its secret files outside web roots, restrict access to the deployment account, and include the secret location in your backup and disaster-recovery documentation. A password file is not a substitute for encrypted, access-controlled backup storage.

A durable Docker Compose baseline

Save this as compose.yaml. It follows the official two-service pattern, adds explicit Compose secret declarations so the _FILE variables work, and uses named volumes that survive container replacement.

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services:
  wordpress:
    image: wordpress:apache
    restart: always
    environment:
      WORDPRESS_DB_HOST: db:3306
      WORDPRESS_DB_USER: wpuser
      WORDPRESS_DB_PASSWORD_FILE: /run/secrets/wp_db_password
      WORDPRESS_DB_NAME: wordpress
    secrets:
      - wp_db_password
    volumes:
      - wordpress:/var/www/html
    depends_on:
      - db

  db:
    image: mysql:8.0
    restart: always
    environment:
      MYSQL_DATABASE: wordpress
      MYSQL_USER: wpuser
      MYSQL_PASSWORD_FILE: /run/secrets/wp_db_password
      MYSQL_RANDOM_ROOT_PASSWORD: '1'
    secrets:
      - wp_db_password
    volumes:
      - db:/var/lib/mysql

volumes:
  wordpress:
  db:

secrets:
  wp_db_password:
    file: ./secrets/wp_db_password.txt

The WordPress volume contains the application tree, generated configuration, uploads, themes, and plugins. The database volume contains MySQL data under /var/lib/mysql. Replacing a container does not remove either volume.

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You can substitute a compatible MariaDB image when it meets the current WordPress requirement. Pin a tested major or minor tag rather than allowing an unreviewed floating tag to change production behavior. The official example uses mysql:8.0; record the exact tag or digest used for each release.

Start WordPress for the first time

  1. From the project directory, validate the rendered configuration and secret references:
docker compose config
  1. Download the selected images:
docker compose pull
  1. Start both services in the background:
docker compose up -d
  1. Check container state and recent logs:
docker compose ps
docker compose logs --tail=100 wordpress db

Initialization can take a couple of minutes on the first run while the database creates its files and WordPress prepares its application tree. Do not repeatedly destroy and recreate the project while it is initializing; inspect the logs for a real error and wait for the services to settle.

  1. Open the domain over HTTPS and complete the WordPress administrator setup. Choose a strong administrator password, set the correct site URL, select the timezone, and remove any accounts or content you do not need.

If the browser shows a database-connection error, confirm that the host is db, the database name and user match on both services, and the database logs show that initialization completed. The Compose service name, not the VPS public IP, is the correct database hostname.

Put HTTPS and a reverse proxy in front

Terminate TLS at NGINX, Apache, or another reverse proxy. Keep the WordPress service reachable only through the private Docker network. If the proxy runs in another container on the same Compose network, forward to http://wordpress:80. If it runs directly on the VPS, bind WordPress to a loopback-only host port and forward to that port; never bind the application or database port to every public interface.

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A proxy configuration must preserve the original protocol. Set X-Forwarded-Proto to https for an HTTPS request (and to http for plain HTTP when it is still accepted), pass the original host, and keep the client address headers consistent with your proxy chain. The official image specifically warns that this header is required when TLS is terminated upstream. With the documented WordPress environment configuration, no additional WordPress environment variable is normally required.

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name example.com www.example.com;
    return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
}

server {
    listen 443 ssl http2;
    server_name example.com www.example.com;

    ssl_certificate     /path/to/fullchain.pem;
    ssl_certificate_key /path/to/privkey.pem;

    location / {
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto https;
        proxy_pass http://wordpress:80;
    }
}

Replace the certificate paths and upstream address with your actual proxy layout. Configure automatic certificate renewal, test renewal before the first certificate expires, and verify that both the HTTP redirect and HTTPS response work from outside the VPS.

Understand volumes, backups, and restores

A database dump alone is incomplete: it cannot restore uploaded media, themes, plugins, or generated configuration. A file archive alone is also incomplete: it does not contain posts, users, settings, or other database content. Back up both named volumes.

Database backup

Run a consistent logical dump from the database container and write it to protected storage. The following example uses the password stored in the mounted secret:

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mkdir -p backups

docker compose exec -T db sh -c 'exec mysqldump --single-transaction --quick -u"$MYSQL_USER" -p"$(cat /run/secrets/wp_db_password)" "$MYSQL_DATABASE"' > backups/wordpress-$(date +%F).sql
chmod 600 backups/wordpress-*.sql

For very large or write-intensive databases, coordinate a backup method that meets your recovery-point objective and test its consistency. Keep more than one dated copy.

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WordPress file backup

Identify the actual Docker volume names with docker volume ls and archive the WordPress volume, especially wp-content/uploads, themes, plugins, and the generated configuration. A read-only helper container can create an archive without changing the application:

docker run --rm 
  -v YOUR_WORDPRESS_VOLUME:/data:ro 
  -v "$PWD/backups":/backup 
  alpine tar czf /backup/wordpress-files-$(date +%F).tar.gz -C /data .

Replace YOUR_WORDPRESS_VOLUME with the name shown by docker volume ls. Store copies off the VPS, encrypt them, restrict access, define a retention period, and document who can restore them.

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Test a restore

At least once, restore into an isolated staging project rather than assuming that a successful backup command proves recoverability. Restore the file archive into a fresh WordPress volume, import the SQL dump into a fresh database, start the proxy, and verify login, media, permalinks, plugin behavior, and scheduled tasks. Record the elapsed restore time so it can be compared with your recovery target.

Do not delete volumes accidentally

docker compose down removes containers and the project network but preserves named volumes. docker compose down --volumes removes those volumes and therefore deletes the WordPress database and files. Never use the --volumes form for routine maintenance unless you have deliberately backed up and intend to destroy the data.

Updates and image control

The default official image enables WordPress automatic updates inside the persistent /var/www/html volume. That is convenient, but mutable files make an exact rollback harder. A controlled production process is to pin the WordPress, PHP, database, theme, and plugin versions in a tested release, build a derived image when you need extra PHP extensions, and redeploy it regularly for security fixes.

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  1. Clone production data into staging and test the new image and plugins there.
  2. Take a fresh database dump and file backup.
  3. Change the image tag or digest in compose.yaml; do not rely on an unreviewed latest tag.
  4. Run docker compose pull, then docker compose up -d.
  5. Review docker compose ps and logs, then test the front page, administrator login, media uploads, permalinks, email, cron, and critical plugins.
  6. Keep the previous image reference and backups until the new release has passed its observation period.

The official image documentation advises rebuilding and redeploying regularly to receive current security fixes. Updating the image does not replace updating WordPress core, themes, and plugins through a tested maintenance process.

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Plugins, themes, PHP extensions, and FPM

Custom themes and plugins

Install themes under /var/www/html/wp-content/themes/ and plugins under /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/. The container’s web user must be able to read them and, where WordPress needs to write updates or generated files, have the required write permissions. Avoid making the entire filesystem broadly writable.

Missing PHP extensions

The official image does not include every PHP extension that a plugin might require. If a plugin reports a missing extension, create a derived image with a Dockerfile that starts FROM wordpress:apache, installs the extension, and is built and tagged as part of your release. Do not install ad-hoc packages inside a running container and expect them to survive replacement.

FPM variant

An image such as wordpress:<version>-fpm does not provide a public HTTP server. It requires a reverse proxy that speaks FastCGI. FastCGI is inherently trusting; publishing the FPM port with Docker -p is insecure unless the port remains private and reachable only by the proxy. For a first deployment, the Apache image avoids this extra moving part.

Operational checks after every deployment

  • DNS A and AAAA records resolve to the intended VPS.
  • The firewall exposes only required public ports; the database has no public port mapping.
  • The proxy reaches WordPress, sends the correct Host and X-Forwarded-Proto headers, and redirects HTTP to HTTPS.
  • docker volume ls shows both the WordPress and database volumes.
  • Logs are clean after startup and after every image change.
  • A test upload succeeds and the media remains after a container restart.
  • Pretty permalinks, administrator login, outgoing email, scheduled cron jobs, and essential plugins work.
  • A recent encrypted database dump and file backup exist off the VPS, and the latest restore test is documented.

Troubleshooting common failures

Symptom Likely cause Checks and remedy
WordPress reports it cannot connect to the database Wrong service name, credentials, or incomplete database initialization Check WORDPRESS_DB_HOST, user, database name, secret contents, and docker compose logs db. Use db, not the public IP.
502 or 504 from the proxy Incorrect upstream address, stopped container, or proxy/network mismatch Run docker compose ps, inspect WordPress logs, and verify that the proxy shares the network or targets the loopback binding you configured.
Redirect loop or WordPress says the site is not HTTPS Missing or incorrect X-Forwarded-Proto Set the header at the TLS proxy, reload the proxy, clear cached redirects, and test a fresh browser session.
Uploads disappear after a rebuild No persistent WordPress volume or the wrong volume was mounted Confirm the mount is wordpress:/var/www/html and that the volume still exists. Restore the file backup if data was written to a disposable container layer.
A plugin refuses to activate Unsupported PHP version or missing extension Read the plugin error and PHP logs, verify compatibility, and rebuild a derived image with the required extension.
Database vanishes after maintenance docker compose down --volumes was used Restore the database and files from tested backups. Use plain docker compose down for container replacement.

Self-managed Docker VPS versus managed WordPress hosting

Docker on a VPS is a good fit when you need control over image versions, networking, logs, staging, and rollback mechanics. Managed hosting trades some of that control for provider-operated patching, monitoring, support, and recovery workflows. Evaluate the decision on these axes:

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Axis Docker on your VPS Managed WordPress service
Control You choose the OS, images, proxy, plugins, and network policy. The provider sets platform boundaries and supported extensions.
Reproducibility Versioned Compose files and pinned images can recreate the stack. Recreation depends on the provider’s platform and export tools.
Security responsibility You patch the OS, Docker, proxy, PHP, WordPress, themes, and plugins. The provider handles some infrastructure layers; you still own site credentials and application updates unless contracted otherwise.
Recovery You define backup scope, retention, off-site copies, and restore time. Confirm exactly what is backed up, how long it is retained, and how a restore is requested.
Performance You tune CPU, RAM, disk I/O, caching, CDN use, and database settings. Capacity and tuning options follow the provider’s plans and limits.
Operations You operate monitoring, logs, staging, rollbacks, certificates, and support. Some operational work and support are included, with less low-level access.

Production readiness checklist

  • PHP 8.3+, MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.11+, and HTTPS meet the current WordPress.org recommendation.
  • WordPress and the database run as separate services on a private Compose network.
  • Named volumes persist /var/www/html and /var/lib/mysql.
  • Secrets are stored outside version control and readable only by the deployment account.
  • Only the reverse proxy has public HTTP and HTTPS exposure; the database remains private.
  • X-Forwarded-Proto is correct when TLS terminates upstream.
  • Images are pinned, updates are tested in staging, and a rollback reference is retained.
  • Database and file backups are encrypted, off-site, retained, and restored in a documented test.
  • Logs, uploads, permalinks, email, cron, and plugin compatibility are checked after changes.

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