selfhost

Install Ghost on the Orange Pi Zero 3 (4GB RAM) | Step-by-Step Guide to Self-Hosting

MediaTech

Nov 18, 2024 • 4 min read

Hey Everyone!

Welcome back! Today, I’m walking you through something I’m personally excited about—installing Ghost CMS on the Orange Pi Zero 3. This is a super budget-friendly, single-board computer, and we’re going to use it to create a killer self-hosted blog.

Now, I know a lot of you might be wondering: Why not just use WordPress, Wix, or one of those website builders? Well, I’m glad you asked because there’s a lot to unpack there, and I’m going to show you why self-hosting with Ghost is the way to go, especially if you’re into saving money, performance, and control. Let’s dive right in!

Why Go for Ghost Instead of WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace?

1. Save Your Money for Better Stuff

Platforms like Wix and Squarespace love to nickel and dime you. You’re looking at $20, $30, or even $50 a month for hosting. With this setup, you just need a cheap Orange Pi and a bit of electricity. That’s it—no monthly fees eating away at your budget.

2. Blazing Fast Performance

Ghost is built for speed. It’s lean, it’s fast, and it doesn’t come with all the bloat you get from WordPress plugins. I’ve been using it for a while now, and it’s perfect if you want a simple, super-fast blog that loads in a snap.

3. Total Control Over Your Site

Let’s be real—having control over your own server is empowering. No one likes their site being down because a third-party provider messed up. Self-hosting gives you full control, more privacy, and it’s a great learning experience if you’re into tech like I am.

4. Built for Blogging

If you’re serious about blogging, Ghost is built for it. The writing experience is clean and distraction-free. Unlike WordPress, you don’t get overwhelmed with settings and plugins—it’s just you and your content.

What You Need to Get Started

Alright, let’s talk prerequisites. Here’s what you’ll need:

Hardware: Orange Pi Zero 3 with 4GB of RAM (this thing costs less than your monthly Wix bill!)
Software: DietPi OS, Docker, Docker Compose
Network: A stable internet connection (nothing fancy)
Skill Level: You don’t have to be a tech wizard—basic command line knowledge will get you through this.

Step 1: Setting Up Your Orange Pi

First things first, let’s get DietPi installed on the Orange Pi Zero 3.

Flash DietPi OS:
- Download the image from DietPi’s website.
- Use Balena Etcher to flash it to your microSD card.
- Boot up your Orange Pi and log in via SSH.
Update Your System:

Run this command to make sure everything’s up to date:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Docker and Docker Compose

This part is easy thanks to DietPi’s built-in software manager.

Install Docker:
Install Docker Compose:

Follow it up with:

sudo apt install docker-compose -y

Just run this command:

dietpi-software install 162

You’re all set up with Docker now. Let’s get Ghost running!

Step 3: Deploy Ghost CMS

Create a Directory for Ghost:
Start the Ghost Container:
Access Your Blog:
- Go to http://your-domain.com:2368 in your browser, and there you have it—your very own Ghost blog running on a tiny, affordable Orange Pi!

Type this in:

docker-compose up -d

Add Your Docker Compose Configuration:

version: '3.1'

services:
  ghost:
    image: ghost:latest
    container_name: ghost
    restart: always
    ports:
      - 2368:2368
    environment:
      - url=http://your-domain.com
    volumes:
      - ./ghost-data:/var/lib/ghost/content

Open your terminal and run:

mkdir ghost && cd ghost
nano docker-compose.yml

Cloudflare Tunnel (Optional but Highly Recommended)

I always recommend setting up a Cloudflare Tunnel for an extra layer of security. Plus, it makes managing traffic easier.

Follow this guide to get started with Cloudflare Tunnels.
Set up a CNAME record in your Cloudflare dashboard pointing your domain to the tunnel.

Troubleshooting Tips

Ghost Container Won’t Start:
- Run docker logs ghost to see what’s going wrong. Nine times out of ten, it’s a configuration typo.
Can’t Access the Site via Domain:
- Double-check your Cloudflare DNS settings and ensure the tunnel is active.

Wrap-Up

And that’s it! You now have a fully functional, self-hosted Ghost CMS running on an Orange Pi Zero 3. You’re not only saving money but also getting a super-fast, secure blogging platform that’s entirely under your control. This setup is great for anyone looking to level up their blogging game without getting stuck with recurring fees from Wix or WordPress.

What’s Next?

You can watch my YouTube video and follow along as well!

If you found this guide helpful, do me a favor—subscribe to my YouTube channel for more tutorials like this. And if you have any questions, drop them in the comments below or hit me up on Facebook.

Let’s keep building cool stuff together!

FAQ

Q: Can I scale this setup for a bigger website?

A: Absolutely! Ghost scales well, and you can always move it to a bigger server if needed.

Q: What’s the ongoing cost of this setup?

A: Just your initial hardware cost and a bit of electricity—no monthly fees here!

Alright, that’s a wrap for today. Now it’s your turn—get that blog up and running and show the world what you’ve got!