Discourse is a popular open-source discussion platform designed for modern forums and communities. In this guide, we will walk you through how to install Discourse on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. Whether you’re using a or another VPS service, Discourse is a powerful tool to create a dynamic online forum.
Prerequisites
Before starting, ensure you have the following:
- An Ubuntu 20.04 LTS server, which could be hosted on a UK Windows VPS, Windows VPSVirtual Private Server Hosting, or another Windows VPS Hosting UK solution.
- A domain name pointed to your server’s IP address.
- At least 2 GB of RAM.
- Root or sudo access on your server.
Step 1: Update Your System
Before you begin the installation, update your system packages to ensure everything is up to date:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -yStep 2: Install Docker
Discourse uses Docker to deploy its containerized application. First, install Docker on your Ubuntu server:
sudo apt install apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl software-properties-common
curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo apt-key add -
sudo add-apt-repository "deb [arch=amd64] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu focal stable"
sudo apt update
sudo apt install docker-ce -yStep 3: Install Git
Discourse uses Git to download and manage the installation files. Install Git by running:
sudo apt install git -yStep 4: Clone the Discourse Repository
Navigate to the directory where you want to install Discourse and clone the official Discourse repository:
sudo mkdir /var/discourse
sudo git clone https://github.com/discourse/discourse_docker.git /var/discourseStep 5: Configure Discourse
Navigate to the Discourse directory and run the setup script:
cd /var/discourse
sudo ./discourse-setupThe script will ask for information such as your domain name, email address, and SMTP server details for sending email. Be sure to have this information ready, as it is necessary for completing the installation.
Step 6: Start Discourse
Once the configuration is complete, Discourse will automatically start. You can check the status of the Discourse containers using the following Docker command:
sudo docker psYou should see the running Discourse container in the output.
Step 7: Access Discourse
Now, open your web browser and navigate to your domain name (e.g., http://your-domain.com). You will be prompted to complete the setup by creating an admin account. Follow the on-screen instructions to configure your Discourse forum.
Step 8: Configure SSL with Let’s Encrypt (Optional)
For added security, you can enable SSL using Let’s Encrypt. During the discourse-setup process, you will be prompted to enable SSL. If you missed this step, you can manually configure SSL by running the setup again or using Certbot:
sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx -y
sudo certbot --nginx -d your-domain.comCertbot will automatically configure Nginx to redirect HTTP traffic to HTTPS, securing your forum with SSL.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you have successfully installed and configured Discourse on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. Whether you’re hosting on a , Microsoft SQL VPS Windows, or another Windows VPSVirtual Private Server Hosting, Discourse provides a powerful, modern platform for building an online community.
Author: Łukasz Bodziony
Website: Windows VPS
Łukasz Bodziony is the CEO and founder of NETCLOUD24, a global VPS hosting brand proudly originating from Poland. With extensive experience in cloud computing, virtualization, and server management, he delivers high-performance Windows VPS and Remote Desktop Services (RDS) solutions to clients across Europe, North America, and beyond.
His expertise covers a wide range of technologies, including Microsoft Azure, Proxmox VE, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and numerous other virtualization and cloud platforms.
Beyond running his hosting business, Łukasz also provides professional paid server configuration and optimization services for companies and individuals. Outside of work, he is dedicated to caring for his children and building a secure future for them.
If you are interested in working with him or need expert assistance with your hosting, cloud environment, or server setup, feel free to reach out via Windows VPS.
