Install Ghost CMS Easily: Setup and Configure via SSH

Introduction

Setting up Ghost CMS via SSH is one of the fastest ways to deploy a secure, scalable blogging platform on a cloud server. Ghost CMS is a lightweight, open-source content management system built on Node.js, designed for modern publishing. By configuring it through SSH, users gain direct control over server settings, automation, and performance optimization. In this guide, you’ll learn how to install, configure, and manage Ghost efficiently using step-by-step instructions for a seamless setup experience.

1-Click Deployment

Picture this. You’re sitting at your desk with a nice cup of coffee, ready to launch your very own blog using Ghost CMS. You don’t want to spend endless hours setting things up, adjusting server settings, or dealing with confusing terminal commands. You just want to start writing. That’s where the Ghost 1-Click deployment jumps in like a handy helper. It’s a quick and easy way to get a fully working Ghost setup on a cloud platform without any extra stress.

Here’s the cool thing. This isn’t just an empty setup. The deployment already comes with everything Ghost needs to work well. Think of it like getting a brand-new laptop that already has all your favorite apps installed and waiting for you. It includes Nginx 1.18.0 to handle your web traffic, MySQL Server 8.0.29 to safely store your data, and Node.js 16.x to keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes. And of course, there’s Ghost, the latest version at the time of writing, which is Ghost 5.33.3.

All of this runs on Ubuntu 22.04, one of the most reliable and secure operating systems around. The best part is that once your cloud server is set up, you can dive right into configuring and managing your Ghost CMS. No long setup process, no scary command lines, just a clean, fresh start for your new digital space. Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Release Notes

Before you press that launch button, there’s a bit of prep work to handle, but don’t worry, it’s simple. Think of it as building a solid base for your house before adding the decor. The first thing you’ll need is a registered domain name. That’s basically your site’s address, like your street name online, where people will go to find your blog.

Once you have your domain, you’ll need to connect it to your cloud server’s IP address. It’s a small but important step that makes your Ghost site accessible on the web. You can check out a simple DNS setup guide that walks you through creating something called an A Record, which links your domain name to your server. When you get this part right, your Ghost CMS will load smoothly, giving your readers a great experience right from the first visit.

Creating a Ghost Cloud Server

Now for the fun part, creating your Ghost cloud server. You’ll find the Ghost 1-Click installation image sitting in the Caasify Marketplace, ready to make your setup super easy. Imagine it like picking your favorite app from a store. You click Create Ghost Server, and just like that, the setup page opens with Ghost already selected in the “Choose an image” section.

If Ghost isn’t already chosen, no problem. Type “Ghost” in the search bar, and it’ll appear right away. Once you’ve got it, you can either go with the default setup or adjust the settings to fit your needs.

Here’s where things start to get interesting — the customization stage:

• Choosing a Datacenter: Imagine your readers visiting your blog from all over the world. To make sure your site loads fast for everyone, choose a datacenter region that’s closest to most of your visitors. The closer it is, the faster your site will load. Some areas might have more than one datacenter (like SFO2 and SFO3), but don’t worry, they’re basically identical, so either one works just fine.
• Choosing a Plan: Next, think about how much power your blog might need. If it’s a small personal blog, you can get by with basic resources. But if you plan to grow or expect heavy traffic, it’s better to pick a server with at least 2 CPU cores and 4 GB of RAM. It’s kind of like choosing between a small bike and a car. Both get you where you need to go, but one can handle more when things get busier.
• Choosing an Authentication Method: Here’s one tip that’s worth following. Always use SSH keys instead of passwords when you connect to your server. SSH keys are like digital ID cards that make your connection much more secure. Using SSH keeps your setup safe when you log into your cloud server later.
• Selecting Additional Options: If you want to keep an eye on how your site is performing, you can enable metrics, monitoring, and alerts. These tools help you see if your server is doing fine or needs a little attention. Backups are another helpful feature. You can turn on automated backups so you don’t lose your data if something unexpected happens. If you don’t want to enable them right away, that’s fine—you can always add them later when your Ghost CMS is up and running.
• Choosing a Hostname: Give your server a name that feels personal and easy to remember. Something like sammy-Ghost works great. After you’ve entered the name and reviewed your settings, click Create Server and let it do its thing. It’ll take a few minutes while your system installs Ghost and everything it needs to run. When it’s finished, you’ll receive your IP address, which is kind of like your website’s phone number.

And here’s something nice. Most 1-Click Marketplace apps come with links to extra resources like setup guides, app overviews, and helpful community tutorials. They’re great if you want to learn more about how to manage your Ghost setup.

Once you’ve done all of this, you’re good to go. Time to connect to your new server and bring your Ghost CMS to life.

Accessing the Cloud Server via SSH to Enable Configuration

Now that your Ghost server is up and running, it’s time to connect to it. This is where SSH (Secure Shell) comes in. It’s basically a safe way to access your server from your computer.

If you’ve never used SSH or programs like PuTTY before, don’t stress. Think of SSH like a remote control for your TV — it lets you manage your server without touching it physically. You can find lots of beginner-friendly guides online to help you get the hang of it.

Once you’re ready, open your terminal and type this command, replacing your_server_ip with the actual IP you got earlier:

$ ssh root@your_server_ip

Then hit Enter, and when it asks if you want to keep connecting, type yes . At that point, Ghost starts doing its thing. Your server begins setting up the environment, getting ready to host your brand-new blog.

Completing the Ghost Installation on Your Server

Next comes the setup wizard. Think of it as Ghost’s way of giving you a friendly welcome and helping you get settled in. It’ll ask for two things — your domain name and your email address. These are needed to connect your domain and set up SSL encryption to keep your site safe.

Once you press Enter, Ghost starts working hard behind the scenes. On your screen, you’ll see lots of activity like this:

✔ Checking system Node.js version – found v16.17.0
✔ Checking current folder permissions
✔ Checking memory availability
✔ Checking free space
✔ Checking for latest Ghost version
✔ Setting up install directory
☲ Downloading and installing Ghost v5.33.3
> Installing dependencies
> [4/5] Linking dependencies…

It’s kind of like watching a chef cook your favorite meal — every step matters and it’s all part of getting things just right.

Once that’s done, Ghost will ask for your domain name again:

✔ Finishing install process
? Enter your blog URL: your_domain_name

After that, type your email so it can grab a free SSL certificate from Let’s Encrypt. That way, your visitors will see that little padlock icon in their browser, letting them know your site is secure.

While that’s happening, Ghost also quietly sets up users and directories in the background:

✔ Configuring Ghost
✔ Setting up instance
+ sudo useradd –system –user-group ghost
+ sudo chown -R ghost:ghost /var/www/ghost/content
✔ Setting up “ghost” system user
✔ Setting up “ghost” mysql user
+ sudo mv /tmp/your_domain/your_domain.conf /etc/nginx/sites-available/your_domain.conf
+ sudo ln -sf /etc/nginx/sites-available/your_domainconf /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/your_domain.conf
+ sudo nginx -s reload
✔ Setting up Nginx
? Enter your email (For SSL Certificate) your_email_address

When you see all this, take a moment to appreciate it. Ghost is quietly building your digital space step by step. Then comes the best part:

✔ Starting Ghost
Ghost uses direct mail by default. To set up an alternative email method read our docs at https://ghost.org/docs/config/#mail

That’s your signal that Ghost CMS is officially alive and ready. Finally, you’ll see this message:

Ghost was installed successfully!
To complete setup of your publication, visit: https://your_domain/ghost/

You can now manage everything right from your terminal by switching to the ghost-mgr user with this command:

$ sudo -i -u ghost-mgr

Once SSL is working and everything’s ready, go to https://your_domain/ghost/ to check out your new site. It might take a few seconds for the page to show up, but hang tight — it’s worth it.

When that clean, simple Ghost welcome page appears, it’s your big moment. Create your account, click Create account & start publishing, and step into your shiny new Ghost Admin Panel.

Now the fun part begins. Click Write your first post, and a blank editor will open, waiting for your thoughts. Add a title, pour in your ideas, and when you’re ready, hit Preview to see what it’ll look like to your readers. You can go back to editing anytime by clicking Editor in the top-left corner.

And when it looks just right, click Publish. Confirm it by hitting Publish post, right now, and just like that, your first post goes live.

You now have a complete Ghost CMS setup, with a working admin panel and your very first article. Your new Ghost-powered blog is up, ready, and waiting for you to grow it and share your stories with the world.

Conclusion

Installing and configuring Ghost CMS via SSH offers a fast, secure, and efficient way to build and manage your own publishing platform. By following this step-by-step setup process, you can deploy Ghost on a cloud server, streamline performance, and gain full control over your content environment. Whether you’re starting a new blog or migrating an existing one, this method ensures stability, flexibility, and scalability for your website.As Ghost CMS continues to evolve with better integrations, enhanced security, and new publishing tools, mastering SSH configuration will keep you ahead of the curve. With automation, customization, and performance tuning, you can make your Ghost-powered site faster, safer, and ready for future innovations in content management and web hosting.

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