Guide to Installing Grafana and Prometheus on Ubuntu VPS

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Published date:7/8/2026 Update:21/8/2026 Views:186 Reviews: 4.8/5153reviews

Guide to installing Grafana + Prometheus + Node Exporter on Ubuntu VPS using Docker Compose, helping monitor CPU, RAM, hard drive, network, load average, and server operating status via intuitive dashboards.

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During the operation of VPS, servers, websites, or service systems, monitoring server resources is very important. High CPU usage, exhausted RAM, full disk, or abnormal network activity can all cause services to slow down, hang, or be interrupted if not detected early.

Instead of constantly logging into SSH and using commands liketop, htop, free -h hay df -h, we can build a visual monitoring system usingGrafana + Prometheus + Node Exporter.

In this article,VPTSwill guide youinstall Grafana and Prometheus on Ubuntu VPS using Docker Compose from A to Z, including Node Exporter to monitor CPU, RAM, Disk, Network, and other critical VPS metrics.

What is Grafana?

Grafana is an open-source platform used for data analysis, visualization, and monitoring. Grafana helps transform data such as CPU, RAM, disk space, network traffic, metrics, and logs into intuitive, real-time charts and dashboards.

Grafana is commonly combined with Prometheus to build monitoring systems for VPS, servers, applications, and network infrastructure. In this setup, Prometheus collects and stores metrics, while Grafana uses that data to render easy-to-monitor dashboards.

GUIDE TO INSTALLING GRAFANA AND PROMETHEUS

Step 1. Update the system

First, update the package list:

sudo apt update

Step 2. Install Necessary Packages

Installation:

sudo apt install -y ca-certificates curl

Step 3. Add Docker Repository

First, create a directory to store the Docker GPG Key:

sudo install -m 0755 -d /etc/apt/keyrings

Download Docker's official GPG Key:

sudo curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc

Grant read permission:

sudo chmod a+r /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc

Next, add the Docker Repository:

sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.sources >/dev/null <<EOF
Types: deb
URIs: https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu
Suites: $(. /etc/os-release && echo "${UBUNTU_CODENAME:-$VERSION_CODENAME}")
Components: stable
Architectures: $(dpkg --print-architecture)
Signed-By: /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc
EOF

Step 4. Install Docker and Docker Compose

Run:

sudo apt update

Install Docker:

sudo apt install -y docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-plugin

Enable Docker to start automatically on VPS boot:

sudo systemctl enable --now docker

Step 5. Create Grafana and Prometheus Directories

Create Prometheus directory:

sudo mkdir -p /opt/monitoring/prometheus

Create Grafana directory:

sudo mkdir -p /opt/monitoring/grafana/provisioning/datasources

Navigate to the Monitoring directory:

cd /opt/monitoring

Step 6. Create Prometheus Configuration

sudo tee prometheus/prometheus.yml >/dev/null <<'EOF'
global:
  scrape_interval: 15s
  evaluation_interval: 15s

scrape_configs:

  - job_name: prometheus
    static_configs:
      - targets:
          - '127.0.0.1:9090'

  - job_name: node
    static_configs:
      - targets:
          - '127.0.0.1:9100'
EOF

Step 7. Create Prometheus Data Source for Grafana

We will configure Grafana to automatically discover Prometheus on startup.

sudo tee grafana/provisioning/datasources/datasource.yml >/dev/null <<'EOF'
apiVersion: 1

datasources:
  - name: Prometheus
    type: prometheus
    access: proxy
    url: http://127.0.0.1:9090
    isDefault: true
    editable: true
EOF

Step 8. Create Grafana Admin Account

Run:

sudo tee .env >/dev/null <<EOF
GF_SECURITY_ADMIN_USER=admin
GF_SECURITY_ADMIN_PASSWORD=$(openssl rand -base64 24)
EOF

Restrict file access permissions:

sudo chmod 600 .env

Step 9. Create Docker Compose

Create file:

sudo tee docker-compose.yml >/dev/null <<'EOF'
services:

  prometheus:
    image: prom/prometheus:latest
    container_name: prometheus
    network_mode: host
    restart: unless-stopped

    volumes:
      - ./prometheus/prometheus.yml:/etc/prometheus/prometheus.yml:ro
      - prometheus_data:/prometheus

    command:
      - '--config.file=/etc/prometheus/prometheus.yml'
      - '--storage.tsdb.path=/prometheus'
      - '--web.listen-address=127.0.0.1:9090'


  grafana:
    image: grafana/grafana:latest
    container_name: grafana
    network_mode: host
    restart: unless-stopped

    env_file:
      - .env

    volumes:
      - grafana_data:/var/lib/grafana
      - ./grafana/provisioning:/etc/grafana/provisioning


  node-exporter:
    image: quay.io/prometheus/node-exporter:latest
    container_name: node-exporter
    network_mode: host
    pid: host
    restart: unless-stopped

    command:
      - '--path.rootfs=/host'
      - '--web.listen-address=127.0.0.1:9100'

    volumes:
      - '/:/host:ro,rslave'


volumes:
  prometheus_data:
  grafana_data:
EOF

Step 10. Check configuration and start containers

Navigate to the Monitoring directory:

cd /opt/monitoring

Check Docker Compose file syntax:

sudo docker compose config

Start the containers:

sudo docker compose up -d

Then verify:

sudo docker compose ps

Step 11. Log in to Grafana

On your computer, open a browser and visit: http://IP_VPS:3000

User: admin

To view the Password again, run the command:

cd /opt/monitoring
sudo cat .env

Result:

GF_SECURITY_ADMIN_USER=admin

GF_SECURITY_ADMIN_PASSWORD=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Step 12. Import Node Exporter Dashboard

After logging into Grafana successfully, we will Import the DashboardNode Exporter Fullto visually monitor VPS resources such as CPU, RAM, Disk, Network, Load Average, and various other system metrics.

On the Grafana interface, select: Dashboards → New → Import

In sectionImport dashboard, enter Dashboard ID: 1860

Then clickLoad.

In the next step:

SelectPrometheusin the Data Source section.
Review Dashboard information again.
ClickImportto complete.

After successful Import, Grafana will display the DashboardNode Exporter Fullwith comprehensive resource monitoring charts for the VPS.

You can monitor CPU Usage, RAM Usage, disk space, Network speed, Load Average, Disk I/O, and other system metrics right on an intuitive dashboard.

You have now completed the installationPrometheus, Node Exporter, and Grafanato monitor VPS resources visually and effectively.

VPTS – Comprehensive Digital Infrastructure Solutions Provider

VPTS is a digital infrastructure solution provider in Vietnam, serving deployment, operation, and data storage needs for individuals, developers, and enterprises. The service ecosystem includesVietnam VPS, International VPS, VPS Anti DDoS, Hosting cPanel, dedicated server, Rack rental, Proxy IPv4/IPv6, S3 MinIOandCloud Storage.

Besides providing infrastructure resources, VPTS also focuses on assisting customers with deployment, configuration, and practical troubleshooting. Content on the VPTS Blog is drawn from common scenarios in operating VPS, servers, and online systems, helping readers understand root causes and apply clear solutions.

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CONCLUSION

Thus,VPTSguided you through completing the process ofinstall Grafana + Prometheus on Ubuntu VPS. Once successfully configured, you can visually monitor important server metrics such asCPU, RAM, disk space, system load, and VPS operational status.

The combination ofPrometheusandGrafanamakes system monitoring intuitive, easy to manage, and aids in early detection of resource or server performance issues.

For the monitoring system to operate stably and securely, regularly update software, configure the Firewall appropriately, use strong passwords, and set up alerts when VPS resources exceed predefined thresholds.

Hope this articleGuide to Installing Grafana + Prometheus on Ubuntu VPSofVPTSwill help you easily build an efficient and professional VPS monitoring system.