Launching your own Learning Management System (LMS) doesn’t have to be daunting. With Moodle—one of the world’s most popular open-source platforms—you can offer flexible, online training to your learners. In this post, we walk you through the process of installing Moodle using Docker Compose, a fast and modern way to deploy Moodle with minimal hassle. 

Hardware (for small to medium use cases): 
– RAM: 2–4 GB minimum 
– Disk space: 5–10 GB 
– CPU: Dual-core or better 
 
Software: 
– Docker 
– Docker Compose 

1. Create a project directory:

mkdir moodle-docker 
cd moodle-docker

2. Create a docker-compose.yml file: 

version: '3.7' 
services: 
  moodle: 
    image: moodlehq/moodle-php-apache:latest 
    ports: 
      - "8080:80" 
    volumes: 
      - moodledata:/bitnami/moodledata 
    environment: 
      - MOODLE_DB_TYPE=pgsql 
      - MOODLE_DB_HOST=db 
      - MOODLE_DB_NAME=moodle 
      - MOODLE_DB_USER=moodle 
      - MOODLE_DB_PASSWORD=moodlepass 
    depends_on: 
      - db 
 
  db: 
    image: postgres:13 
    environment: 
      POSTGRES_DB: moodle 
      POSTGRES_USER: moodle 
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: moodlepass 
    volumes: 
      - pgdata:/var/lib/postgresql/data 
 
volumes: 
  moodledata: 
  pgdata: 

3. Start the containers:

docker-compose up -d  

Linux Server: 
– Install Apache/Nginx, PHP, and MySQL/PostgreSQL 
– Download and configure Moodle 
– Set permissions 
– Complete installation via browser 
 
Windows Hosting: 
– Use XAMPP or WAMP 
– Place Moodle in htdocs 
– Open in browser at http://localhost/moodle 
 
Cloud VPS: 
– Docker or manual setup depending on provider 

Once you’ve launched your Moodle environment—either locally via http://localhost or on a remote host—you’ll be guided through a setup wizard to finalize your installation. 

1. Access the installation wizard
   Open your browser and visit the URL where Moodle is running (e.g., http://localhost:8080 or your server’s IP/domain). Moodle will automatically begin the configuration process.
2. Choose installation language
   Select your preferred language for the Moodle interface. This can be changed later if needed.
3. Server environment checks
   Moodle checks your PHP settings and server compatibility. You’ll see green “OK” status for each requirement.
   ⚠ If using plain HTTP, Moodle will issue a warning suggesting you secure your site with HTTPS for better security.
4. Database configuration
   Depending on your deployment:
   • Docker setup: Database values are passed via environment variables in the docker-compose.yml file. Moodle will detect and configure them automatically.
   • Manual setup: Enter details manually:
     • Database type: MariaDB or MySQL
     • Host: mariadb (or localhost if local)
     • Database Name/User: Use the app name or .env variable
     • Password: Match your MYSQL_PASSWORD
     • Port: 3306 (default)
5. Moodle Data Directory
   Specify a path outside the web root where Moodle stores uploaded files, caches, and session data. Ensure it’s writable by the server.
6. Admin Account Setup
   Create your first administrator account. Set a secure password and remember it—this account controls everything.
7. Site Configuration
   Provide a name, description, and default settings for your Moodle site. These can be changed later from the admin dashboard.
8. Set Up Your First Course
   Once installation is complete, you’ll land in the Moodle dashboard. You can immediately begin:
   • Creating your first course
   • Adding students or educators
   • Installing plugins for added functionality

This is the second of four Moodle-related posts. It’s a technical guide on how to install and configure Moodle using docker-compose.

Stay tuned for the next posts on: