Running OpenLiteSpeed + WordPress with the Official OpenLiteSpeed Docker Image

2026-08-29

This article explains how to run OpenLiteSpeed using its official Docker image and set up WordPress on top of it. It also covers the steps to configure a reverse proxy for an existing web server running in another container, allowing it to be accessed from within the OpenLiteSpeed container.

How to Use the OpenLiteSpeed Container (ols-docker-env)

We will use the official ols-docker-env.

Basic Startup

docker compose up -d

Customizing Configurations

• It is recommended to change the database password and DB name as appropriate.
• If you change the container_name in docker-compose.yml, you will also need to update the scripts in the bin directory (such as domain.sh and database.sh).
• To access an existing Docker Network, add the following configuration to docker-compose.yml.

networks:
  <既存network名>:
    external: true

Setting Up WordPress

1. Add a domain using bash bin/domain.sh [-A, --add] example.com .
2. Create a database for WordPress by running bash bin/database.sh [-D, --domain] example.com [-U, --user] USER_NAME [-P, --password] MY_PASS [-DB, --database] DATABASE_NAME.
3. Install WordPress using bash bin/appinstall.sh [-A, --app] wordpress [-D, --domain] example.com.

Configuring the OpenLiteSpeed Reverse Proxy

Virtual Host Configuration

1. Access the OpenLiteSpeed admin panel and select Virtual Host from the side menu.
   Set the password for the administrative user (admin) with the following:

   bash bin/webadmin.sh my_password

    

2. Add a Virtual Host.
   • Virtual Host Name: Any desired name
   • Virtual Host Root: /var/www/vhosts/$VH_NAME/
   • Config File (Example): conf/vhosts/<Virtual Host Name>/vhconf.conf
     If the file does not exist, there is a CLICK TO CREATE button to create it.
   • Enable Script/ExtApps: Yes
   • Restrained: Yes

3. Set Document Root in the General tab to /var/www/vhosts/$VH_NAME/.
4. Create a directory named $VH_NAME inside the sites directory.

Proxy Configuration

1. Add the following to External App.
   • Name: $VH_NAME (a unique name; using $VH_NAME works fine)
   • Address: The address of the forwarding target web server (e.g., http://backend:8080)
2. Add a Proxy to Context.
   • URI: / (Root)
   • Web Server: Select the one configured in External App.

Listeners Configuration

1. Select Listeners.
2. Select the protocol you want to forward (HTTP/HTTPS) and add a Virtual Host Mapping.
   • Virtual Host: The one added earlier
   • Domain: The domain name you want to forward (can be the same as the Virtual Host)
3. Click the Restart button in the upper right corner to apply the changes.

Verification

Once the configurations are applied correctly, accessing the target URL will display the web server’s content through the existing Docker Network.

References

• OpenLiteSpeed Official Docker Documentation
• GitHub – ols-docker-env