Pi
Portfolio Project · Self-Hosted Infrastructure
WordPress on
Raspberry Pi
A Raspberry Pi 4 running a full LAMP stack, self-hosted WordPress portfolio with SSL, automated backups, and 24/7 uptime for under €11/year.
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The Goal
Build a fully self-hosted WordPress portfolio server on a Raspberry Pi 4, no shared hosting, no cloud dependency. Full control over the stack, the data, and the infrastructure.
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What I Built
A production LAMP stack on Ubuntu Server 24.04, complete with SSL via Let's Encrypt, MariaDB database, Apache virtual host configuration, and automated backup scripts.
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Why It Matters
This site munyakazi.org runs entirely on this Raspberry Pi. Every project you read here is served from a device consuming less power than a light bulb, running 24/7 from my home in Berlin.
Project Specifications
Tech Stack & Hardware
Every component chosen for reliability, low power consumption, and real-world performance.
Hardware
Raspberry Pi 4 (8GB)
128GB microSD card · ARM Cortex-A72 · ~3.5W average power draw
Operating System
Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS
Headless server configuration · SSH access · Static IP assigned
Web Server
Apache2
Virtual host configuration · .htaccess rules · mod_rewrite enabled
Database
MariaDB
Lightweight MySQL-compatible database · Optimised for low-RAM environments
Language
PHP
Current stable release · Tuned php.ini settings for Raspberry Pi memory limits
SSL & Domain
Let's Encrypt + Certbot
Auto-renewing TLS certificate · Custom domain · HTTPS enforced site-wide
Implementation
Setup Process
Seven steps from blank SD card to live WordPress site with HTTPS.
1
Flash Ubuntu Server to SD Card
Used Raspberry Pi Imager to write Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS to a 128GB microSD. Configured headless SSH access before first boot.
2
Configure SSH & Static IP
Connected via SSH, assigned a static local IP, updated all packages, and configured hostname and timezone for the Berlin environment.
3
Install Apache, PHP & MariaDB
Full LAMP stack installation via apt. Tuned PHP memory limits and MariaDB buffer settings to run efficiently within the Pi's 8GB RAM.
4
Upload & Configure WordPress
Downloaded latest WordPress, configured wp-config.php with database credentials, set correct file permissions (755/644) and Apache virtual host.
5
Domain & Port Forwarding
Configured DNS A record pointing to home IP, set up router port forwarding (80/443), and enabled dynamic DNS to handle IP changes automatically.
6
SSL Certificate with Certbot
Installed Certbot and obtained a Let's Encrypt certificate. Configured auto-renewal via cron. All HTTP traffic redirected to HTTPS.
7
Backup Automation
Wrote a shell script to back up the WordPress database and files on a schedule. Script documented in the GitHub repository with full instructions.
Running Costs
Energy Efficiency Analysis
Calculated at the German average electricity rate of €0.35/kWh for 24/7 operation.
What This Project Demonstrates
Skills & Competencies
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Linux Administration
Ubuntu Server, SSH, package management, file permissions, system tuning
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Web Server Config
Apache2 virtual hosts, .htaccess, mod_rewrite, HTTP→HTTPS redirect
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SSL & Security
Let's Encrypt TLS, Certbot auto-renewal, Wordfence, security hardening
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Database Management
MariaDB setup, WordPress DB configuration, performance tuning for low RAM
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Shell Scripting
Backup automation scripts, cron jobs, scheduled maintenance tasks
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DNS & Networking
Domain configuration, A records, dynamic DNS, port forwarding (80/443)
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Cost Optimisation
Self-hosted vs cloud cost analysis, €10.73/year vs €60–€180 shared hosting
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Version Control
GitHub repository with config files, backup scripts, and full documentation
Explore the Code
The full setup guide, Apache config, backup script, and wp-config sample are available on GitHub. Browse the repository or explore more projects.
I built this setup as both a personal learning journey and a way to gain full control over my online presence. Hosting my portfolio on a Raspberry Pi might sound ambitious, but it’s proven to be stable, cost-effective, and incredibly rewarding. If you’re curious about the process or thinking of trying something similar, feel free to drop a comment, happy to exchange ideas!
I enjoyed going through it while having my morning coffee 🙂
Hey Remba! 😊
Thanks so much for checking out the project, I’m really glad to hear you enjoyed it (especially with your morning coffee, that’s the best combo!). It means a lot to me. More cool setups and experiments are coming soon, so stay tuned!
Let me know if you have any feedback or ideas, always happy to exchange thoughts.