GLPI Ticketing System Lab

Docker Compose lab for running a self-hosted GLPI helpdesk with the official GLPI image, MariaDB, persistent storage, and an internal-only database network.

Status: IT support / systems administration portfolio lab. The repo contains the repeatable Docker setup; the companion write-up documents the manual GLPI implementation, troubleshooting, sample tickets, roles, locations, assets, and reporting workflow.

Problem Statement

Small IT teams need a reliable way to track support requests, assign ownership, manage assets, and measure response times. This project shows how I set up GLPI as a practical ITSM/helpdesk environment and packaged the core runtime with Docker Compose for repeatable local testing.

Companion Write-Up

Full implementation story:

From Zero to Helpdesk Hero: Building an Enterprise IT Support System with GLPI

The article covers the manual setup path, including web server troubleshooting, PHP-FPM socket issues, GLPI security warnings, FakeCorp sample organization design, ticket examples, user roles, asset tracking, location-based routing, SLA tracking, and reporting.

Architecture

Browser
  |
  v
GLPI container
  |  port 8080 -> container port 80
  |
  v
MariaDB container
  |
  v
Docker named volume: glpi_db

GLPI uploaded files and application data:
Docker named volume: glpi_data

MariaDB is not exposed on a host port. Only the GLPI container can reach it over the Docker network.

Tech Stack

• Official glpi/glpi Docker image
• MariaDB 10.11
• Docker
• Docker Compose
• Named Docker volumes

What This Demonstrates

• Self-hosted ITSM/helpdesk runtime using Docker Compose.
• Persistent database and GLPI application data storage.
• Environment-based database credentials through .env.
• Internal service networking with only GLPI exposed to the host.
• Database health check before GLPI startup.
• Practical IT support workflow design: users, roles, tickets, categories, assets, locations, SLA examples, and reporting notes.

Quick Start

Prerequisites:

• Docker
• Docker Compose

git clone https://github.com/darestack/glpi-ticketing-system.git
cd glpi-ticketing-system
cp .env.example .env
docker compose up -d

Open GLPI:

http://localhost:8080

Default GLPI credentials are created by the upstream image. Change them immediately after first login.

Database credentials are read from .env; do not commit real secrets.

Repository Files

docker-compose.yml   GLPI and MariaDB service definitions
.env.example         Local environment variable template
docs/evidence-checklist.md  Screenshots and proof checklist
docs/operations-runbook.md  Backup, restore, and smoke-test notes
scripts/backup-db.sh        MariaDB logical backup helper
scripts/restore-db.sh       MariaDB restore helper
scripts/smoke-test.sh       Container and HTTP smoke test
README.md            Project scope, setup, and evidence notes

Evidence Already Available

• Docker Compose runtime definition in this repo.
• Companion article documenting the manual implementation and troubleshooting path.
• Article examples include sample tickets, role setup, asset tracking, locations, SLA/reporting exploration, and GLPI security hardening notes.
• Operations runbook with smoke-test, backup, and restore commands.

Evidence Still Needed In This Repo

• docs/screenshots/ with GLPI dashboard, sample ticket, asset inventory, and SLA/reporting screenshots.
• Redacted .env setup notes.
• Short smoke-test command output showing containers running.
• Backup and restore command output for MariaDB.
• Upgrade notes for GLPI image/version changes.

Use docs/evidence-checklist.md and docs/operations-runbook.md before presenting the project in interviews.

Known Limitations

• This is a local lab, not a hardened production deployment.
• The Compose file uses the official glpi/glpi:latest image for easy lab setup; pin a version or digest before using this outside a lab.
• TLS, email ingestion, SSO/LDAP, backups, monitoring, and off-host storage are not configured yet.
• GLPI business configuration is documented in the article, but not exported as reproducible configuration in this repo.

Next Improvements

• Pin the GLPI image version.
• Add screenshots and a short evidence checklist under docs/.
• Add a production-hardening section covering TLS, mail collectors, scheduled backups, and access control.