If you are having trouble setting up and managing a DigitalOcean server, due to a lack of skills for that server, you don’t need to worry, because currently there are services available that allow you to run and manage a server without needing to know Linux system administration, one of which is Runcloud.
With Runcloud, you no longer need to be a Linux system administrator to run and manage DigitalOcean Servers. Runcloud gives you the ability to change settings and configurations, install scripts, back up your files, manage databases, and much more.
How to Setting Up and Managing DigitalOcean Servers Using Runcloud
Runcloud is a cloud-based (SaaS) server management panel designed to simplify web server setup and management without the need to master complex Linux text commands. Perfect for those who want a hassle-free experience.
Here are some practical steps that can help you:
Create a DigitalOcean Droplet
First of all, You’ll need to register with DigitalOcean. After registering and activating your account, click “Start with a Droplet” to create your DigitalOcean cloud VPS, or “droplet.”
Then select the following options for your droplet:
- Image – Choose Ubuntu or the default option.
- Plan – Choose Standard. There’s a $5/month plan with 1 GB of RAM and 25 GB of storage, but you can choose a larger one depending on your needs or budget.
- Block storage – Ignore this unless you need more disk space.
- Data center region – Select the city where the server is located.
- Additional options – Include private network, IPV6, user data, and monitoring. This isn’t strictly necessary, but you can add it if you like.
- Authentication – For this, you can choose an SSH key or a one-time password.
- Hostname – You can use the default hostname or change it to something else.
- Backups – Backups cost $1/month. I’d skip this since Runcloud offers free backups up to 30 GB.
Then click “Create Droplet” and wait a few seconds for your server to be setup.
You should now see the DigitalOcean droplet you just created and its corresponding IP address. This IP address will be used to connect your server to Runcloud.
Connect Your DigitalOcean Droplet to Runcloud
Next, log in to Runcloud (you can take advantage of a 5-day free trial). Click “Let’s get started” to add your first server.
Select a server provider (DigitalOcean in this case) and enter the server name and IP address. Then click “Add this server.”
Note: If you are using an SSH key, select “Manual Installation.” Select “Direct Installation” if you prefer a one-time password instead of an SSH key.
Next, open the PuTTY application. Enter the IP address and port.
Go to Connection > Data and set the auto-login username to “root.”
Return to the first step of PuTTY configuration and save your session. Click “Open” to connect to the server.
A security warning notification will appear. Click “Yes.”
Enter the key passphrase for your SSH key. PuTTY will then start connecting to the server. Then, Copy the script from Runcloud in the Manual Installation step and paste it into the terminal. Runcloud will then begin installing the required packages for your server. You’ll need to wait a few minutes for this process to complete.
Once the installation is complete, copy and save the MySQL root password, user name, and password. You’ll need them to manage your server.
And congratulations, your DigitalOcean VPS has been successfully provisioned and configured. You can now see it on the Runcloud server.
Creating a Web Application and Installing WordPress
The next step is to install WordPress on your DigitalOcean server. Runcloud lets you install web applications like WordPress with just a few clicks, eliminating the need to manually upload files and create a MySQL database.
Click “Web Applications” in the left-hand menu, then “Create Web Application.”
Select “1-Click WordPress.”
Select or enter the following settings or information:
- Web Application Name, Can be anything.
- Domain Name,Enter a domain name (e.g., domainwebsite.com).
- Web Application Owner, Check “Existing system user.”
- PHP Version, Default is PHP 7.4.
- Web Application Stack, Default is NGINX + Apache2 Hybrid.
- Site Title, The name of your website.
Admin Username, Your preferred WordPress username.
Admin Password, Use this to log in to your WordPress admin.
Admin Email, Enter your email address if it is different from your Runcloud email.
Then Click “Add Web Application” when finished.
That’s it! You’ve successfully installed WordPress on your DigitalOcean server. Don’t forget to point your domain name to the server by changing its DNS records. Runcloud offers free migrations to move your website or application to their platform.
Thank you for spending a few precious minutes on this corner of the internet. See you in the next article, and I hope this was helpful!