Servers&Hosting

Welcome!

  • How to add a new site to Cloudflare on a new account

    This information is for directly after you have setup a new Cloudflare account by following our “Sign up for a new Cloudflare account” article. This information is also for domains that are already registered with a registrar. If you need to register a new domain, Cloudflare does offer this option as well, but it is not covered in this article. To use this option, you would click the “or register a new domain” as shown in the step 1 screenshot below.

    Step 1.

    On the page you came to after signing up, enter in your domain:

    Step 2.

    Choose how AI crawlers access your site. The default is to block them from accessing all pages on your site.

    What are AI Crawlers:

    AI crawlers are advanced web crawlers that use artificial intelligence to understand, analyze, and index website content more intelligently than traditional bots. Instead of just scanning keywords and links, they can interpret context, extract structured data, and even summarize content. These bots can use up a lot of resources on your site that should be used for legitimate human requests. You may also choose to not support them by giving away your data.

    Step 3.

    Click the Blue continue button, to continue on to the DNS records screen:

    If this domain is brand new at the registrar, select manually enter DNS records. Otherwise if you select quick scan, it will pull in several records you will need to delete.

    If your domain is already hosted somewhere, and you have DNS records setup that you need pulled into Cloudflare, select the Quick scan for DNS records.

    After you select continue, you may be presented with a screen (not shown in screenshot) to select the Cloudflare package. Go ahead and select the free package for now, and continue through, it is intuitive. The next screen will show the DNS records screen, similar to:

    Enter in the appropriate records given, which should mainly be an A record to point your site to your server. Please note the screenshots contain just demo information, your data will be different.

    With this, you want to make sure the orange cloud stays orange, and it says proxied. This means traffic to your site, will traverse through the Cloudflare network. A grey cloud will expose your record, while an orange cloud hides it.

    Step 4.

    Once you get everything added, continue onto the next screen (at the bottom of the DNS records screen) which will show you the nameservers information to set at the registrar.

    Another option – if you imported and saved the DNS records to your liking, is to continue, and then click Overview in the left side tab menu:

    On this overview page, see number 3 for your nameserver information:

    Your nameservers to set may most likely be different. At the registrar where you purchased your domain, set the nameservers, making sure to remove the old nameservers. This process makes Cloudflare the authoritative DNS nameservers, meaning all DNS changes need to be made at Cloudflare only.

    Once these steps are complete, your site should start propagating, and using Cloudflare. This may take up to 24 hours for full effect.

    Once your sites nameservers are fully propagated, the overview page should show like the following:

    Your site should now be fully using Cloudflare. Test by visiting your domain to make sure it is now loading.

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  • Helpful Server Management Script

    Enjoy this simple text based menu driven script to help manage your server provided By Vertahost.com

    #!/usr/bin/env bash
# Simple Server Management Script
# Provides basic administrative tasks via a menu-driven interface
#Designed by Vertahost.com

# Check if running as root
if [[ $EUID -ne 0 ]]; then
  echo "This script must be run as root."
  exit 1
fi

# Functions for menu options
show_uptime() {
  echo "\n--- System Uptime ---"
  uptime
}

show_disk_usage() {
  echo "\n--- Disk Usage ---"
  df -h
}

show_memory_usage() {
  echo "\n--- Memory Usage ---"
  free -h
}

update_system() {
  echo "\nUpdating package lists and upgrading packages..."
  if command -v apt >/dev/null 2>&1; then
    apt update && apt upgrade -y
  elif command -v yum >/dev/null 2>&1; then
    yum update -y
  else
    echo "Unsupported package manager."
  fi
}

manage_service() {
  read -rp "Enter service name: " svc
  echo "Select action for $svc:"
  select action in start stop restart status; do
    case $action in
      start|stop|restart|status)
        systemctl $action $svc
        break
        ;;
      *) echo "Invalid choice.";;
    esac
  done
}

add_user() {
  read -rp "Enter new username: " username
  adduser "$username"
}

remove_user() {
  read -rp "Enter username to remove: " username
  deluser "$username"
}

# Main menu loop
while true; do
  echo -e "\n=== Server Management Menu ==="
  echo "1) Show uptime"
  echo "2) Show disk usage"
  echo "3) Show memory usage"
  echo "4) Update system"
  echo "5) Manage a service"
  echo "6) Add a user"
  echo "7) Remove a user"
  echo "0) Exit"
  read -rp "Choose an option: " choice
  case $choice in
    1) show_uptime;;
    2) show_disk_usage;;
    3) show_memory_usage;;
    4) update_system;;
    5) manage_service;;
    6) add_user;;
    7) remove_user;;
    0) echo "Goodbye!"; exit 0;;
    *) echo "Invalid option.";;
  esac
done

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  • How to Get the Most Out of a Free Hosting Account (With Cloudflare and WordPress Setup Guide)

    Free hosting accounts are a great way to start your online journey, especially if you’re launching a personal blog, testing an idea, or learning web development. While free hosting comes with limitations, you can still build a fast, secure, and functional website—if you know how to optimize your setup.

    In this guide, we’ll show you how to get the most value from a free hosting plan by:

    • Maximizing performance with Cloudflare
    • Setting up a WordPress site efficiently
    • Staying within the limits of your hosting account

    Let’s dive in.

    Step 1: Choose a Reliable Free Hosting Provider

    Before anything else, choose a provider that offers a generous free tier. Look for the following features:

    • PHP & MySQL support
    • Custom domain support
    • One-click WordPress installer
    • Basic control panel (e.g., DirectAdmin or cPanel)

    Once your account is active and your domain is connected, it’s time to start setting things up.

    Step 2: Connect Your Domain to Cloudflare

    Cloudflare is a free CDN (Content Delivery Network) and DNS manager that also improves your site’s speed, security, and uptime. It’s a must-use for any site—especially on free hosting where resources are limited.

    How to Set Up Cloudflare for Your Website

    1. Go to Cloudflare.com and click “Sign Up.”
    2. Enter your email and password to create an account.
    3. Add your domain (e.g., yourdomain.com).
    4. Cloudflare will scan your current DNS records. Click “Continue.”
    5. Choose the Free plan and click “Continue.”
    6. Cloudflare will show you two new nameservers. Log in to your domain registrar and replace the current nameservers with the ones provided by Cloudflare.
    7. Go back to Cloudflare and click “Done, check nameservers.” It may take a few minutes to a few hours to propagate.

    Once activated, go to the Speed > Optimization tab and enable:

    • Auto Minify (HTML, CSS, JS)
    • Brotli compression
    • Rocket Loader (optional for JS-heavy sites)

    Step 3: Install WordPress on Your Free Hosting

    WordPress is a powerful CMS that runs well even on limited hosting. Most free hosting control panels include a one-click WordPress installer.

    WordPress Setup Steps

    1. Log in to your hosting control panel (e.g., DirectAdmin or cPanel).
    2. Locate Softaculous App Installer or similar.
    3. Choose WordPress > Install Now.
    4. Fill out the installation form:
      • Choose your domain
      • Set your site title and admin credentials
      • Choose a theme (you can change this later)
    5. Click Install.

    In a few moments, WordPress will be ready, and you can log in at yourdomain.com/wp-admin.

    Step 4: Optimize WordPress for Free Hosting

    To get the most performance and flexibility without exceeding hosting limits, apply these tips:

    • Install Lightweight Themes: Use themes like Astra, Neve, or GeneratePress.
    • Limit Plugins: Stick to essentials—avoid bloated page builders.
    • Enable Caching: Use LiteSpeed Cache (if your server supports LiteSpeed) or WP Super Cache.
    • Image Optimization: Use plugins like Smush or EWWW Image Optimizer to compress images.
    • Security: Add Wordfence Security or All-in-One WP Security and enable Cloudflare’s firewall rules.

    Bonus Tips for Free Hosting Users

    • Back up regularly. Many free hosts do not provide automatic backups.
    • Monitor disk and bandwidth usage. Stay within your limits to avoid suspension.
    • Use Cloudflare Page Rules to cache static pages and redirect non-www to www or vice versa.

    Example Page Rule:

    URL: *yourdomain.com/*
    Setting: Cache Everything + Edge Cache TTL 1 day

    Final Thoughts

    Free hosting isn’t meant to replace premium solutions, but with the right tools like Cloudflare and WordPress, it’s more than enough to run a simple, fast, and secure site. Whether you’re starting a blog, portfolio, or side project—this setup gives you a solid foundation without spending a dime.

    When you’re ready to scale or need more resources, migrating to a paid host is straightforward—especially if you’ve already built your site smartly from the ground up.

    Need help choosing a free hosting provider or setting up WordPress? Drop us a message or check out our hosting guides on serversandhosting.com.

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  • How to Set Up a Secure Linux Web Server (Step-by-Step Guide)

    Setting up a Linux web server is a must for developers, businesses, and hobbyists who want performance, control, and security. In this guide, you’ll learn how to configure a secure, production-ready web server from scratch using a modern Linux distribution.

    Step 1: Choose the Right Linux Distribution

    Before anything else, pick a solid Linux distro. Here are some battle-tested options:

    • Ubuntu Server (LTS) – Easy to use, great documentation.
    • Debian – Stable, minimal, and widely supported.
    • AlmaLinux / Rocky Linux (CentOS alternatives) – Enterprise-grade stability.

    Pro Tip: Choose LTS (Long-Term Support) versions to ensure consistent security updates.

    Step 2: Secure Initial Access

    1. Log into your server via SSH:
      ssh root@your-server-ip
    2. Create a new non-root user:
      adduser yourusername
      usermod -aG sudo yourusername
    3. Disable root login via SSH:
      Edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config:
      PermitRootLogin no
      Then restart SSH: systemctl restart sshd

    Step 3: Harden SSH Access

    • Use SSH key authentication instead of passwords:
      ssh-keygen ssh-copy-id yourusername@your-server-ip
    • (Optional) Change the default SSH port (for obscurity):
      nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config
    • Change the line:
      Port 2222
    • Then restart SSH:
      systemctl restart sshd

    Step 4: Set Up a Firewall

    For Ubuntu/Debian:

    ufw allow OpenSSH
ufw allow 'Nginx Full'    # or 'Apache Full'
ufw enable

    For CentOS/RHEL:

    firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=http
firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=https
firewall-cmd --reload

    Step 5: Install a Web Server

    Option 1: Nginx

    sudo apt install nginx           # Ubuntu/Debian
sudo yum install nginx           # CentOS/RHEL
systemctl enable nginx
systemctl start nginx

    Option 2: Apache

    sudo apt install apache2         # Ubuntu/Debian
sudo yum install httpd           # CentOS/RHEL
systemctl enable apache2         # or httpd
systemctl start apache2

    Step 6: Secure with HTTPS (Let’s Encrypt)

    Install Certbot:

    sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx    #Nginx

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-apache   #Apache

    Obtain SSL Certificate:

    sudo certbot --nginx -d yourdomain.com

#or
sudo certbot --apache -d yourdomain.com

    Enable auto-renewal:

    sudo systemctl enable certbot.timer

    Step 7: Harden the Server

    Install Fail2Ban:

    sudo apt install fail2ban

    Enable Unattended Security Updates:

    sudo apt install unattended-upgrades
sudo dpkg-reconfigure --priority=low unattended-upgrades

    Disable unused services:

    systemctl disable service-name

    Step 8: Deploy Your Website or App

    • Upload files to /var/www/html/ or your virtual host directory.
    • Set proper permissions:
      chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/ chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/

    Step 9: Monitor & Maintain

    Keep your server running smoothly and securely:

    • Monitor system usage:
      top, htop, uptime, netstat, df -h
    • Review logs:
      /var/log/auth.log /var/log/nginx/access.log
    • Schedule regular updates:
      sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

    Final Security Checklist

    • Root login disabled
    • SSH key authentication in place
    • Firewall configured
    • Web server installed and tested
    • HTTPS enabled with auto-renewal
    • Fail2Ban configured
    • Regular updates scheduled

    Conclusion

    Setting up a secure Linux web server doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By following these steps, you’ll have a hardened, reliable environment ready to serve your site or app to the world — safely.

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  • Shared Hosting vs VPS vs Dedicated Hosting: Which Web Hosting Plan Is Best for You?

    If you’re building a website, choosing the right web hosting plan is critical. The performance, security, and scalability of your site all depend on the type of hosting you select. In this guide, we’ll compare shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated hosting — three of the most popular types of web hosting — to help you decide which is right for your needs.

    1. What Is Shared Hosting?

    Shared hosting is the most basic and budget-friendly option. It’s like living in an apartment building — you share server resources with other websites.

    Pros:

    • Lowest cost; perfect for beginners
    • Easy to manage; no technical knowledge needed
    • Ideal for small websites or blogs

    Cons:

    • Shared server resources can slow your site
    • Limited scalability and customization
    • Not suitable for high-traffic sites

    Use Shared Hosting If:

    You’re just getting started, need affordable hosting for a small business, or are running a personal site with minimal traffic.

    2. What Is VPS Hosting?

    A Virtual Private Server (VPS) offers a middle ground. It provides a virtual environment on a shared physical server, but with dedicated resources and more control.

    Pros:

    • Improved performance and stability
    • Root access and custom configurations
    • More secure and scalable than shared hosting

    Cons:

    • Higher price than shared hosting
    • Requires basic technical know-how

    Use VPS Hosting If:

    You have a growing website, are running eCommerce or client projects, or want a secure hosting solution without the cost of a dedicated server.

    3. What Is Dedicated Hosting?

    Dedicated hosting gives you complete control over a physical server. It’s the top-tier option in terms of performance and security.

    Pros:

    • Exclusive access to all server resources
    • Full customization and root access
    • Best for handling high traffic and mission-critical websites

    Cons:

    • Expensive compared to other hosting types
    • Requires advanced server management skills

    Use Dedicated Hosting If:

    You run a large-scale business, host resource-intensive applications, or need the highest level of security and performance.

    4. Web Hosting Comparison Table

    FeatureShared HostingVPS HostingDedicated Hosting
    CostLowModerateHigh
    PerformanceBasicGoodExcellent
    Server ResourcesSharedVirtually DedicatedFully Dedicated
    ScalabilityLimitedHighVery High
    SecurityBasicStrongEnterprise-level
    Technical SkillBeginner-friendlyIntermediateAdvanced

    5. Which Hosting Plan Is Right for You?

    • Go with Shared Hosting if you’re launching a low-traffic website and want the cheapest and easiest solution.
    • Choose VPS Hosting if your site is growing and you need a good balance of cost, performance, and control.
    • Invest in Dedicated Hosting if you require enterprise-level hosting with full server control and top-tier performance.

    6. Conclusion

    Whether you’re launching a personal blog or scaling an online store, choosing the right web hosting plan is essential. Understand your site’s needs today — and where it’s headed — to pick between shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated hosting.

    Need more help deciding? Many providers offer easy upgrade paths, so you can start small and scale as you grow.

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  • Checking disk use on your server

    To check disk usage on your server, you can use several command-line tools available in most Unix-based systems (like Linux and macOS). These tools help you monitor how much disk space is being used, what’s taking up space, and how much free space remains. This is essential for managing server health, especially for avoiding downtime due to full disks.

    1. Using the df Command

    The df (disk free) command shows how much space is used and available on mounted filesystems.

    Basic usage:

    df -h

    Explanation:

    • -h stands for “human-readable,” and it displays sizes in KB, MB, or GB.
    • This shows a list of mounted filesystems, their total size, used space, available space, and usage percentage.

    Sample output:

    Filesystem      Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
    /dev/sda1        50G   25G   23G  53% /
    tmpfs           2.0G     0  2.0G   0% /dev/shm

    This tells you how much space is being used on each mounted partition (e.g., / is the root directory).

    2. Using the du Command

    The du (disk usage) command shows how much space individual files and directories are using.

    Check space in a directory:

    du -sh /path/to/directory

    Explanation:

    • -s summarizes the total.
    • -h makes it human-readable.

    To view usage of all folders in a directory:

    du -h --max-depth=1 /path

    This breaks down disk usage for each subdirectory inside /path.

    Example output:

    1.1G    /home/user/Documents
    200M    /home/user/Downloads

    This is very helpful when tracking down what’s consuming disk space.

    3. Combining du with sort

    You can sort folders by size to find the biggest ones:

    du -h /path | sort -hr | head -n 10
    • sort -hr: Sorts in human-readable format, largest first.
    • head -n 10: Shows the top 10 results.

    This helps locate space hogs quickly.

    4. Graphical Alternatives

    If you’re using a desktop environment, tools like ncdu (for terminal-based interactive browsing) can help:

    Install and use ncdu on Ubuntu based servers:

    sudo apt install ncdu
ncdu /

    It shows a navigable summary of disk usage by folder.

    5. Checking Disk Inodes

    Disk space may be free, but you could still run out of inodes (used to track files). Check inode usage with:

    df -i

    Final Thoughts

    For quick checks, use df -h. For detailed usage by directory, use du -sh or ncdu. Regular disk checks can help avoid outages or performance issues due to full storage.

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  • Various hosting options explained

    There are several options available for hosting a website, ranging from basic, low-cost solutions to advanced, high-performance infrastructure. The right option depends on your specific needs, such as traffic volume, technical expertise, budget, scalability, and the type of website you’re running (e.g., blog, e-commerce, portfolio, etc). This guide outlines the most common website hosting options, detailing their benefits, drawbacks, and ideal use cases.

    1. Shared Hosting

    Overview:
    Shared hosting is the most basic and affordable type of hosting. Your website resides on a server with many other websites, sharing resources like CPU, RAM, and bandwidth.

    Pros:

    • Cost-effective (great for beginners and small websites).
    • Easy to use with minimal setup.
    • Usually includes a control panel (like cPanel) and 1-click installers.

    Cons:

    • Limited performance and speed.
    • Restricted resource usage.
    • Not ideal for high-traffic or resource-intensive sites.
    • Lower security since other sites share the same server.

    Best for:
    Small personal blogs, portfolios, static websites, or businesses just starting online.

    2. Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting

    Overview:
    VPS hosting provides a virtualized server environment. While you still share a physical server with others, you have dedicated resources and more control.

    Pros:

    • Better performance and reliability than shared hosting.
    • Scalable resources.
    • Greater control and customization.
    • Isolated from other users on the same physical server.

    Cons:

    • More expensive than shared hosting.
    • Requires some technical knowledge (especially if unmanaged).
    • Still limited by the physical server’s capacity.

    Best for:
    Growing websites, web apps, or online stores with moderate traffic needing more power and flexibility.

    3. Dedicated Hosting

    Overview:
    With dedicated hosting, you rent an entire physical server for your website. This means you have full control over the server, including its configuration and installed software.

    Pros:

    • Full access and control.
    • High performance and reliability.
    • Custom security configurations.
    • No resource sharing.

    Cons:

    • Expensive.
    • Requires deep technical expertise.
    • Overkill for small to medium sites.

    Best for:
    Large websites, enterprise applications, or businesses needing strict security and customization.

    Final Thoughts

    Choosing the right hosting option depends on your website’s goals, complexity, and expected growth. Here’s a simplified decision guide:

    • For beginners or low-budget: Shared hosting
    • For growing websites: VPS or cloud hosting.
    • For high-traffic, performance-critical sites: Dedicated, High performance VPS hosting, or even a clustered setup (not spoken about in this article)
    • For WordPress sites: Shared hosting or VPS.
    • For developers and businesses: VPS Servers or Dedicated
    • For enterprises: Dedicated servers or Clustering.

    Take time to assess your technical comfort level, desired performance, and future scalability when choosing a provider.

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