If you’re just getting started with RunCloud and want to learn the basics, this guide is for you. Here’s what you need to know to get up & running and see why so many people choose RunCloud for hassle-free server management.
Note: if you haven’t signed up yet, start your 7-day free trial here.
What we’ll cover in this guide:
- Recommended infrastructure
- Deploying your first server
- Creating your first web application (WordPress example)
- Speeding up WordPress with Redis full-page and object caching
- An introduction to backup & disaster recovery
If you stumbled across this guide and aren’t familiar with RunCloud: RunCloud is the world’s leading server management platform – trusted by countless developers, agencies, and site owners to deploy and manage their production-grade infrastructure. We help teams eliminate SysAdmin busywork without giving up control and the cost benefits of running infrastructure on AWS, UpCloud, or other cloud providers of their choice.
Now, let’s introduce you to refreshingly simple and efficient server management.
Recommended Infrastructure
RunCloud requires a 64-bit Ubuntu Server (20.04, 22.04, or 24.04) LTS operating system. Your server must have at least one processor core, 512MB of RAM, and more than 2GB of disk storage. A public IPv4 address is mandatory; NAT VPS configurations are not supported.
RunCloud has direct support for the following cloud providers:
- Akamai (formerly known as Linode)
- Vultr
- UpCloud
- AWS Lightsail
- Hetzner Cloud
- Google Cloud Platform
- AWS EC2
- Azure
- DigitalOcean
Step #1 – Connect Your Server
There are two ways to connect servers to RunCloud.
- Deploy your server automatically (recommended)
- Connect via IP address (for those who prefer to work in the command line)
Option #1 – Manual-Server Connection
This approach gives you complete control over your server’s configuration, allowing for granular adjustments to aspects such as disk size, network settings, and other parameters. This level of customization is beneficial for users with advanced requirements or specific infrastructure needs.
Suggested read: How To Setup Hetzner Cloud Server To Host Your Websites
Option #2 – Deploy Your Server Automatically
Alternatively, you can connect to your cloud provider via API to deploy your server all without leaving the comfort of RunCloud’s dashboard. This method automates the entire server provisioning and application deployment processes, significantly reducing setup time and complexity. It is ideally suited for users who prioritize speed and simplicity, particularly beginners who may not require extensive server customization.
Here’s how:
Step 1.1 – Obtain an API Token from one of RunCloud’s supported cloud providers:
- Log in to your Cloud Console and select the Project you will be using to deploy the server.
- Generate an API Token and give your token a descriptive name (e.g., “RunCloud Integration”).
- Make sure to provide the read & write permission.
- Click “Generate API Token“.
Step 1.2 – Store API token:
After generating the token, copy the generated API token immediately and store it securely in a text editor, as you won’t be able to see it again. In the RunCloud dashboard, navigate to account settings and click on “3rd Party Integrations” in the left menu.
On this screen, select your cloud provider and paste your API token into the “API Token” field. Once you click “Save Integration”, RunCloud will verify your token and connect to your cloud provider account. This is a one time process and you can use this saved token whenever you create or delete a server.
Step 1.3 – Connect via API in RunCloud:
- Log in to your RunCloud dashboard and click “Connect a Server“.
- Select your chosen provider from the list of supported cloud providers.
- Select the desired server stack (you can leave this to its default value) and enter a descriptive server name.
- In the Keys dropdown, select the API key that we just created in the previous step.
Step 1.4 – Configure Server Settings:
- Choose a server plan that fits your needs, including CPU, RAM, and storage options.
- Select the data center region closest to your audience for better performance.
- Pick your operating system – Ubuntu 22 or Ubuntu 24.
- Click “Add this Server” to finalize your selection.
Step 1.5 – Automated Provisioning and Connection:
Once configured, RunCloud automatically sets up a server with your chosen specifications through your connected server provider. This process includes:
- Creating the server on your cloud provider
- Installing the chosen operating system
- Installing the RunCloud agent
You can track progress in your RunCloud dashboard. The setup usually takes just a few minutes, and once it’s done, your server will be fully connected and ready to use.
For a detailed walkthrough, check out our documentation on connecting servers to RunCloud in just a few clicks.
Step #2 – Deploy Your Web Application
Once your server is connected to RunCloud, you’re ready to start deploying web applications. You can install any application you choose, with the option to use pre-built installation scripts for popular platforms such as WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla. Whether you prefer hands-on management or a quicker setup, RunCloud’s flexibility and automation make deployment simple for all skill levels.
Installing WordPress
One of the best features of RunCloud is its one-click WordPress deployment functionality. This eliminates the need for manual download, upload, and database setup for WordPress websites. Additionally, RunCloud automatically configures critical settings such as PHP-FPM, which ensures optimal performance.
Let’s walk through the process of deploying a WordPress site on RunCloud:
Step 2.1 – Accessing the Web Application Section:
- Open your RunCloud dashboard and go to the Servers section.
- Find the server where you want to deploy WordPress and click on it to open its management page.
- Click “Deploy New Web App” to begin the setup process.
Step 2.2 – Selecting WordPress: On the next screen, select “One-Click WordPress” to use RunCloud’s automated WordPress installation. This option sets up WordPress for you, handling the installation and initial configuration automatically.
Step 2.3 – Configuring WordPress and Domain Details: You’ll now be presented with a form to fill in the details for your WordPress installation.
- Domain Name: Enter the primary domain name you want to use for your WordPress site (e.g., yourdomain.com). If you’re still in the setup phase, you can use a temporary domain provided by RunCloud or a subdomain.
- Web Application Name: Give your web app a name. This name can be the same as or different from your domain name.
- WordPress Setup:
- Site Title: Enter the title of your WordPress website (e.g., “My Awesome Blog”).
- Admin Username: For security reasons, choose a secure username for your WordPress administrator account. (Avoid using “admin”)
- Admin Password: Create a strong, unique password for your administrator account. Use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Admin Email: Provide a valid email address for your WordPress administrator account. This is important for password recovery and notifications.
Step 2.4 – Deploying Your WordPress Site: After filling in all the required details, carefully review your settings to ensure accuracy. Click the “Create Web Application” button at the bottom of the page.
Once the deployment is complete, you’ll see a success message, and your new WordPress site will be listed in your “Web Applications” section. You can now access your WordPress installation using the /wp-admin page.
Installing an SSL Certificate
After initial installation, RunCloud simplifies obtaining and deploying SSL certificates. This ensures your website benefits from the crucial security and SEO advantages of HTTPS encryption. Here’s how you can get and deploy SSL certificates in RunCloud:
1. Navigating to the SSL/TLS Section: Once you’re on the web application’s Dashboard, find the “SSL/TLS” option in the left-hand sidebar menu. Select it to access the SSL certificate management settings for your web application.
2. Choosing Let’s Encrypt and Initiating Installation:
- On the “SSL/TLS” page, you’ll see different options for obtaining an SSL certificate.
- Select “Let’s Encrypt” from the available options. Let’s Encrypt is a free, automated, and widely trusted certificate authority. RunCloud fully integrates with Let’s Encrypt for a seamless experience.
- Change the Redirection option to “Server Side HTTPS Redirection”.
4. The Installation Process (Waiting for Let’s Encrypt): After selecting Let’s Encrypt and clicking the “Deploy” button to start the process, RunCloud will begin communicating with Let’s Encrypt to obtain and install your certificate. Let’s Encrypt needs to verify your domain ownership and issue the certificate – this usually takes a few minutes.
5. Successful Installation and HTTPS Enforcement: Once the installation is complete, you’ll see a success message, and the “SSL/TLS” page will update to show your active Let’s Encrypt certificate. You’ll see details like the expiry date and the domains covered by the certificate.
PHP Application Support
RunCloud supports many PHP applications beyond WordPress, including popular frameworks such as Laravel and Symfony, e-commerce platforms such as Magento, and custom PHP projects.
We recommend exploring our tutorials on deploying Nextcloud, WHMCS, Laravel, FreeScout, and Magento 2 on RunCloud servers to learn how to deploy specific applications.
Step #3 – Speed up your WordPress Website with Redis Page & Object Caching via RunCloud Hub
RunCloud improves website performance with built-in caching that reduces server load and speeds things up. It offers several caching options, allowing you to choose the best fit for your server setup.
For NGINX Servers
- FastCGI Cache: Provides server-side, full-page caching
- Redis: Delivers object caching for database queries and PHP objects
- RunCache: RunCloud’s WordPress caching solution
RunCloud Hub integrates with Nginx, Docker, and Redis ACL to enhance performance and security. These caching solutions improve user experience and SEO metrics, making them particularly valuable for high-traffic, dynamic, and ecommerce websites.
For OpenLiteSpeed (OLS) Servers
RunCloud provides integration with LiteSpeed Cache, a powerful caching solution specifically designed to optimize WordPress performance in OLS environments.
Here’s how to install and configure LiteSpeed Cache for WordPress:
- Select an OLS server when initially connecting to RunCloud (LS Cache will be automatically available)
- Install and activate the LiteSpeed Cache plugin on your WordPress website
- Navigate to the dedicated LiteSpeed Cache section within your WordPress Admin sidebar to fine-tune your website’s performance and manage how content is cached. Here, you’ll find all the plugin settings to control and optimize the caching process.
RunCloud’s caching options speed up your website by storing and serving previously generated content, reducing processing demands.
RunCloud Hub integrates smoothly with Nginx, Docker, and Redis ACL, enhancing performance and security. It supports multiple caching solutions, which can improve load times, user experience, and SEO. This is especially useful for high-traffic, dynamic, and e-commerce websites where speed is critical.
Backup and Recovery
RunCloud’s automated backup system allows you to schedule backups, use multiple offsite storage options, and restore them with one click. You can also configure backups to various destinations, including cloud services such as Amazon S3, Google Drive, Backblaze B2, DigitalOcean Spaces, and SFTP.
1. Accessing the Backup Menu: On the left-hand sidebar menu, locate and click on the “Backup” option. In this section, you can manage all your backup configurations.
2. Initiating a New Backup: Inside the “Backup” section, you may see existing backup configurations (if any). Click the “Create New Backup” button to create a new backup configuration.
3. Choosing Items to Back Up: On this screen, select what you want to include in the backup. You can choose:
- Web Application and Database (full backup)
- Web Application only
- Database only
Give the backup a name to make it easy to identify later.
4. Selecting a Storage Destination: RunCloud offers various options for storing your backups. Choose the one that best suits your needs and resources. Common options include:
- Local: This stores backups directly on your server. While convenient, this is generally not recommended as a primary backup solution. If your server fails, you’ll lose your backups too.
- Amazon S3: A popular cloud storage service from Amazon Web Services. Requires an AWS account and API credentials.
- Google Drive: Google’s cloud-based storage offering. Requires a Google account.
- DigitalOcean Spaces: Object storage from DigitalOcean. Requires a DigitalOcean account and API credentials.
- Hetzner Storage Box: Hetzner’s Storage solution.
- SFTP: Secure File Transfer Protocol. It allows you to back up any server with SFTP access. It requires a server address, username, and password/SSH key.
Select the storage provider that you want to use.
Important: You’ll need to have an account with your chosen storage provider and integrate it with RunCloud before you can use it.
5. Save Backup Configuration: Click “Create” to save your configuration. After configuring the storage details and saving your settings, RunCloud will add the backup to the queue. Depending on the size of your data, it will likely take a few minutes to complete.
WordPress Staging Environments
RunCloud makes WordPress development easier with one-click staging and instant site cloning, giving you a safe space to test changes without affecting your live site.
A staging environment is essential for testing updates, new features, and design changes without disrupting users or causing downtime. It helps catch issues before they go live, ensuring a smoother experience for visitors.
RunCloud’s staging feature keeps development and testing separate, with built-in content sync for seamless updates between staging and production. This reduces risk and streamlines the workflow.
To set up a staging site, create a new Web Application in your RunCloud dashboard, select one-click WordPress installation, and choose “Staging”. RunCloud will generate a complete, isolated copy of your site where you can test safely.
Monitoring Features in RunCloud
RunCloud’s monitoring dashboard displays the server’s most resource-intensive processes. This helps administrators identify performance-consuming applications or potential memory leaks.
RunCloud’s slow query monitoring tool helps track database performance by logging queries that take too long to execute. It provides detailed insights, including execution time, frequency, and potential optimizations to improve efficiency.
In addition, RunCloud’s storage monitoring gives you a clear view of disk usage and file system performance across your servers and applications, helping you manage resources more effectively.
Advanced Server Management Features
While the features we’ve covered so far form the core functionality that most users will rely on daily, RunCloud’s capabilities extend far beyond these essentials. Let’s explore some of RunCloud’s advanced features that can further enhance your server management experience and provide additional layers of control, security, and efficiency for your web applications.
DNS Management
RunCloud’s integrated DNS management lets you manage your domain’s A, CNAME, MX, and TXT records directly from the dashboard – no need to rely on your domain registrar or a third-party DNS provider.
DNS records act as a directory for the internet, directing traffic to your website and email servers. You may need to update them when launching a new site, switching hosting providers, or setting up email services. With RunCloud, you can handle these changes quickly and in one place.
To get started, navigate to the “DNS Manager” section of your RunCloud dashboard and add your domain. You will then be able to create and manage the DNS records you need.
File Management
RunCloud’s integrated file manager provides a web-based interface for managing files without needing an FTP client.
To access it, click “File Manager” in the left menu of your web application. From there, you can browse folders, edit files in real-time, and manage your site’s files directly from the RunCloud dashboard.
Next Steps and Support
Now that you’re familiar with RunCloud’s key features, here’s how to get more help and continue exploring:
- RunCloud Documentation – Your go-to resource for in-depth tutorials, troubleshooting guides, and detailed feature explanations.
- RunCloud Community – Join the forum to ask questions, share experiences, and connect with other users.
- Support Tickets – Need direct assistance? Submit a support ticket from your RunCloud dashboard, and the team will help you out.
Beyond WordPress
RunCloud also supports other popular applications. Here are a few worth checking out: