Integrating Cloudflare with your RunCloud dashboard automates your infrastructure management and removes the need for manual DNS configuration.

This integration ensures that your DNS records stay synchronized with your server activity in real time.

Why You Should Use the Cloudflare Integration

Connecting Cloudflare to RunCloud offers several critical advantages for your workflow:

  • Instant DNS Provisioning: RunCloud automatically creates or updates DNS records when you deploy a new web application or add a domain name to one of the existing applications.
  • Eliminate “DNS Not Found” Errors: By automating the record creation, you ensure that your site is reachable immediately after deployment, bypassing common manual entry errors.
  • Automatic Cleanup: When you delete a server or a web application, RunCloud automatically removes the “dangling” DNS records from your Cloudflare account, keeping your DNS zone clean and secure.
  • SSL Efficiency: This integration allows you to use the DNS-01 validation method for Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates, which is required for wildcard certificates and smoother renewals.

How to Connect Cloudflare to RunCloud

Follow these steps to link your accounts:

  1. Navigate to Integration Settings

Log in to your RunCloud dashboard. Depending on your setup, head to your Personal Space or Workspace Settings.

Select Integrations from the left-hand sidebar.

  1. Select Cloudflare

Find Cloudflare in the list of available providers and click Connect.

  1. Fill in the Connection Details

You will need to provide the following information:

  • Label: Enter a descriptive name (e.g., “Company Cloudflare Main”). If you manage multiple Cloudflare accounts, specific labels help you identify the correct one when deploying a web application.
  • Cloudflare Email: The email address associated with your Cloudflare account.
  • API Token: Enter the credentials we will generate in the next step.
  1. Creating a Custom User Token 

For maximum security, we recommend creating a scoped User Token. This allows you to restrict RunCloud’s access to specific zones and permissions rather than granting full account access.

Step 1: Access the Correct Menu

Click on your User Profile Photo (top right) > Profile > API Tokens.

Note: RunCloud only supports User-level credentials. Do not use Account API Tokens. These tokens do not support the specific API endpoints required by RunCloud. Using an Account API Token will result in a “Test failed: API key and secret key are not valid” error.

Step 2: Create the Token

  1. Click Create Token, and on the next page, select the Create Custom Token template.
  1. On the next screen, give your API token a descriptive name, and grant the token the following permissions:
    • Account: Account Settings: Read
    • Zone: DNS: Edit
    • Zone: Zone: Edit
  1. Under the zone resources section, select Include: All Zones (or select specific domains if you only want RunCloud to manage certain sites).
  1. After configuring the zones, you can leave all other settings at their default values and click Continue to Summary, then Create Token.

Step 3: Integrate with RunCloud

Copy the generated token immediately. Cloudflare will only show this token once.

Return to the RunCloud integration screen and paste this token into the API Token field.

Finalizing the Integration

Once you have entered your Label, Email, and either your Global Key or User Token:

  1. Click Save Integration.
  2. RunCloud will perform a real-time connection test.
  3. If successful, a green confirmation message will appear. The integration is now ready to use.
  4. You can review your integration by navigating to the DNS manager in your RunCloud dashboard and selecting the Cloudflare account from the dropdown menu.

Troubleshooting

If the connection fails:

  • Verify Token Type: Ensure you did not create an “Account Token.” Go back to My Profile to ensure you are using a User Token.
  • Check Permissions: Ensure you granted Read access to Account Settings; without this, the API cannot verify your identity.
  • Match Email: Ensure the email address you entered in RunCloud matches the one used for your Cloudflare login.

For further assistance, our 24/7 support team is available to help you finalize your configuration.