What is Containerization?
Containerization is a technology that allows you to run applications in isolated environments called containers. Containers are lightweight, portable, and secure environments that can help you improve the performance, scalability, and reliability of your web applications. With RunCloud, you can deploy and manage your WordPress sites using containerized servers.
Why Do I Need Containerization?
- Enhanced security: If your WordPress site gets hacked while running natively on RunCloud, hackers may be able to gain access to the root shell if the server is not hardened properly. But if you are using containers, the intruders won’t be able to access other sites on your server, and you can use the container to roll everything back to how it should be – quickly, easily, and relatively painlessly.
- Portability and compatibility: A containerized environment runs on a standardized copy of a server image. If you are using containers, you can run your WordPress site on any platform that supports Docker – such as Linux, Windows, or Mac. You can also move your containers from one server to another without worrying about compatibility issues or configuration changes. This makes it easier to migrate your sites, or scale them up or down as needed.
How To Provision a Containerized Server on RunCloud
To use containerization, you will need to create a containerized server on RunCloud. Once you deploy your server, all the applications on it will be deployed using containers automatically. You cannot use containers on an existing server.
To create a containerized server, open the RunCloud dashboard and click on “Connect A New Server“.
On the next screen, select the cloud provider that you want to use. You can either use one of the supported providers to take advantage of RunCloud’s automatic provisioning functionality, or shop around for the best deals and connect the server manually.
When connecting the server, select the “Containerized” installation type, and then continue the installation of the RunCloud agent. If you are using one of RunCloud’s integrations to provision the server, then all you have to do is select the server size and deploy it.
Note: Some cloud providers require you to select a Firewall group before deploying your server. If you see an extra field called “Select Firewall Group” then you will need to create a firewall rule on your cloud provider’s dashboard before proceeding to the next step.
If you are connecting to a server manually, you will need to log into your server via SSH, and then run the given command with sudo privileges.
After you do this, RunCloud will begin the process of installing the necessary dependencies and software on your server, which usually takes around 5-10 minutes. Once the installation is complete, you can start deploying web apps.
Managing Firewalls
RunCloud servers come with built-in firewalls to protect your servers. The firewall is a feature that allows you to control the network traffic to and from your server.
Each firewall group has a set of rules that specify which ports and protocols are allowed or blocked for incoming and outgoing connections. You can also specify the IP addresses or ranges that are allowed or denied access to your server.
To configure the firewall on your RunCloud server, go to the Security tab and click on the Firewall option.
You will see the Firewall Group section, where you can select the default firewall group for your server or create a new one by clicking on the Add Firewall Group button.
