we will discuss how you can set up your own cloud server for free.
What is a Cloud Server?
A cloud server is a virtual machine that you can rent from a third party. You can install an operating system (such as Ubuntu) on the cloud server and use it as a server for your own applications. You can also install a web server (such as Apache) on the cloud server so that you can host your web applications from this server.
The advantage of using a cloud server is that you do not need to worry about renting physical equipment to run your applications. You can simply request more resources (i.e., virtual machines) from the cloud provider, and this will be provided to you without any hassle. In this way, it is similar to how digital appliances (e.g., refrigerators, microwaves, and air conditioners) are used instead of physical appliances (e.g., refrigerators, microwaves, and ovens).
How Do I Set Up a Cloud Server?
The first step in setting up a cloud server is to decide which operating system to use. You can install any Linux distribution (e.g., Ubuntu, Debian, etc.) on the cloud server, and you do not need to worry about compatibility issues because everything will work fine together. Your choice of operating system will be based on which services you need.
For example, if you are looking for a cloud server to run a blog, you will want to choose a Linux distribution that supports web hosting packages (e.g., Ubuntu, Debian, etc.). Alternatively, if you are looking for a cloud server to play video or mp3s, you will want to choose an operating system that supports video or mp3 playback (e.g., Ubuntu, Debian, etc.).
After you have made this decision, the next step is to determine how much disk space you need for your applications. This will depend on how much space you need for the operating system and how much space you need for your programs (e.g., Java, Python, etc.). For example, if you have a 1 TB hard drive, you will want to allocate at least 300 GB for the operating system and the rest for your programs.
Once I Have the Disk Space, What Next?
Once you have your disk space, the next step is to install your chosen Linux distribution (e.g., Ubuntu or Debian) on a computer (e.g., a desktop or laptop). You can use an appliance (e.g., a cloud server made by HP) or you can use a virtual machine software program (e.g., VirtualBox or VMWare Player) to set up this virtual machine. (Check out our guide on How to Create a Virtual Machine for more information.)
Once you have installed your Linux distribution (e.g., Ubuntu or Debian), you can access the command line by pressing the Ctrl + Alt + F1 keys on your computer’s keyboard. When you are at the command line, you can use the sudo command to run programs with superuser privileges. For example, to install additional software or updates, you can use the following command: sudo apt-get install nmap.
You can use the dpkg command to search for and install specific packages or the apt-cache search command to search for and install specific packages.
As a rule of thumb, it is advisable to choose an Ubuntu flavor that is designed for cloud servers (e.g., Ubuntu 16.04), as this operating system is lightweight and known for having a quick boot time. In addition, this operating system can be directly installed to a hard drive (e.g., via the DVD media or a USB flash drive) and does not require a separate partition to install it to (like, for example, Windows 10 does). All of this makes Ubuntu a great choice for a cloud server operating system.
Creating a Home Cloud Server
If you are looking for a quick and easy way to set up a home cloud server, you can use this amazing guide from Tech Radar: How to Create a Home Cloud Server. With this guide, you will be able to set up a virtual machine in no time at all and will not have to worry about compatibility issues with your existing hardware or software. In summary, these are the steps you will need to follow to create your own home cloud server:
- Make sure that you have a stable and fast internet connection.
- Install VirtualBox.
- Install your chosen Linux distribution (e.g., Ubuntu).
- Enable the USB port on your computer’s BIOS settings (e.g., if your computer is a laptop, you will want to enable the USB port on the BIOS settings of your laptop).
- Connect a USB flash drive to your computer and use the following instructions to install Ubuntu to the USB flash drive:
- (From a desktop or laptop running Windows): Click the Start button and then select Computer from the menu that appears. Then, select Change (or hit the key combination of Ctrl + Alt + Del).
- (From a desktop or laptop running Mac OS X): Choose Apple Menu, then select Go To Disk Utility. Once the Disk Utility window appears, click the Plus sign to add a new disk. Then, select the disk image file (e.g., Ubuntu 16.04) and follow the on-screen instructions to install Ubuntu to the disk.
- (From a laptop running Linux): Press the Power button to shut down your computer. Remove the battery and SD card from your camera and insert them into the computer’s SD card slot.
- (From a desktop or laptop running Windows): Press the Windows key to open the Windows menu and then select Ease of Accessibility Settings. Choose Advanced Settings from the left menu and then select Change User Interface. Finally, choose Tablet from the drop-down menu and click OK to save the settings.
- (From the Mac OS X desktop): Choose Apple Menu, then select System Preferences. In the window that appears, select Mouse & Keyboard from the left menu. Under the Mouse & Keyboard section, set the Zoom button to Never (or the [more] button if the Zoom button is already set to Never).
- (From Linux): Press Alt+F2 to open a dialogue box. Then, enter the following commands:
- xrandr –output HDMI-0 –auto
- xrandr –output HDMI-0 –mode 1440×900
- xrandr –output HDMI-0 –mode 1440×900 –rate 60
- xrandr –output HDMI-0 –mode 2160×1080 –rate 60
- xrandr –auto
When you exit out of this dialogue box, you will see a little icon called a TV on the system tray. Right-click this icon and then select Enable DisplayPort Transformations to make the changes take effect immediately.
What Are the Benefits of a Cloud Server?
There are several benefits to having a cloud server. First, you do not need to worry about running out of disk space. This is a common issue when running a local server, as you will typically run out of space quickly if your website starts receiving a lot of traffic. Because a cloud server provides you with more space than you need, even if your website receives heavy traffic, you will not run out of disk space.
Second, you do not need to worry about getting your hardware or software incompatible with one another. Even when you run a local server, you will need to worry about compatibility issues with your existing hardware and software. For example, if you have an older version of Windows (e.g., Windows 8 or Vista), you will not be able to run some of the software (e.g., web apps) that are intended for use with newer versions of Windows (e.g., Windows 10). Having a cloud server provides you with the flexibility to run any software on it without worrying about compatibility issues.