Short answer: To set up a VPS: choose a provider, location and Linux image, add your SSH key, connect with ssh root@your-ip, create a sudo user, update the system and enable a firewall, install your stack (a web server, or Docker), point your domain's A record at the server's IP and add a free Let's Encrypt certificate.
Setting up a VPS explained
Windows servers are reached over Remote Desktop instead of SSH; the rest of the logic is the same: update, firewall, install, point DNS.
If you would rather not do this by hand, a free panel such as CloudPanel or HestiaCP, or a managed VPS, takes care of the web server, PHP, databases and certificates.
Step by step
- Pick a data-center city near your users and an image such as Ubuntu 24.04 LTS or Debian 12.
- Add your SSH public key during ordering, then connect: ssh root@SERVER_IP (Windows: Remote Desktop to SERVER_IP).
- Create a user with sudo, copy your key to it and disable root and password logins.
- Update packages (apt update && apt upgrade) and enable a firewall allowing ports 22, 80 and 443.
- Install a web stack (Nginx or Apache with PHP and MariaDB) or Docker, then deploy your site or app.
- Create an A record for your domain pointing to the server's IPv4 (and AAAA for IPv6).
- Issue a free TLS certificate with Let's Encrypt (certbot) and set up backups.
See it in the data
Frequently asked questions
How do I access my VPS?
Linux: SSH from a terminal (ssh user@ip) or a client such as PuTTY; Windows: Remote Desktop. Providers also offer a browser console for emergencies.