Looking to start an online business or launch a blog? Tired of paying hefty fees to host your website through traditional web hosting providers? Look no further than Linode. Linode is a leading cloud hosting provider that caters to businesses, developers, and individuals alike. With Linode, you can rent a virtual server and have complete control over your operating system, software, and applications.

Linode offers a diverse range of server options, allowing users to customize their configurations based on their specific needs. Whether you require more storage, RAM, or CPU power, Linode has got you covered. Additionally, users can easily scale their servers up or down as needed, providing flexibility and cost-effectiveness.

What sets Linode apart is its focus on providing developer-friendly platforms. With its array of products and services, Linode empowers developers and businesses to build, deploy, and scale applications more efficiently in the cloud. Thanks to its affordable prices, exceptional customer support, and robust features and solutions, Linode has become one of the most popular web hosts in the industry.

Whether you’re looking to host a website, set up a cloud backup solution like NextCloud, or run a MySQL database, Linode has the tools and resources to meet your needs. Plus, with my referral link, you can receive a $100, 60-day credit for use on services once a valid payment method is added to your new account.

For example, Midbytes.com is powered by WordPress through Linode. Opting for the Nanode 1 GB plan at just $5 a month provides everything needed for the site’s requirements. Today, I’ll walk you through the steps involved in running a website from your Linode Server, showcasing just how straightforward and efficient the process can be.

About Linode

Linode Performance

Before embarking on the journey of creating your WordPress website on Linode, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with its performance and reliability features. For me this is a key factor when it comes to hosting my website and other services.

Performance Overview:

Linode is renowned for its provision of high-performance virtual private servers (VPS) tailored for hosting websites and web-based applications. The company boasts top-tier hardware and a robust network infrastructure, ensuring fast and reliable server performance.

Key Performance Factors:

1. High-Performance Hardware: Linode employs cutting-edge hardware to power its servers, resulting in optimal performance levels for hosted websites and applications.
2. Optimized Linux Kernel: Utilizing a custom-built Linux kernel, Linode fine-tunes its servers for enhanced performance, ensuring efficient resource utilization and responsiveness.
3. Network Infrastructure: Linode’s fast network infrastructure facilitates rapid data transfer and low latency, contributing to an overall seamless user experience.
4. Custom Storage Platform: Linode has developed a proprietary storage platform designed for accelerated I/O operations and data retrieval. This custom solution enables faster access to stored data, enhancing performance across various applications.

Reliability and Uptime:

Uptime is a critical aspect of web hosting, as prolonged downtime can negatively impact user experience and search engine rankings. Linode prioritizes reliability and offers robust uptime guarantees to its customers.

• 99.99% Uptime Guarantee: Linode guarantees a remarkable 99.99% uptime for both its hardware and network connectivity. In the rare event of server downtime exceeding 0.01%, customers are entitled to request a pro-rated credit for the duration of the downtime.

Now that we’ve gained insight into Linode’s performance and reliability, let’s dive straight into installation of WordPress and setup.

Sign up for Linode

If you haven’t already, sign up for a Linode account on their website linode.com. You’ll need to provide your email address and create a password.

Once you confirm your email address you will be redirected to the billing page where you will have to enter your personal billing information and payment information. Next, click Create Account.

When you log in to your account and go to the Billing tab on your Account, you will see the $100 free promotion has been added to your account.

Create a Linode and Install WordPress

Once you have your account created and you are logged in, Select Create and then Linode. Select a Linode plan that meets your website’s requirements. Linode offers various plans with different amounts of CPU, RAM, storage, and bandwidth. For example, the Nanode 1 GB plan may be suitable for smaller websites such as Midbytes.com. Choose your preferred data center location and any additional features you may need, such as backups or block storage. In this example, I have gone with WordPress via the Marketplace. This is an easy one-click install.

Follow this WordPress Deployment Guide to assist with configuring your Linode for those of you who are new or just do not remember what to do.

Configure WordPress options

Once you’ve selected WordPress from the marketplace tab, you’ll encounter a series of crucial settings that require your attention. These settings will shape the initial configuration of your WordPress installation.

1. WordPress Credentials: The first three options pertain to your WordPress login credentials. Enter your email address, desired username, and password for the WordPress admin account. Ensure to keep these credentials secure for future access.
2. Developer Passwords: Additional passwords are provided for developers who may need access to server resources such as MySQL and the Database. While these may not be immediately necessary for beginners, they are mandatory fields.
3. Advanced Options: Here, specify your WordPress website name and domain name. Providing your domain name at this stage streamlines server configuration and WordPress settings, reducing manual intervention later.

Select Data Center Region

Carefully choose a server data center location that best caters to your target audience’s geographical location. Opting for the nearest server location enhances website performance, particularly under heavy traffic loads. Utilize Linode’s speed test tool to assess each data center’s performance if unsure.

Select Server Plan

Linode offers diverse hosting plans tailored to various needs, categorized into Dedicated CPU, High Memory, GPU, and Shared CPU plans. For most new or small to medium websites, Shared CPU plans are suitable, offering affordability and high performance. Choose a plan that aligns with your website’s requirements.

Name Your Server

Assign a name to your server for organizational purposes and add relevant tags for easy retrieval in case you have multiple Linodes.

Root Password

Set a root password essential for accessing server files via SSH or SFTP. Additionally, consider configuring an SSH key for enhanced security, granting secure server access without the need for passwords.

Add-ons Options

Enable the Backups feature for enhanced data protection, albeit at an additional cost. Backups are crucial for safeguarding website data and facilitating restoration in case of emergencies.

Creation Summary

Review the selected server configuration options, including server image, region, plan, and enabled features. Once satisfied, proceed to deploy the server by clicking “Create Linode.”

Installation typically completes swiftly, with the server running within seconds and WordPress fully installed within minutes. While waiting, prepare to proceed to Step Three.

Point Your Domain to Your Server

After server deployment, ensure your domain name is directed to the server’s IP address. Configure the domain’s DNS settings to add an “A” record mapping the domain to the server’s IP address.

For this section, I had to go back to Cloudflare to retrieve my DNS settings and update the records.

Install SSL Certificate

Secure your website with an SSL certificate to encrypt connections and enhance visitor trust. For the purpose of this article, I utilize Cloudflare therefore I will use Cloudflare’s SSL certificate. You can always go the option of using Let’s encrypt, a free SSL certificate provider, to configure and install the certificate on your Linode server.

The Conclusion

Linode offers a reliable cloud computing service, renowned for its performance and ease of use. By following these steps, you can swiftly deploy a WordPress website on Linode, leveraging its robust infrastructure to establish a secure and responsive online presence. With the right configuration and attention to detail, your WordPress site will be up and running on Linode in no time, ready to serve your audience worldwide effectively. Linode provides comprehensive documentation and support resources to assist you along the way.