This post shows students and new users steps to create websites on Google Cloud servers running on Ubuntu Linux. We have gone through a series of posts, starting with registering a domain name, setting up a Google Cloud server, and installing software and packages to help us build a functional website online.
We’re now ready to install any popular content management system (CMS) to help us build our first dynamic, professional, and beautiful website to publish the wonderful content we’ve been dying to publish.
Content management systems are tools that help web admins design and build great websites online. They’re mostly free, written in PHP, and paired with a MySQL or MariaDB database. One can use many CMS platforms to create beautiful websites using free templates, plugins, and a support base to help them throughout the process.
This is the seventh post in this series, which can be used as a beginner’s guide to learn how to create a website domain, set up a Google Cloud server with Ubuntu Linux, and install software and packages to build and run a website online.
In this series:
- How to create a website domain
- How to set up a Google Cloud server with Ubuntu Linux
- How to install Apache on a Google Cloud server (alternative to Nginx)
- How to install Nginx on a Google Cloud server (alternative to Apache)
- How to install PHP on a Google Cloud server
- How to install MySQL or MariaDB database server
Now that you’ve learned how to create a website domain set up a Google Cloud server, and installed Apache, Nginx, PHP, MySQL, or MariaDB, you can continue below to tie all together with any popular CMS platforms online today.
When we started this series, we said a web server allows content to be published and served to web clients and audiences browsing your website. A PHP or server-side scripting language allows for a dynamic and more functional website. Finally, a database server allows you to store your website content efficiently.
Other software and packages may also be needed to enhance the functionality of a website. Below, we’ll show you how to install these tools to build your websites.
In our first post, we also said that after creating a domain name, it can’t be used until it is forwarded or pointed to a server. So the second post showed you how to point a domain to a server we created. Then we showed you how to install software and packages to help us run a website online.
We’re ready to connect to our Google Cloud server and install any CMS based on LAMP or LEMP by tying software and packages installed in our previous posts.
How to connect to Google Cloud servers
Google Cloud server (Compute Engine) allows users to connect using SSH from the browser window to their virtual machine (VM) instance within the Google Cloud Console.
SSH from the browser supports the following:
- Web browsers
- The latest version of Google Chrome
- Firefox
- Microsoft Edge
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 and later
- Safari 8 and later. Note that Safari in private browser mode is not supported.
- Virtual machine configurations
- All Linux VM images are natively available in Google Cloud.
No additional software or browser extensions are needed. Simply login to Google Cloud Console and go to Menu ==> Compute Engine ==> VM instances.
In the list of virtual machine instances, click SSH in the row of the instance that you want to connect to.
Alternatively, you can open an SSH connection to an instance by clicking its name and SSH from the instance details page.
An SSH terminal window with the Ubuntu Linux instance created in the series’s second post will open.
You should now be able to run commands in Ubuntu Linux created on the Google Cloud server.
How to create websites on Google Cloud Servers
Installing and managing a website on Ubuntu Linux is no different, whether on Google Cloud servers or a local VM instance.
Once you installed all required packages, your website can be set up directly from your browser by browsing the server hostname or IP address.
Detailed posts and help to create websites on Ubuntu Linux with Apache or Nginx are linked below. Click on any of them to learn more about installing and managing CMS on Ubuntu Linux.
How to install WordPress on Ubuntu Linux with Apache
How to install WordPress on Ubuntu Linux with Nginx
How to install Drupal on Ubuntu Linux with Apache
How to install Drupal on Ubuntu Linux with Nginx
How to install Joomla on Ubuntu with Apache
How to install Joomla on Ubuntu with Nginx
Each link above will show you all the steps we performed in our previous posts to get here. You also will learn how to secure your website with free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates.
That should do it!
Conclusion:
In summary, creating a website on Google Cloud servers running Ubuntu Linux can be a straightforward process if you follow the necessary steps. Here are the key points to remember:
- Domain Name: Ensure your domain name is properly registered and pointed to your Google Cloud server.
- Google Cloud Setup: Set up your Google Cloud server with Ubuntu Linux, installing necessary software and packages.
- Choose a CMS: Select a popular content management system (CMS) like WordPress, Drupal, or Joomla to help create your website.
- Connection via SSH: Use SSH from the Google Cloud Console to connect to your server easily without additional software.
- Website Management: After installation, manage your website directly through the browser using the server’s IP address or hostname.
- Security: Don’t forget to secure your website with free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates to enhance security.
With these steps, you’ll be well-equipped to build and manage a beautiful, functional website online!
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