Setting Up ServerPilot and Building an Application on 64-bit Ubuntu 14.04 LTS
Overview
ServerPilot is a rapid and secure hosting control panel that streamlines the deployment process for web applications, including one-click installations for WordPress and PHP. Functioning as a centralized panel, it effortlessly installs and configures critical open-source applications such as PHP, MySQL, Nginx, or Apache on your server.
Key attributes of ServerPilot encompass automated security updates, firewall configuration, SSL support, server monitoring, and an intuitive control panel. This all-in-one solution simplifies the management of web hosting components, enhancing user convenience and efficiency.
Requirements
If you don’t already have an Ubuntu 14.04 LTS 64-bit server from blendhosting.com, you can easily order one from Blend Hosting. Additionally, if you don’t have a ServerPilot account, we will guide you on how to create one below.
The installation process for ServerPilot is straightforward, eliminating the need to SSH into your VPS server during this tutorial.
Setting Up an Account on ServerPilot
To set up a ServerPilot account, visit their website at https://serverpilot.io/ and locate the “Sign Up” button on the page. On the Sign Up page, provide your email address and password, then click the “Sign Up” button to complete the registration process.
Upon completing the registration process, you will receive an email to verify your registered email address. Please check your inbox and follow the instructions in the email to confirm your account.
Thanks for signing up for ServerPilot! To connect your first server, please verify your email address by clicking the link below.
https://manage.serverpilot.io/#confirm-email/
Note that this link will expire in 24 hours if it's not activated.
Happy Hosting,
Team ServerPilot
By clicking on the link provided in the email, you will be directed to the ServerPilot website where you’ll be prompted to re-enter your password. After providing your password, click on “Confirm Email.”
Congratulations! You’ve successfully created a ServerPilot account. Now, let’s proceed to link your VPS server to ServerPilot. The next section will provide step-by-step guidance on this process.
Configuring ServerPilot on your system
After logging into your ServerPilot account at https://manage.serverpilot.io/#login, you will be directed to the Control Panel. This is the central hub where you can perform various tasks such as connecting or removing servers, adding or removing applications, and managing your account.
To install ServerPilot on your Ubuntu 14.04 LTS server, you need to “Connect” it to ServerPilot. Connecting implies granting ServerPilot full access to your VPS server to facilitate the installation of necessary applications.
To initiate the connection, click on “Connect a Server.”
Following that, return to your blendhosting.com control panel and retrieve the server IP and root password of your VPS. Paste both the IP Address and Password from your blendhosting.com panel into the respective fields. Additionally, the SFTP password is a mandatory field, and you should fill it with a minimum of 8 characters. Once you’ve completed these steps, click on “Connect to ServerPilot.”
Once you click the “Connect to ServerPilot” button, the installation process for all the necessary applications and modules will commence. Please be patient, as this process typically takes around 3 minutes to complete.
Once the installation of all required components is complete, you will be prompted to create your first app.
Now that ServerPilot is successfully installed, the next step is to create your first app on the server. This will be covered in the next section of the tutorial.
How to Make a ServerPilot App
To initiate the creation of a ServerPilot app, access the “App” menu located on the left side of the screen. In this section, you’ll encounter a set of fields necessary for setting up your inaugural app. Here’s a breakdown of each field:
- Name: Assign a name to your app.
- Domain: Indicate the IP address or domain name of your VPS server.
- WordPress: Check this box if you wish to automatically install a WordPress CMS.
- Title: Specify the title of your WordPress site.
- User: Designate the username for the WordPress administrator.
- Password: Set the password for the WordPress administrator account.
- Email: Provide the email address associated with the WordPress administrator account.
- Runtime: Choose the PHP version you intend to use; typically, the latest version is preselected.
- Server: Select the server on which you want to install your app.
- System User: Usually set to “ServerPilot.” This represents the VPS user responsible for creating the app. It’s advisable not to alter this setting.
Follow the on-screen instructions, filling in the required details to configure your app settings.
After initiating the app creation process, wait for approximately 1 minute for the installation to complete. Once finished, open your web browser and enter the IP address or domain of your server. You should be greeted with a “Welcome to WordPress” page.
Congratulations! ServerPilot is now successfully installed on your server. If you have any comments, suggestions, or questions, feel free to leave them below.