Do you know Runcloud? When we talk about a panel to manage cloud servers like Digital Ocean, Vultr, Linode, AWS, or Google, people used to recommend ServerPilot, but unfortunately, it has stopped being free and has become paid.
Runcloud it was the best alternative I found to ServerPilot, even if paid, it pays a thousand times more to use it than ServerPilot or other alternatives, in this article I will try to show why I think this and how to sign and install the Runcloud.
What are control panels?
For those who don't know, both Runcloud and Serverpilot are server control panels that, with just one click, install all the necessary PHP, SQL, and other components to get your cloud running a PHP site.
They are similar to Cpanel or Plesk, but their main difference is that they are optimized to weigh practically nothing and have the best possible performance and security. However, they do not natively support other languages and email servers.
Which is not a problem, because we do not recommend having an email server next to your hosting. Always use an external SMTP to redirect WordPress submissions. I recommend Gmail or Sparkpost.
Runcloud updates
I left this part at the beginning of the article to update the article with some news that arrived at Runcloud:
Runcloud Cache: Although it already existed, redis was very difficult to install for sweet people, so runcloud launched its own cache plugin for WordPress that can be installed quickly in seconds without the need for configuration inside the runcloud.io panel itself. ;
Staging Site - Allows you to create an exact copy of the entire site for the purposes of preparation and development in seconds right from the application on the runcloud panel.
What is Runcloud.io?
As mentioned before, runcloud is a control panel for your cloud server or any VPS running Ubuntu. It is called autopilot for your server, while also giving you the autonomy to do whatever you want in your Cloud through SSH access.
It is worth remembering that the Runcloud also offers a trial period and also has a free plan but very limited without SSL and other features.
See the Autopilot features I recommended:
SSL / HTTPS - Mandatory security certificate on all sites today, with the aim of encrypting your server along with a compression called brotlli which will increase your page load.
One-click script installer for WordPress, Joomla, phpBB, Drupal, Grav, PhpMyAdmin, Piwik, PrestaShop, MyBB, and Concrete5. Also a Git Deployment using GitHub, Bitbucket, GitLab, and other GIT servers.
Runcloud is one of the only autopilot servers that allows you to choose NGINX natively instead of NGINX + APACHE2 Hibrido. You can also choose which PHP version to use per application.
Natively, Runcloud offers Redis and Memcached to enhance the performance of your WordPress databases. Instead of traditional MySQL, Runcloud uses MariaDB, which is faster and fully compatible with SQL.
In addition to the standard Firewall, Runcloud offers Fail2Ban, which monitors traffic and prevents SSH brute force attacks or SSH DDOS attacks. Applications are also isolated in PHP to prevent all sites from encountering any issues.
Natively, Runcloud offers a file browser within each application you create. Additionally, you can add CronJobs in a panel, create and delete databases and users, and have a complete report of your server.
In addition to all these features, here you will find a backup system with 30GB free. A page within the dashboard to submit support tickets with total convenience and speed. Team management and much more.
How to install Runcloud?
A new update on Digital Ocean now allows you to install Runcloud to create a droplet in one click without the need to enter any terminal or SSH. If you want to use it, disregard the tutorial below!
To install Runcloud, you first need to have your new cloud server. We recommend creating a Droplet on Digital Ocean using the Ubuntu 16.04/18.04 LTS 64bit version. Runcloud does not work with NAT VPS.
You need to register on the Runcloud website and login, we recommend enabling two-factor authentication. Then access the Servers tab in Runcloud and click on Connect a New Server.
Here you need to put the name of your server, the IP address of your server or Droplet, and where it is hosted (Digital Ocean). Then click Connect this Server.
After that the page will give you a code to put in the SSH of your root user of the cloud that you created. To access the SSH of your server, go to the Digital Ocean website or the company that hosts your server and get the IP and Password.
Sometimes it will be necessary to generate a new password by e-mail. Once you have the server's IP and Password enter the MacOS, Linux or Windows 10+ terminal to access SSH natively. Otherwise, you need a program for that.
Type in your terminal:
- SSH ROOT @ IP
- NEXT ENTER THE PASSWORD
- IF IT IS THE FIRST TIME THEY WILL WANT TO CHANGE YOUR GENERATED PASSWORD
- TYPE THE PASSWORD AGAIN
- TYPE A NEW PASSWORD
- REPEAT THE NEW PASSWORD
- YOU ARE LOGINED TO THE USER ROOT SSH
- STICK THE CODE RUNCLOUD PROVIDED
- WAIT FOR INSTALLATION TO COMPLETE
- READY
Runcloud will take about 5 minutes to install.
How to configure Runcloud?
Everything will depend on what you intend to do with Runcloud. If it's to Install WordPress, you can create an application and configure it to use only NGINX along with the latest version of PHP.
After your server is set up, try to access the services option and choose what to activate. I personally use only Redis, MariaDB and NGINX.
To activate REDIS on your WordPress site, simply install the Redis Object Cache plugin and add the following lines to your WP-CONFIG.PHP:
define('WP_CACHE_KEY_SALT', 'seusite.com');
define('WP_CACHE', true);If you want to create a cronjob, the default path is usually:
/ path / to / home /& lt; user is usually runcloud & gt;/ webapps /& lt; app name & gt;
To make a remote database connection we recommend using the SSH login data of the runcloud user, which is practically the same as that of SFTP.
You can also configure the slack or telegram to send notifications about your server. I also like the way that Runcloud shows the server logs.
To avoid issues on your test server, we recommend that you add your card as a payment method as soon as possible by accessing the user icon in settings. Go to Payment Method and add your card.
Remembering that people who register through Runcloud through the links on my site, get 15 free days after choosing and subscribing to a plan. If you only use a cloud server, we recommend the $ 8 plan.
You can also get an annual plan to save, I remember that I had the chance to get the annual plan on BlackFriday and paid only 40 $ for a year on the platform, I found it very advantageous compared to the 8 $ monthly.
Runcloud VS Serverpilot
The biggest advantage of Serverpilot in the past is because it was free. Unfortunately, he started to be paid and with less than flashy plans. You pay $ 5 per server + $ 0.50 per Application in the cheapest plan that offers nothing but SSL and other frills. If you want server statistics and reports, you need to subscribe to the most expensive plan.
On Runcloud, you pay 8$ for a server with unlimited applications, or 15$ for unlimited servers and applications. All plans offer reports and everything you need on your server.
See below how Runcloud is much more complete and superior to ServerPilot:
| FEATURES | RUNCLOUD | SERVERPILOT |
| STATISTICS | X | 10$ + |
| Maria DB | X | |
| NGINX + APACHE | X | X |
| NGINX SOLO | X | |
| SSL (HTTPS) | X | X |
| REDIS | X | |
| FILE MANAGER | X | |
| SUPERVIRSORD | X | |
| CRON JOB PANEL | X | |
| NOTIFICATIONS | X | |
| PANEL LOGS | X | $ 10 + (UGLY) |
| MEMCACHED | X | |
| PHP-FPM | X | X |
| BROTLI COMPRESSION | X | X |
| GIT SUPPORT | X | |
| BACKUPS | X |
Of course, on both servers you have full capacity to install these and other features, but it is worth noting that those who subscribe to these management panels want to avoid messing with lines of code and SSH terminals as much as possible.
Runcloud vs Cloudways
After Serverpilot became paid, Brazilians started to recommend Cloudways on their websites, the main reason for this is the great commission that Cloudways offers by referral. What is the best? Runcloud or Cloudways?
Unlike Runcloud, with Cloudways you pay for a server that is already fully installed and customized with their own control panel. They offer everything that Runcloud has plus Varnish Cache and other extra features like CDN and external email management (additional cost).
Looking from a distance Cloudways seems to be much better than Runcloud, it is easier and suitable for people who do not want to mess with anything code. The big problem is that Cloudways limits your access to the server and probably your application is heavier for not offering NGINX without Apache.
Despite all this, I wanted to subscribe to Cloudways, but what prevented me was its absurd price. A simple Digital Ocean server that costs $ 20, Cloudways costs an absurd $ 42. You pay 22 $ more for the same server.
If you only have a small site, you can compensate to get 10 $ on Cloudways for a server on the DO $ 5, but if you plan to get a more robust server, it does not pay to use Cloudways to manage your PHP or WordPress hosting. Run to Runcloud!
I realized that it is much more worthwhile to continue having shared hosting with Hostgator to maintain my emails and host files than to pay 22$ to use Cloudways. So I chose Runcloud!
Not to mention that in Runcloud you can have multiple servers, while in Cloudways each server you create, you pay this more expensive value from Cloudways. Imagine if you want to have 2 servers with 4GB of RAM + 2 CORE on Cloudways? You would pay 84 $ for something that costs 40 $.
I hope you enjoyed this recommendation and tip. If you liked it, share it with friends, any questions just leave your comments. I hope you continue to visit our website regularly, and that we can grow on the internet together. xD