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    Getting Started with Cloud VPS

    Everything you need to know to get up and running with RamNode Cloud VPS. From signing up to deploying your first application.

    Beginner Friendly
    15 min read
    Complete Guide

    Quick Start Checklist

    1
    Sign up for a Cloud account
    2
    Access the Control Panel
    3
    Create your first instance
    4
    Connect and secure your VPS
    1

    What is Cloud VPS?

    A Cloud VPS (Virtual Private Server) gives you dedicated resources on a virtualized server. Unlike shared hosting, you get guaranteed CPU, RAM, and storage that aren't affected by other users. RamNode Cloud VPS is powered by OpenStack, providing enterprise-grade infrastructure with simple management.

    Full Root Access

    Install any software, configure services, and manage your server exactly how you need.

    NVMe Storage

    Fast SSD storage for quick boot times and responsive applications.

    Multiple Locations

    Deploy in your choice of data centers across North America and Europe.

    Hourly Billing

    Pay only for what you use with no long-term commitments required.

    💡 New to VPS? Check out our detailed guide on What is Cloud Hosting? for a deeper understanding.

    2

    Why Choose RamNode Cloud

    RamNode has been providing reliable VPS hosting since 2012. Our Cloud platform offers enterprise-grade features at competitive prices.

    99.99% Uptime SLA

    Enterprise reliability backed by our service level agreement.

    Flexible Plans

    Standard, Premium, Storage, and Dedicated CPU tiers for any workload.

    DDoS Protection

    Optional DDoS-filtered IPs available for attack mitigation.

    OpenStack API

    Full API access for automation and infrastructure as code.

    3

    Creating Your Cloud Account

    Getting started with RamNode Cloud takes just a few minutes. Here's what you need to do:

    1

    Sign Up for Cloud VPS

    Visit our client area and select a Cloud VPS plan. You can start with any tier and resize later.

    Sign Up Now
    2

    Complete Payment

    We accept credit cards, PayPal, and cryptocurrency. Your account activates instantly.

    3

    Receive Your Credentials

    You'll receive an email with your Cloud Control Panel login details. Check your spam folder if you don't see it within a few minutes.

    ⚠️ Important: Save your Cloud Control Panel credentials separately from your Client Area login—they're different accounts.

    4

    Accessing the Control Panel

    The Cloud Control Panel is your central hub for managing instances, networks, storage, and more. There are two ways to access it:

    Option 1: Direct Login

    Go directly to the control panel and use your credentials from the welcome email.

    cloud.ramnode.com

    Option 2: Client Area SSO

    Log into the Client Area and click the Cloud Control Panel link for single sign-on.

    clientarea.ramnode.com

    💡 Need help logging in? See our detailed Control Panel Access Guide.

    5

    Creating Your First Instance

    Now for the exciting part—launching your first VPS! Here's a quick overview of the process:

    ✅ Full walkthrough: See our step-by-step Create an Instance Guide with screenshots.

    6

    Connecting to Your VPS

    Once your instance is running, you'll want to connect and start configuring it. There are two main methods:

    SSH (Recommended)

    Connect using an SSH client from your local machine. Works on Linux, macOS, and Windows.

    ssh root@your-ip-address

    VNC Console

    Browser-based console access through the Control Panel. Useful for recovery or when SSH isn't working.

    Instances → Your Instance → Console tab

    SSH Keys Guide

    Learn how to generate and use SSH keys for secure access.

    VNC Console Guide

    Access your instance through the browser-based console.

    7

    Essential Security Steps

    Before deploying applications, take a few minutes to secure your VPS. These steps are critical for production servers.

    1. Update Your System

    # Debian/Ubuntu
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

# RHEL/CentOS/AlmaLinux
sudo dnf update -y

    Keep your system patched against security vulnerabilities.

    2. Configure Firewall

    Use Security Groups in the Control Panel or a local firewall (UFW/firewalld) to restrict access.

    Security Groups →UFW Guide →Firewalld Guide →

    3. Set Up Fail2ban

    Protect against brute-force attacks by automatically blocking suspicious IPs.

    Fail2ban Setup Guide →

    4. Enable SSH 2FA (Optional)

    Add an extra layer of security with two-factor authentication for SSH.

    SSH 2FA Guide →

    🔒 Security Warning: Never expose services like databases or admin panels to the internet without proper authentication and encryption.

    8

    Understanding Billing

    RamNode Cloud uses hourly billing, which means you only pay for the time your instance is running.

    Hourly Rates

    Instances are billed by the hour while active. Deleted instances stop billing immediately.

    Monthly Cap

    You'll never pay more than the monthly rate, even if running 24/7.

    Prepaid Balance

    Add funds to your account and usage is deducted automatically.

    Usage Tracking

    Monitor your spending in real-time from the Control Panel.

    💡 Learn more: See our Hourly Billing FAQ for detailed information.

    9

    Next Steps

    10

    Resources & Getting Help

    Need help? We've got you covered with comprehensive documentation and responsive support.

    📚 Documentation

    Browse all Cloud VPS guides and tutorials.

    View All Docs

    🎯 Deployment Guides

    Step-by-step guides for popular applications.

    Browse Guides

    💬 Support Ticket

    Get help from our technical support team.

    Open Ticket

    🌐 Community

    Join our Discord for community support.

    Join Discord

    🎉 You're ready! With your Cloud VPS set up and secured, you can now deploy whatever you need. Happy building!