Hosting Your WordPress Site on a Dedicated Server
You’ve heard of cloud computing, haven’t you? Every day, billions of people use Google Apps, Dropbox, or another cloud storage service to host their files (such as spreadsheets, presentations, and other documents). Essentially, the service provides storage for users’ files online, which means they can access them from any device.
Well, hosting a WordPress site on a cloud server is the same as having your files stored on one. However, instead of storing your files on a third party’s server, you’re controlling the entire infrastructure. This means you can optimize your WordPress environment for efficiency and security.
In this tutorial, we’ll discuss the various reasons why you might want to host your WordPress site on a dedicated server, as well as step-by-step instructions on how to do so.
Why Use a Dedicated Server?
Whether you’re a blogger, freelance writer, or entrepreneur, one thing you’ve probably experienced is the frustration of uploading a new piece of content to your site and having it taken down due to a privacy policy or terms of service violation. Most of the time, these errors happen because you didn’t expect someone to see your content before it was published, or you didn’t take the time to read the rules and regulations listed on the site you were publishing to.
With a dedicated server, this problem doesn’t exist. Privacy and security are of utmost importance to us, so we made sure there is no way a third party can access your content without your permission. Even better, with a dedicated server, your content is always available, and you can rest assured it will never be deleted or altered.
Not only that, but with a dedicated server, you have the ability to install any software or tweak any configuration you want. For example, if you’re looking for a way to increase your site’s speed, you can do so with the help of a tool like WordPress Super Cache.
Additionally, if you have a large social media following, you can take advantage of the platform’s native features to promote your content on multiple fronts. When someone likes or follows your content on social media, they’ll get an email notification with a link to your content. If you have a Twitter account, you can use the platform’s “re-tweet” or “retweeting” feature to shout out new content or engage with your audience on a continuous basis.
When it comes to performance, a dedicated server offers the best of both worlds. On the one hand, you have the advantage of a local server, which ensures superior performance and minimal load times. On the other hand, you have the safety and security of a cloud server, which prevents downtime due to server overload or other issues.
How Do I Set Up A WordPress Dedicated Server?
If you have a static IP address, all you need to do is point your DNS records (Domain Name Servers) to the server’s IP address. If you don’t have a static IP, you’ll have to register with a DNS provider to receive an IP address from them. (DNS hosting is usually free.
Once you have your IP address, you can use WordPress’ built-in web server to upload your content and set up your blog or website. Of course, you’ll need to install WordPress first.
You’ll also need to choose a suitable name for your web server (e.g., webmail.yourdomain.com) as well as the security settings for your new WordPress installation. You can choose from the Basic, Premium, or Business plans from Bluehost, one of the most popular hosting providers worldwide. For detailed instructions on how to set up a WordPress server, check out this tutorial by HubSpot.
What About The Database And Credentials?
A database is a collection of information stored in a structured format. To keep your content fresh, you need to update your database on a regular basis. Fortunately, WordPress comes with a built-in database called “wp_” that you can use to store all your content. (You can use any database you want, but WordPress makes it incredibly easy to use.)
While you’re at it, you might as well use the same database to store your site’s credentials as well. Credentials are sets of credentials that can be used to login to a website or service. Some examples of credentials include usernames and passwords, email addresses, and security certificates (e.g., HTTPS).
For a while, you can use WordPress’ built-in database and credentials for free as part of the Basic plan. However, if you want to take advantage of WordPress’ premium features, you’ll need to upgrade to the Business or Premium plan.
What About The Domain Name?
Like your web server’s name, your domain name is very important. It’ll be the address of your site when someone clicks on a link or enters it into their web browser. You can’t expect search engines to recognize your site’s content if it’s not easily found by internet users. (Incoming links are very important, too – it’s a major signal to Google that this is a valuable web property.)
Luckily, the internet has a variety of domain name extensions available, so you can be confident that you’ll be able to find something that suits your needs. You don’t need to run off and purchase a premium domain name right away, either. Most web hosts provide you with a free domain for one year before you have to renew it.
Step-By-Step Instructions
While setting up a wordpress dedicated server might seem daunting, it’s actually very straightforward. Let’s take a look at the process.
First, you’ll need to select the best possible web host for your needs. For the best performance, you’ll want to select a web host with a local office near you. (This ensures the fastest possible support should you encounter any issues while setting up your site.)
Once you’ve secured a spot for your blog, you can move on to the next step.
The first thing you’ll need to do is sign up for a free account with Bluehost. You’ll get a confirmation email from them with further instructions. (Note: For more information on Bluehost, check out this comprehensive review.)
Once you’re connected to the Bluehost account, you can proceed to the next step.
In the next step, you’ll need to install WordPress to create your blog or website. (Note: If you’re looking for a one-click solution to install WordPress, check out WordPress Ultimate or WPLift.)
After you’ve installed WordPress, you can jump to the last step. Here, you’ll need to tell WordPress the location of your blog’s database. You can do this by clicking on the word “wp-options” located at the top-right corner of the WordPress dashboard. This will open up a menu where you can select the database you want to use for your site.
Finally, in the last step, you’ll need to configure WordPress to work with your database. To do this, click on the word “wp-config” located at the top-right corner of the WordPress dashboard. This will open up a menu where you can select which database you want to use for your site. (If you followed the previous steps correctly, this database should already be selected.)
Once you’ve made the selection, click on the “Submit Changes” button at the bottom of the menu to save the settings to your WordPress configuration file.
If you’re looking to speed up your site, you can activate WP Super Cache for free from within WordPress. Once activated, you can use the tool towards the top-right corner of the WordPress dashboard to see how much faster your site will load.