How to Host a WordPress Website on Google Cloud Platform
Hosting a WordPress website is both affordable and easy to do, but it’s also one of the most popular options among bloggers and business owners. The ability to self-host a WordPress site gives you complete ownership over your content, allowing you to make tweaks and changes at any time, and also means that you can choose where to deploy your site – whether you want to do so on your home network, or even within the Google Cloud Platform (GCP). In this article, we will discuss the various methods you can use to deploy a WordPress website on GCP.
Manual Installation
The most basic and traditional method of hosting a WordPress website is to do it manually. You will need to have a Linux-based server available along with a bit of hardware to run it – such as a CPU, motherboard, and RAM. To install WordPress manually, you will first need to download the platform’s latest release from the website. Once you have downloaded the platform’s package, you will need to extract the archive and move the resulting folder to your server’s document root. The next step is to open up a web browser on your server and point it to the default WordPress installation page – which is usually hosted on a web host such as Bluehost. You will then need to follow the onscreen instructions to install WordPress on your server.
If you’re new to WordPress, this method of installation is the simplest and most convenient way to get your site up and running. It also ensures that you are running the most up-to-date version of the software, and you can administer the platform directly from your server. The downside to this approach is that it’s rather tedious and requires a lot of manual intervention. If you’re looking for a one-click solution that still offers all the benefits of a custom-built WordPress installation, this is the route you should take.
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is, in some ways, the grandfather of all hosting plans. Essentially, shared hosting provides you with access to a limited amount of computing resources – namely, a server’s hard drive space and bandwidth – in order to host your website. Those resources are then managed by a content provider (also known as a web host), who charges you monthly for access to the server.
One of the primary benefits of shared hosting is that it’s highly affordable. You can get started with a basic shared hosting plan from Bluehost for just $2.95 per month – which is an incredible value. If you are looking to host a relatively small website with just a few pages, shared hosting is the perfect choice. It also makes it easy for any potential visitor to reach your content – since all you need to do to access it is browse the web.
The downside to shared hosting is that it is not specifically built for WordPress. Since your content provider is managing the server, it is not always possible to manually update WordPress or take full control of your content’s lifecycle. If you’re looking for a dedicated hosting plan that offers all the benefits of a custom-built WordPress installation with all the perks of the cloud, this is not the route you should take.
VPS (Virtual Private Server)
A virtual private server (VPS) is like shared hosting on crack. What it offers over shared hosting is that your computing resources – namely, a server’s RAM, CPU, and storage space – are fully managed by you. Those resources are then tied to a physical server, which you can take advantage of via a software client, such as Virtual Private Server (VPS).
One of the best things about a VPS is that it allows you to deploy a very customized version of WordPress. It also ensures that you always have complete control over your content – which is a big plus if you’re looking to make changes to your site’s design, markup, or functionality at any time, without having to contact a content provider first.
The downside to a VPS is that it is rather more expensive than shared hosting. It starts at around $5.00 per month, and can go up from there. Another downside is that it requires a bit more technical knowledge to set up and manage. If you’re looking for a one-click solution to get a website up and running without having to wrestle with configuration files, this is the route you should take.
Dedicated Hosting
Dedicated hosting is, in some ways, the purest form of WordPress hosting. What it offers over both shared and VPS hosting is that your website’s resources – namely, its processing power and storage space – are fully managed by a service provider (also known as a hosting company). So, while your RAM, CPU, and storage space are shared with other websites, your actual server space is dedicated solely to your use.
The beauty of dedicated hosting is that it guarantees you a steady rate of traffic. Since your server is dedicated to serving just your site, other websites cannot interfere with the performance of your content. This makes dedicated hosting the perfect choice for those who either have a constantly growing audience or content that is particularly time-sensitive, and needs to be accessible to the largest audience possible.
The downside to dedicated hosting is that it is the most expensive form of WordPress hosting available. It starts at around $16.00 per month and can go up from there. Another downside is that it requires a bit more technical knowledge to set up and manage. If you’re looking for a one-click solution that offers all the benefits of a custom-built WordPress installation with all the perks of the cloud, this is the route you should take.
Cloud Website Hosting
The cloud is, in some ways, the grandaddy of all hosting platforms. What makes the Cloud Website Hosting plans different from other forms of hosting is that your computing resources – namely, a website’s processing power and storage space – are provided to you by a third party, most often a content delivery network (CDN). As a result, your website can be accessed from anywhere at any time, without needing to be physically present on a server.
The Cloud Website Hosting plans provided by Google are just what you need to get started with a website. The entire process of installing WordPress and setting up your blog is automated, so you can simply follow the onscreen instructions and have a functional, WordPress-based website up and running in no time.
The good thing about the Cloud Website Hosting plans is that you do not need to have a server to host your content. So, even if you do not have the hardware required to run your own server, you can technically still use the Cloud Website Hosting plans. The downside to the Cloud Website Hosting plans is that they require you to use Google’s proprietary software to create and manage your site – which is a bit more technical than other hosting platforms and may require some training to get started with.
In some ways, the choice of which hosting platform to use is a personal one. If you have the technical know-how, you could very well opt for a manual installation of WordPress. However, if you are just getting started, it might be simpler to use one of the automated platforms that have been created to make setting up a WordPress site a simple task.
In conclusion, if you’re looking for a one-stop-shop for all your website needs, it’s not necessarily that Google’s Cloud Platform is the answer. You could technically use any one of the three platforms discussed in this article to host a WordPress website. But, if you’re looking for a robust, secure, and stable platform that allows you to get up and running quickly, you should probably opt for Google’s Cloud Platform.