Docs Getting Started

Deploy Your First Cloud Server

Last updated 2 April 2026

Overview

Deploying a virtual server on AFRICLOUD takes less than 60 seconds. This guide walks you through creating your first VPS, connecting via SSH, and basic server management.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

  • An AFRICLOUD account with a verified email address
  • An SSH key pair (we will show you how to create one if you do not have one)
  • A funded wallet or saved payment method

Step 1: Add Your SSH Key

SSH keys provide secure, passwordless access to your server. If you already have a key pair, skip to Step 2.

Generate a new SSH key

Open your terminal and run:

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your-email@example.com"

Press Enter to accept the default file location. You can optionally set a passphrase for extra security.

Add the key to AFRICLOUD

  1. Go to Settings in the left sidebar
  2. Click the SSH Keys tab
  3. Click Add SSH Key
  4. Paste your public key (the contents of ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub)
  5. Give it a recognizable name and click Save

Step 2: Create a Virtual Server

  1. Click Compute in the left sidebar, then click Create Server
  2. Choose your plan based on your needs:

    3. - s-1vcpu-1gb — Great for development, testing, and small websites - s-2vcpu-4gb — WordPress, small applications, CI/CD runners - s-4vcpu-8gb — Production applications, databases, game servers

  3. Select your preferred location (Lisbon, Johannesburg, or Berlin)
  4. Choose an operating system — Ubuntu 24.04 is recommended for beginners
  5. Select your SSH key from the dropdown
  6. Enter a hostname for your server (e.g., web-01 or my-project)
  7. Click Deploy Server

> Your server will be ready in about 30 seconds. You will see its IP address on the server detail page.

Step 3: Connect to Your Server

Once your server status shows Running, connect via SSH:

ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP

Replace YOUR_SERVER_IP with the IP address shown on your server detail page.

If this is your first time connecting, you will see a fingerprint confirmation — type yes to continue.

Step 4: Basic Server Management

Update your system

After connecting, update your packages:

apt update && apt upgrade -y

Check resource usage

Monitor your server resources:

htop

Press q to exit htop.

Server actions from the dashboard

From your server detail page in the AFRICLOUD dashboard, you can:

  • Start / Stop / Reboot your server
  • Take snapshots for point-in-time recovery
  • Enable automated backups (daily, with 7-day retention)
  • Manage firewall rules to control inbound traffic
  • Attach floating IPs for high availability
  • Resize to a larger plan as your needs grow

What Next?

  • Secure your server — Set up a non-root user, configure UFW firewall, and disable password authentication
  • Deploy an application — Use our App Templates to deploy WordPress, Docker, or other popular software with one click
  • Set up monitoring — Install tools like Netdata or use our built-in bandwidth metrics
  • Enable backups — Go to your server detail page and enable automated daily backups

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Need help? Open a support ticket from your dashboard or browse our other knowledge base articles.