Create A Free VPS With Oracle Cloud: A Step-by-Step Guide

Oct 31, 2025 by Admin 58 views

Hey guys! Ever wanted to spin up your own virtual server without spending a dime? Well, you're in luck! Oracle Cloud offers a pretty sweet deal: a free VPS (Virtual Private Server) that you can use for various projects. Whether you're looking to host a website, test applications, or just play around with Linux, this guide will walk you through the entire process, step by step. Let's dive in and get you your own free VPS!

Why Choose Oracle Cloud for a Free VPS?

Before we get started, let's talk about why Oracle Cloud is a great option for a free VPS. There are a few reasons why it stands out from the crowd:

Generous Free Tier: Oracle's Always Free tier is actually quite generous. You get access to compute instances, storage, and other services that are free forever, as long as you stay within the usage limits.
Reliable Infrastructure: Oracle Cloud is built on enterprise-grade infrastructure, so you can expect good performance and reliability from your VPS.
Global Availability: Oracle has data centers all over the world, so you can choose a region that's close to your target audience for lower latency.
Variety of Use Cases: A free VPS can be used for a wide range of projects, from hosting personal websites and blogs to running game servers and development environments.

Oracle's Always Free tier is a game-changer, especially for developers, students, and hobbyists. It allows you to experiment and build projects without the pressure of racking up hefty bills. The compute instances offered are usually sufficient for light to medium workloads, making it perfect for learning and prototyping. Plus, the reliable infrastructure ensures that your projects stay online and accessible. The global availability is another significant advantage, allowing you to deploy your VPS closer to your users, resulting in faster load times and a better user experience. So, if you're looking for a cost-effective and reliable VPS solution, Oracle Cloud is definitely worth considering.

Step 1: Sign Up for an Oracle Cloud Account

First things first, you need to create an Oracle Cloud account. Here’s how:

Go to the Oracle Cloud website: Head over to the Oracle Cloud Free Tier page. You can easily find it by searching "Oracle Cloud Free Tier" on Google.
Start your free trial: Click on the button that says something like "Start for free" or "Try Oracle Cloud Free Tier." This will take you to the sign-up page.
Fill out the registration form: You'll need to provide your email address, country, and create a password. Make sure to use a valid email address, as you'll need to verify it later.
Verify your email: Oracle will send you an email with a verification link. Click on the link to verify your email address.
Provide your personal information: After verifying your email, you'll need to provide some personal information, such as your name, address, and phone number.
Set up your cloud account: Choose a unique cloud account name and a home region. The home region is where your data and resources will be stored, so choose a region that's geographically close to you.
Add a payment method: Even though you're signing up for the free tier, Oracle requires you to provide a credit card or debit card. This is to verify your identity and prevent abuse of the free tier. Don't worry, you won't be charged as long as you stay within the free tier limits.
Accept the terms and conditions: Read the terms and conditions carefully, and then check the box to accept them.
Start your free trial: Click on the button to start your free trial. It may take a few minutes for your account to be provisioned.

During the sign-up process, it's crucial to provide accurate information, especially your email address and phone number, as Oracle uses these to verify your identity and communicate important updates. Choosing the right home region is also essential for optimizing latency and performance. Select a region that's geographically close to your location or your target audience. While providing a payment method might seem counterintuitive for a free tier, it's a standard practice among cloud providers to prevent abuse and ensure that users are legitimate. Rest assured, you won't be charged as long as you stay within the free tier limits. Make sure to read the terms and conditions carefully to understand the usage limits and restrictions of the free tier.

Step 2: Create a Compute Instance (VPS)

Now that you have an Oracle Cloud account, it's time to create your free VPS. Here’s how:

Log in to the Oracle Cloud Console: Go to the Oracle Cloud website and log in to your account using your email address and password.
Navigate to Compute: Once you're logged in, click on the navigation menu in the top-left corner, and then select "Compute" -> "Instances."
Create Instance: Click on the "Create Instance" button to start creating your VPS.
Name your instance: Give your instance a meaningful name. This will help you identify it later.
Choose an operating system: Select the operating system you want to use for your VPS. Oracle Cloud offers a variety of Linux distributions, such as Oracle Linux, Ubuntu, and CentOS. You can also choose Windows Server, but keep in mind that it may not be available in the free tier.
Configure networking: Choose the virtual cloud network (VCN) and subnet for your instance. If you don't have a VCN, you can create one. Make sure to allow traffic to your instance by configuring the security list rules.
Choose a shape: Select the shape for your instance. The shape determines the amount of CPU, memory, and storage allocated to your VPS. For the free tier, you can choose the "VM.Standard.E2.1.Micro" shape, which provides 1 OCPU and 1 GB of RAM.
Add SSH key: Add an SSH key to your instance. This will allow you to connect to your VPS securely using SSH. You can either generate a new SSH key pair or upload an existing one.
Create the instance: Review your configuration and click on the "Create" button to create your instance. It may take a few minutes for the instance to be provisioned.

When creating your compute instance, selecting the right operating system is crucial for your project's compatibility and performance. Oracle Linux, Ubuntu, and CentOS are popular choices for their stability and extensive community support. Configuring networking properly ensures that your instance can communicate with the outside world and that traffic is routed correctly. The shape you choose determines the resources allocated to your VPS, so it's important to select a shape that meets your project's requirements. For the free tier, the "VM.Standard.E2.1.Micro" shape is a good starting point. Adding an SSH key is essential for secure access to your VPS. It's recommended to generate a new SSH key pair for each instance to enhance security. Reviewing your configuration before creating the instance is crucial to ensure that everything is set up correctly and that you don't encounter any issues later on.

Step 3: Connect to Your VPS

Once your instance is up and running, you can connect to it using SSH. Here’s how:

Get the public IP address: Go to the Oracle Cloud Console and navigate to your instance. You'll find the public IP address listed in the instance details.
Open a terminal: Open a terminal or SSH client on your local machine.
Connect to the instance: Use the ssh command to connect to the instance. The command will look something like this:
```
ssh -i /path/to/your/private/key opc@<public_ip_address>
```
Replace /path/to/your/private/key with the path to your private key file, and <public_ip_address> with the public IP address of your instance.
Log in: If you're connecting to the instance for the first time, you may be prompted to verify the host's fingerprint. Type yes to continue.
Start using your VPS: Once you're logged in, you can start using your VPS. You can install software, configure services, and deploy your applications.

Connecting to your VPS via SSH is a fundamental skill for managing remote servers. The ssh command is your gateway to accessing and controlling your instance. Ensure that you replace /path/to/your/private/key with the correct path to your private key file, as this is essential for secure authentication. The opc user is the default user for Oracle Linux instances, but it may vary depending on the operating system you've chosen. If you're using a different Linux distribution, such as Ubuntu, the default user might be ubuntu. Verifying the host's fingerprint is a security measure to ensure that you're connecting to the correct server and not a malicious imposter. Once you're logged in, you have full control over your VPS and can start configuring it to your liking.

Step 4: Configure Your VPS

Now that you're connected to your VPS, it's time to configure it to meet your needs. Here are some common tasks you might want to perform:

Update the system: Run sudo yum update (for Oracle Linux and CentOS) or sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade (for Ubuntu) to update the system to the latest versions of software packages.
Install software: Install any software you need for your projects, such as web servers (Apache, Nginx), databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL), or programming languages (Python, Node.js).
Configure the firewall: Configure the firewall to allow traffic to the ports you need. For example, if you're running a web server, you'll need to allow traffic to port 80 (HTTP) and port 443 (HTTPS).
Set up users: Create additional user accounts for your team members or collaborators.
Secure your VPS: Implement security measures to protect your VPS from unauthorized access, such as setting up strong passwords, disabling unnecessary services, and installing a security scanner.

Configuring your VPS involves several crucial steps to ensure its functionality and security. Updating the system is essential for patching vulnerabilities and keeping your software up-to-date. Installing the necessary software is key to enabling your VPS to perform its intended tasks, whether it's hosting a website, running a database, or serving as a development environment. Configuring the firewall is paramount for protecting your VPS from unauthorized access and malicious attacks. Only allow traffic to the ports that are absolutely necessary for your applications to function. Setting up additional user accounts allows you to grant access to your VPS to other users while maintaining control over their permissions and privileges. Implementing security measures is an ongoing process that requires vigilance and attention to detail. Regularly review your security settings and update your software to stay ahead of potential threats.

Step 5: Enjoy Your Free VPS!

Congratulations! You've successfully created and configured your own free VPS on Oracle Cloud. Now you can start using it for your projects. Remember to stay within the free tier limits to avoid being charged. If you need more resources, you can always upgrade to a paid plan.

Enjoy experimenting and building amazing things with your new VPS! If you have any questions or run into any issues, don't hesitate to consult the Oracle Cloud documentation or ask for help on the Oracle Cloud forums.

Enjoying your free VPS is the ultimate goal of this guide. You've successfully navigated the process of creating and configuring your own virtual server without spending a dime. Now it's time to unleash your creativity and start building amazing things. Whether you're hosting a personal website, experimenting with new technologies, or running a small-scale application, your free VPS is a valuable resource. Remember to stay within the free tier limits to avoid unexpected charges. If you find that you need more resources, such as additional CPU, memory, or storage, you can always upgrade to a paid plan. The Oracle Cloud documentation is a comprehensive resource that provides detailed information about all of Oracle Cloud's services and features. The Oracle Cloud forums are a great place to ask questions, share your experiences, and connect with other users.

Tips for Staying Within the Free Tier Limits

To make the most of your free VPS and avoid unexpected charges, here are some tips for staying within the free tier limits:

Monitor your usage: Keep an eye on your resource usage in the Oracle Cloud Console. This will help you identify any potential issues and prevent you from exceeding the limits.
Stop unused instances: If you're not using an instance, stop it to conserve resources. You can always start it again later when you need it.
Use the free tier shapes: Stick to the free tier shapes (e.g., VM.Standard.E2.1.Micro) to avoid being charged.
Be mindful of storage: The free tier includes a limited amount of storage. Be mindful of how much storage you're using and delete any unnecessary files.
Set up alerts: Set up alerts in the Oracle Cloud Console to notify you when you're approaching the free tier limits.

Monitoring your usage is the most important step in staying within the free tier limits. The Oracle Cloud Console provides detailed information about your resource consumption, allowing you to identify any potential issues and take corrective action. Stopping unused instances is a simple yet effective way to conserve resources and prevent unnecessary charges. When an instance is stopped, it's no longer consuming CPU, memory, or network bandwidth. Using the free tier shapes ensures that you're not exceeding the resource limits of the free tier. These shapes are specifically designed to provide a balance of performance and cost-effectiveness. Being mindful of storage is crucial, as the free tier includes a limited amount of storage. Regularly review your storage usage and delete any unnecessary files to free up space. Setting up alerts in the Oracle Cloud Console allows you to proactively manage your resource consumption and avoid unexpected charges. You can configure alerts to notify you when you're approaching the free tier limits, giving you time to take action and prevent overages.

That's it! You're now equipped to create and manage your own free VPS on Oracle Cloud. Have fun exploring the possibilities!