How to Host a Website on Google Cloud Platform (Step-by-Step Guide)

Hosting a website on Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is a powerful option that offers scalability and performance. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started.

Step 1: Sign Up for Google Cloud

  1. Visit the GCP Website: Go to the Google Cloud Platform.
  2. Create an Account: Click on “Get Started for Free” and follow the prompts to set up your Google Cloud account.
  3. Billing Information: Enter your billing information. Google offers a free trial with credits for new users.

Step 2: Create a New Project

  1. Access the Console: Go to the Google Cloud Console.
  2. Create Project: Click on the project dropdown at the top and select “New Project.”
  3. Name Your Project: Provide a name and click “Create.”

Step 3: Set Up a Compute Engine Instance

  1. Navigate to Compute Engine:
    • In the left sidebar, click on “Compute Engine” and then “VM instances.”
    • Click on “Create Instance.”
  2. Configure Your VM:
    • Name: Give your instance a name.
    • Region and Zone: Choose a region and zone close to your target audience.
    • Machine Type: Select a machine type. For basic websites, the e2-micro instance is often sufficient and eligible for the free tier.
  3. Choose an OS:
    • In the “Boot disk” section, click “Change” to select an operating system. Choose a Linux distribution like Ubuntu or Debian.
  4. Firewall Settings:
    • Check the boxes for “Allow HTTP traffic” and “Allow HTTPS traffic.”
  5. Create the Instance: Click “Create” to launch your VM.

Step 4: Connect to Your VM Instance

  1. SSH into Your Instance:
    • In the VM instances page, find your new instance and click on the “SSH” button to open a terminal window.

Step 5: Install a Web Server

  1. Update Package Lists:
    bash
    sudo apt update
    
  2. Install Apache:
    bash
    sudo apt install apache2 -y
    
  3. Start Apache:
    bash
    sudo systemctl start apache2
    
  4. Enable Apache to Start on Boot:
    bash
    sudo systemctl enable apache2
    

Step 6: Upload Your Website Files

  1. Transfer Files:
    Use scp to upload your website files from your local machine:

    bash
    scp -i "path_to_your_ssh_key" local_file_path username@your_instance_external_ip:/var/www/html/
    
  2. Set Permissions (if necessary):
    bash
    sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html
    

Step 7: Access Your Website

  1. Open a Browser: Enter your instance’s external IP address in the browser. You should see your website live!

Step 8: Configure Domain Name (Optional)

  1. Register a Domain: Purchase a domain name from a registrar.
  2. Point Domain to Your Instance: Update the DNS settings to point to your instance’s external IP address.

Conclusion

You have successfully hosted a website on Google Cloud Platform! Monitor your usage in the Google Cloud Console to manage costs effectively. Enjoy your new web presence!

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