How to host CodeIgniter on Vultr Server - ServerAvatar

CodeIgniter is an open-source PHP framework known for its features and flexibility. With its extensive libraries and easy customization options, CodeIgniter facilitates the creation of web solutions without requiring advanced technical skills. It allows developers to build and manage web applications efficiently, providing tools for routing, database interaction, and session management. Hosting CodeIgnitor on Vultr provides a dependable and scalable solution. Vultr provides a wide range of instance types and configurations to match various performances with flexible deployment options. ServerAvatar simplifies the process by providing a clear, step-by-step guide to setting up CodeIgniter on Vultr VPS.

Create a Cloud Instance in Vultr

To create a server in Vultr, follow the below-given steps. If you want to learn How to use Vultr to manage your infrastructure in Vultr, You can refer to our Vultr cloud guide.

Step 1: Go to the Instance Creation Page

Vultr provides different types of cloud instances. From the server creation page, you can create cloud instances such as Regular VMs, Dedicated, Bare Metal, Cloud GPUs, and some managed services.

To access the server creation page, log in to your Vultr account and click on the Deploy New Server option from the + button given on the dashboard.

Step 2: Choose the Server

You can create 4 different types of cloud instances which includes Optimised Cloud Compute, Cloud Compute, Cloud GPU, and Bare Metal. Select the one that fits your requirements.

Step 3: Choose Server Type

Based on your selection of the server in the second step, You will have to select a specific type of server. If you have selected the Optimised Cloud Compute instance, You will see the options like this as shown in the image below:

Step 4: Select Server Location

Location is a very important option. Make sure to select a server location closest to your major traffic source demographically. You can select locations in 5 different continents.

Step 5: Select Server Image

In simple terms, a Server image is an operating system running on the server. So here, You have to select an OS for your server.

If you are managing your servers with ServerAvatar, Select Ubuntu 20.04 or Ubuntu 22.04.

Step 6: Select Server Size

Here, Select a server size according to your requirements. The minimum requirements for hosting CodeIgniter are at least 1GB of RAM, more is required for better performance, and a minimum of 1GB of free disk space is recommended, but more may be needed depending on your application files, logs, and databases. The exact amount will depend on your usage and data storage needs.

If you are just getting started with the project, You can start with a small configuration and then upgrade it according to future requirements.

Step 7: Add Auto Backups and Additional Features

We recommend you to enable auto backups for important websites or apps. If you are creating a temporary server, You can skip the auto backups.

In addition to this feature, You can enable DDOS Protection and other options according to your requirements.

Do not enable the "No Public IPv4 Address" option. It will create the server without IPv4, which is impossible to connect with ServerAvatar.

Step 8: Select an SSH Key

If you use an SSH key to authenticate with the server, Select an SSH key in this section. If you haven't uploaded your key yet, You can do it by clicking on the Add New option.

SSH key is not mandatory. If you don’t want to use SSH keys, Ignore this option. You can still connect to your server by using the password.

Step 9: Firewall Group

If you are using the Vultr firewall, You can select the firewall group from here.

If you do not have the 43210 port enabled in your firewall group, you need to configure it to connect a server with ServerAvatar.

Step 10: Server Hostname and Label

In this step, you have to choose the hostname and the label for the server. You can set the same hostname and label. They are used for identification purposes only.

Step 11: Deploy Now!

Finally, click on the Deploy Now button to create a server. It might take a minute or two to fully boot up your server. Once it is ready, You will see it in the Products section in Vultr.

Initial Server Configuration

The Initial server configuration includes the installation and configuration of various packages required to host your website. Usually, You have to write commands and modify configuration files. Luckily, With ServerAvatar, Your full server configuration and optimization can be automated.

Here are the three ways to automatically configure your server with ServerAvatar.

wget https://srvr.so/install
chmod +x install
./install

Install and Setup CodeIgniter on Cloud using ServerAvatar

Getting Started with CodeIgniter:

CodeIgniter is a powerful PHP Framework. It's a fantastic choice for small websites and projects. CodeIgniter comes with various features and functionalities. CodeIgniter Framework is Light, Fast, Flexible, and Secure to build full-stack web applications. CodeIgniter is most often noted for its speed when compared to other PHP frameworks. Thanks to its versatile features and advantages, CodeIgniter is in high demand among PHP developers. Web applications developed with CodeIgniter perform efficiently and quickly.

Key Features:

1. Open Source: CodeIgniter is open-source, you can build Web applications according to your needs.
2. Light weight: CodeIgniter is extremely light-weighted. its core system requires a very small library. That is why it is quite fast and lightweight.
3. SEO-friendly URLs: CodeIgniter generates clean, search-engine-friendly URLs.
4. MVC Pattern: CodeIgniter follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern, which separates logic and presentation. The controller handles requests, the model performs database actions, and the view displays the output.
5. Built-in libraries: CodeIgniter comes with a comprehensive set of libraries for web tasks like database handling, form validation, sending emails, image manipulation, and more.

Setting up CodeIgniter:

Step 1: Create a GitHub application

Start by creating a GitHub Application using ServerAvatar. Go to the Applications tab on the server panel and click on the Create button as shown in the image below.

On the following screen, fill in the Application details, including:

• Application Name: enter your Application Name.
• Select Domain: Select between a Test Domain or a Primary Domain as per your requirements.
• Enter Domain: Enter your Application Domain.
• Method: Select Git as your application method.
• Service Provider: Select GitHub as service provider for cloning the repository.
• Repository Type: Public
• Clone HTTPS URL: https://github.com/codeigniter4/CodeIgniter4.git
• Branch: master
• Deployment Script: composer update (to update the composer after cloning)

Now, your Application is ready. You can see your Application in the Dashboard.

Step 2: Create a Database

To create a Database that stores your confidential data, Go to the Dashboard and click on the Databases option. Enter Your Database name and just hit on the “Create a Database” button as shown in the image below.

After successfully creating a Database, you can see your Database in the Databases Dashboard.

Step 3: SSH Setup and env Configuration

• First, go to the Application Dashboard and enable SFTP/SSH Credentials as shown in the below image.

• After, enabling SFTP/SSH, you can log in to your server. Open a terminal and use the following command: sudo ssh {username}@{ip}
• Replace {username} with your actual Username and {ip} with your server's IP address. You will be prompted to enter your password. After successful authentication, you will have remote access to your server.
• Navigate to your Application Path by running the following command: cd CodeIgniterApp/public_html/

• Next, you need to copy or move the env file to the .env file.
• Command for Copy: cp env .env

• Command for Move: mv env .env

Step 4: Configure .env file

• Navigate to the Application Panel and go to the FIle Manager option and open the public_html folder.
• Now, click on the Show Hidden Files option and open the .env file by clicking on it.

• As shown in the image below, the environment is set to production by default in the .env file. It's recommended to test your application in a development environment initially.
• Edit and update your application's database details:
  • Database Name
  • Database Username
  • Database Password

• To find your database credentials, navigate to the Databases section in the server panel and click on the manage users icon next to the database you have set up for your application.

• You can see your Database credentials as shown in the image below.

Step 5: Update Custom Webroot

• To run your application on a server, you must set your Custom Webroot to public. To update this setting, navigate to the Settings option in the sidebar of your application.
• Add public in the Custom Webroot Section and click on Update Custom Webroot as shown in the below image.

Step 6: Access CodeIgniter

• Now, to access the CodeIgniter, open your web browser and enter your site's domain.
  • Example: http://codeigniter.satesting1.click
  • For instance: http://your-application-domain

Congratulations! You have successfully installed and deployed CodeIgniter through ServerAvatar.

Conclusion :

• Deploying a CodeIgniter application with ServerAvatar is a straightforward process that ensures your web application is running efficiently & smoothly.
• ServerAvatar simplifies the deployment process with its user-friendly interface and robust features, making it an excellent choice for PHP developers looking to leverage the power of CodeIgniter.
• With CodeIgniter, start your deployment today and enjoy the benefits of a fast, flexible, and secure web application built on one of the most popular PHP frameworks.