Deploy Your First Website on a Cloud Server with Nginx and Baota Panel

Introduction

Many front‑end developers want to publish their projects online but lack server knowledge; this article explains how to purchase a cloud server, configure it, and deploy a personal website.

Prerequisite Knowledge

What is a Cloud Server?

Elastic Compute Service (ECS)

is a scalable, reliable virtual machine that can be created without buying physical hardware.

What is a Domain Name?

A domain name maps a human‑readable address to an IP address via DNS, making websites easier to access.

What is an SSL Certificate?

An SSL certificate, issued by a trusted CA, provides server authentication and encrypts data transferred between client and server.

Choosing a Server

For beginners, a lightweight cloud instance from providers such as Alibaba Cloud or Tencent Cloud is sufficient. Register, complete real‑name verification, and select a basic configuration (e.g., 2 CPU, 2 GB RAM) for testing or a personal blog.

Key Parameters

Region/Availability Zone – choose the region closest to your target users for lower latency.

Instance Type – a virtual machine (CVM) that includes CPU, memory, OS, network, and storage.

Operating System Image – prefer a clean system image (e.g., CentOS 8) for flexibility.

Bandwidth – 1–2 Mbps is adequate for small sites; higher bandwidth improves response speed.

Connecting to the Server

Web VNC

Use the VNC option in the cloud console; ensure the instance is running before connecting.

SSH via Xshell

Download Xshell, create a session with the public IP, default port 22, and the username/password set during purchase.

# create a folder for the website
mkdir web

Remote Desktop (Windows Images)

Use the built‑in Remote Desktop client to connect to Windows‑based instances.

Installing Nginx

After logging in, install Nginx using the package manager.

# install Nginx on CentOS
yum install nginx

Start the service with nginx and verify that port 80 is listening.

Uploading Your Site

Replace the Default Page

# navigate to the default directory
cd /usr/share/nginx/html
rm -rf index.html

Copy your static files into this directory and refresh the server IP to see the site.

Modify Nginx Configuration

Edit /etc/nginx/nginx.conf to point the root to your custom folder, then restart Nginx.

# edit the config file
vim /etc/nginx/nginx.conf

Baota (BT) Linux Control Panel

Baota provides a web‑based interface for managing websites, FTP, databases, and system monitoring.

Installation

# install wget and download the installer
yum install -y wget && wget -O install.sh http://download.bt.cn/install/install_6.0.sh && sh install.sh

After installation, access the panel via the displayed IP, log in with the generated credentials, and bind a Baota account.

Creating a Site

In the Baota dashboard, add a new site, specify the domain (or use the server IP), and set the root directory (default /www/wwwroot ).

Common Issues

Server Connection Refused

Ensure the SSH port (22) is allowed in the security group.

Nginx Default Page Still Shows

Check that the configuration file changes were saved and restart Nginx.

Images Not Loading

Rename files with non‑ASCII characters and verify correct paths.

Conclusion

By following these steps—selecting a cloud instance, configuring DNS/SSL, installing Nginx, uploading files, and optionally using Baota—you can launch a personal website with minimal hassle and avoid common pitfalls.