Hi Dave thanks for the video. Super helpful. I encountered the error info that you mentioned at 8:45. I believe that I’ve added the DNS records correctly. Is there anything else to be done such as add my domain on digitalocean, or setup authoritative nameservers on registrar? Or just wait…
Hey Michael, try whatsmydns.net. See if your records have populated. The A record for your domain should point to your Digital Ocean server. If you're using cloudflare, turn off proxy (the orange cloud) until after the SSL cert is issued.
This is great. I was just reading through a tutorial on how to install Ghost on shared hosting. That's for a family blog just to test out the latest version of Ghost. The set up you have shared here would obviously be better for a serious blog so I might give it a try. At the end of the day I think I'll end up with Ghost hosted.
Thanks Justin -- If you just want to test things out, definitely do the 14-day trial from Ghost pro. You can be playing with it in a few seconds. Pro-tip: You have to enter a credit card for the trial, but it's just to verify your identity. They won't auto-charge you.
Great tutorial. I am strugglin with setting up SSL certs for my website. Currently, the certs don't exist, so it throws insecure website alert. Do you have an experience securing the Ghost site on Digital Ocean?
Hey Jayesh! Thanks for watching. To set up SSL for your Ghost site on Digital Ocean, you can use a free SSL certificate from Let's Encrypt and the Certbot tool to manage it. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you with the process: 1. SSH into your Digital Ocean Droplet: ``` ssh root@your-droplet-ip ``` Replace `your-droplet-ip` with the actual IP address of your droplet. 2. Update the package list and install required packages: ``` sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install software-properties-common ``` 3. Add the Certbot repository and install Certbot: ``` sudo add-apt-repository ppa:certbot/certbot sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install certbot ``` 4. Install the Nginx plugin for Certbot: ``` sudo apt-get install python3-certbot-nginx ``` 5. Obtain and install the SSL certificate using Certbot: ``` sudo certbot --nginx -d your-domain.com -d www.your-domain.com ``` Replace `your-domain.com` and `www.your-domain.com` with your actual domain name. 6. Verify that Certbot has automatically configured Nginx: ``` sudo nginx -t ``` If there are no issues, you should see the message "nginx: configuration file /etc/nginx/nginx.conf test is successful." 7. Reload the Nginx service to apply the changes: ``` sudo systemctl reload nginx ``` 8. Set up automatic certificate renewal by adding the following line to the `/etc/crontab` file: ``` 0 0,12 * * * root certbot renew --quiet ``` This will schedule the renewal process to run twice a day. After completing these steps, your Ghost site should now have SSL enabled, and the certificate should automatically renew every 90 days. You can test your SSL configuration using an online tool like SSL Labs' SSL Server Test (www.ssllabs.com/ssltest/).
Hi Dave! Thanks for the tutorial! It was very helpful! Is there anything we need to do to after setting it up? Like maintaining the Digital Ocean droplet (like updating the OS) aside from regularly updating Ghost? Read a number threads on the forums server maintenance is needed. Not a techie here, so I'm not too sure what else I have to do aside from updating Ghost every two weeks.
It's not too bad but if you're looking for some help, I have an entire course on managing a self hosted ghost installation: courses.profitabletools.com/product/self-host-ghost/
@@dave-swift Hi Dave, I want to buy this course. But the course mentions that you will specifically be teaching how to set it up via Vultr. I want to use Linode as opposed to Vultr. If I do buy this course will I be able to apply it to setting up a Ghost server on Linode? Or do you have a separate course that will teach me how to set up a self-hosting Ghost on Linode?
Hey Ethan, I use Vultr in the course but there is nothing stopping you from using any other provider. The steps are nearly identical. If you buy the course and run into any trouble on Linode, just let me know. Thanks!
Hey @jeelpatel4190, sorry to hit you're getting this error. Since I don't manage or control the DO installer script, you'll have to check with them. Maybe there is a bug with the script currently? If you're interested installing directly on the server, I have a course that goes into great detail with step by step commands on this like backups, multiple sites, and maintenance. Check the course here: courses.profitabletools.com/product/self-host-ghost/
You could install Ghost on a subdomain or in a subdirectory. The subdirectory setup requires a reverse proxy. Here is some info to get you started: ghost.org/help/can-i-run-ghost-from-a-subdirectory/
Having tiered membership and gated content is important to me. Would all of this migrate over perfectly if I did Ghost Pro first, then eventually moved to self-managed? This thought has been freezing me from really getting started longer than I'd like to admit. 😅
Yes, migrating from Ghost Pro to Self hosted isn't bad all. The Ghost team will provide you a full backup, they usually respond in less than one day. BTW -- I cover this in my Self Host Ghost Course: profitabletools.com/product/self-host-ghost/ (code selfhost for 30% off)
Why can't DigitalOcean give me a temporary URL for this install instead of requiring a domain name? I'm not ready to move away from SiteGround, which does not support the ability to install Ghost due to no root access.
Digital doesn't provide domains, they just give you an IP. Ghost needs a URL to install, but you can just use a subdomain of your main domain and change it when you're ready I cover this in my Self-Host Ghost course if you're looking for more guidance. courses.profitabletools.com/product/self-host-ghost/
Hi, thanks for the great video. I'm seriously thinking of leaving WordPress (I have been with them for 10 years), because I'm sick and tired of all the updates and fixes I need to do on a regular basis (I'm not a developer or IT person). I recently found Ghost and it seems like a great alternative. Although it is a lot limited in feature and functionalities. I'm interested in creating a personal brand - my website will have articles (some free, some paid), premium courses, and eBooks. And so, I want my website to look good, be fast, and SEO/Google friendly. Do you think Ghost would be a good platform for me to switch to given my needs?
Ghost is a great blogging platform and great for newsletters. I think it would also work well for Podcasters. I don't think it will be a good fit for courses & ebooks/ecommerce as it does not have those features. You could blog on Ghost and use something like ThriveCart for your ebooks and Courses. (profitabletools.com/get/thrivecart)
Thanks for the alternatives. There are a lot of cloud hosting providers out there but I really enjoy Digital Ocean. I've found them to have great support and outstanding uptime... and the one click installer of Ghost isn't available from other providers.
Hi Dave thanks for the video. Super helpful. I encountered the error info that you mentioned at 8:45. I believe that I’ve added the DNS records correctly. Is there anything else to be done such as add my domain on digitalocean, or setup authoritative nameservers on registrar? Or just wait…
Hey Michael, try whatsmydns.net.
See if your records have populated. The A record for your domain should point to your Digital Ocean server. If you're using cloudflare, turn off proxy (the orange cloud) until after the SSL cert is issued.
This is great. I was just reading through a tutorial on how to install Ghost on shared hosting. That's for a family blog just to test out the latest version of Ghost.
The set up you have shared here would obviously be better for a serious blog so I might give it a try.
At the end of the day I think I'll end up with Ghost hosted.
Thanks Justin -- If you just want to test things out, definitely do the 14-day trial from Ghost pro. You can be playing with it in a few seconds.
Pro-tip: You have to enter a credit card for the trial, but it's just to verify your identity. They won't auto-charge you.
Other reason to self host is because Starter tier on Ghost Pro doesn't allow custom themes!
Yeah, that is a bummer!
Thanks for the tutorial, it is very helpful!
Glad it was helpful!
If I have a hero it's you. You are my man, I installed ghost successfully ❤❤.
Yes! Love to hear that. Ghost is amazing.
Great tutorial. I am strugglin with setting up SSL certs for my website. Currently, the certs don't exist, so it throws insecure website alert. Do you have an experience securing the Ghost site on Digital Ocean?
Hey Jayesh! Thanks for watching.
To set up SSL for your Ghost site on Digital Ocean, you can use a free SSL certificate from Let's Encrypt and the Certbot tool to manage it. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you with the process:
1. SSH into your Digital Ocean Droplet:
```
ssh root@your-droplet-ip
```
Replace `your-droplet-ip` with the actual IP address of your droplet.
2. Update the package list and install required packages:
```
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install software-properties-common
```
3. Add the Certbot repository and install Certbot:
```
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:certbot/certbot
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install certbot
```
4. Install the Nginx plugin for Certbot:
```
sudo apt-get install python3-certbot-nginx
```
5. Obtain and install the SSL certificate using Certbot:
```
sudo certbot --nginx -d your-domain.com -d www.your-domain.com
```
Replace `your-domain.com` and `www.your-domain.com` with your actual domain name.
6. Verify that Certbot has automatically configured Nginx:
```
sudo nginx -t
```
If there are no issues, you should see the message "nginx: configuration file /etc/nginx/nginx.conf test is successful."
7. Reload the Nginx service to apply the changes:
```
sudo systemctl reload nginx
```
8. Set up automatic certificate renewal by adding the following line to the `/etc/crontab` file:
```
0 0,12 * * * root certbot renew --quiet
```
This will schedule the renewal process to run twice a day.
After completing these steps, your Ghost site should now have SSL enabled, and the certificate should automatically renew every 90 days. You can test your SSL configuration using an online tool like SSL Labs' SSL Server Test (www.ssllabs.com/ssltest/).
Hi Dave!
Thanks for the tutorial! It was very helpful!
Is there anything we need to do to after setting it up?
Like maintaining the Digital Ocean droplet (like updating the OS) aside from regularly updating Ghost?
Read a number threads on the forums server maintenance is needed. Not a techie here, so I'm not too sure what else I have to do aside from updating Ghost every two weeks.
It's not too bad but if you're looking for some help, I have an entire course on managing a self hosted ghost installation: courses.profitabletools.com/product/self-host-ghost/
@@dave-swift Hi Dave, I want to buy this course. But the course mentions that you will specifically be teaching how to set it up via Vultr. I want to use Linode as opposed to Vultr. If I do buy this course will I be able to apply it to setting up a Ghost server on Linode? Or do you have a separate course that will teach me how to set up a self-hosting Ghost on Linode?
Hey Ethan,
I use Vultr in the course but there is nothing stopping you from using any other provider. The steps are nearly identical. If you buy the course and run into any trouble on Linode, just let me know. Thanks!
Need help: getting error: ❌ Setting up "ghost" mysql user
Hey @jeelpatel4190, sorry to hit you're getting this error. Since I don't manage or control the DO installer script, you'll have to check with them. Maybe there is a bug with the script currently?
If you're interested installing directly on the server, I have a course that goes into great detail with step by step commands on this like backups, multiple sites, and maintenance.
Check the course here: courses.profitabletools.com/product/self-host-ghost/
Can I integrate my ghost site with my WordPress website, and how?
You could install Ghost on a subdomain or in a subdirectory. The subdirectory setup requires a reverse proxy.
Here is some info to get you started:
ghost.org/help/can-i-run-ghost-from-a-subdirectory/
@@dave-swift Thank you
Having tiered membership and gated content is important to me. Would all of this migrate over perfectly if I did Ghost Pro first, then eventually moved to self-managed?
This thought has been freezing me from really getting started longer than I'd like to admit. 😅
Yes, migrating from Ghost Pro to Self hosted isn't bad all. The Ghost team will provide you a full backup, they usually respond in less than one day.
BTW -- I cover this in my Self Host Ghost Course: profitabletools.com/product/self-host-ghost/ (code selfhost for 30% off)
I was unable to choose less then $12/mo, any reason for that? :)
No idea... I see droplets as low as $4 on my account.
Thanks, could you please explain also how to connect Mailgun in order to send people verification emails when they register on the blog?
I've already made this video, but not released it yet...
Why can't DigitalOcean give me a temporary URL for this install instead of requiring a domain name? I'm not ready to move away from SiteGround, which does not support the ability to install Ghost due to no root access.
Digital doesn't provide domains, they just give you an IP.
Ghost needs a URL to install, but you can just use a subdomain of your main domain and change it when you're ready
I cover this in my Self-Host Ghost course if you're looking for more guidance.
courses.profitabletools.com/product/self-host-ghost/
Hi, thanks for the great video. I'm seriously thinking of leaving WordPress (I have been with them for 10 years), because I'm sick and tired of all the updates and fixes I need to do on a regular basis (I'm not a developer or IT person).
I recently found Ghost and it seems like a great alternative. Although it is a lot limited in feature and functionalities.
I'm interested in creating a personal brand - my website will have articles (some free, some paid), premium courses, and eBooks. And so, I want my website to look good, be fast, and SEO/Google friendly.
Do you think Ghost would be a good platform for me to switch to given my needs?
Ghost is a great blogging platform and great for newsletters. I think it would also work well for Podcasters. I don't think it will be a good fit for courses & ebooks/ecommerce as it does not have those features.
You could blog on Ghost and use something like ThriveCart for your ebooks and Courses. (profitabletools.com/get/thrivecart)
Look at pulseheberg or hetzner for cheaper price.
Thanks for the alternatives. There are a lot of cloud hosting providers out there but I really enjoy Digital Ocean. I've found them to have great support and outstanding uptime... and the one click installer of Ghost isn't available from other providers.