1: Getting Started
Welcome! This guide is designed for people who have some IT interest but don't work professionally in IT. Whether you're exploring Infinity Tools for personal use or considering it for a small business, this guide will walk you through everything step-by-step in plain language.
What Do I Need to Use Infinity Tools?
To use Infinity Tools, you need a Linux server - that's a computer running Linux that's always connected to the internet. Most people don't have a server at home, so you'll rent one from a cloud provider (like renting a computer in the cloud).
You'll Need:
- ✅ A Linux Server - We'll help you get one from a cloud provider
- ✅ A Credit Card - To pay for the server (usually $5-10/month)
- ✅ Basic Computer Skills - If you can use email and browse the web, you're good!
- ✅ About 30 Minutes - To get everything set up
Don't worry if terms like "Linux" or "server" sound scary - we'll explain everything as we go!
What is a Linux Server?
Think of a server like a computer that runs 24/7 on the internet. Instead of having a screen and keyboard, you control it remotely using your regular computer. The server runs special software (Linux) that's designed to host websites and applications.
Why rent a server?
- It's always on (your home computer isn't)
- It's fast and reliable
- It's cost-effective (much cheaper than buying hardware)
- You can access it from anywhere
Choosing a Cloud Provider
Cloud providers are companies that rent out servers. We'll focus on two beginner-friendly options that are affordable and easy to use.
Option 1: Hetzner Cloud (Recommended)
Why Hetzner:
- ✅ Excellent value for money (~€4-5/month)
- ✅ Simple and straightforward interface
- ✅ Good performance
- ✅ Based in Europe (strong data protection laws)
Perfect for: Beginners who want the best price-performance ratio
What you'll get:
- A virtual server (called a "Cloud Server")
- Full control over your server
- All the tools you need
Option 2: DigitalOcean
Why DigitalOcean:
- ✅ Very beginner-friendly interface
- ✅ Excellent documentation and tutorials
- ✅ Great customer support
- ✅ $6/month starting price
Perfect for: Beginners who want lots of help and tutorials
What you'll get:
- A "Droplet" (their name for a server)
- Web-based dashboard
- Helpful community resources
Other Options
You can also use:
- Linode - Similar to DigitalOcean, good alternative
- Vultr - Competitive pricing, global locations
- AWS Lightsail- Amazon's simple option (can be more complex)
Our recommendation: Start with Hetzner if you want the best price, or DigitalOcean if you want extra hand-holding.
Getting Your First Server
Step 1: Create an Account
- Visit Hetzner Cloud or DigitalOcean
- Click "Sign Up" or "Create Account"
- Enter your email and create a password
- Verify your email address
- Add a payment method (credit card)
Don't worry: You won't be charged until you create a server, and you can stop it anytime.
Step 2: Create Your Server
For Hetzner Cloud:
- Login to your Hetzner Cloud account
- Click "New Project" (if you don't have one)
- Name it something like "My Infinity Tools"
- Click "Add Server"
- Choose Location:
- Pick a location close to you (Germany, Finland, USA, etc.)
- Choose Image:
- Select Ubuntu 22.04 or Ubuntu 24.04 (recommended)
- Don't worry about other options - Ubuntu is perfect for beginners
- Choose Server Type:
- Select CX11 (€4.51/month) - this is enough to start
- This gives you: 1 CPU, 2GB RAM, 20GB storage
- Networking:
- Leave default settings (IPv4 enabled)
- SSH Keys:
- We'll skip this for now (covered in next article)
- Name Your Server:
- Something like "infinity-tools-server"
- Click "Create & Buy Now"
After creation: You'll see your server's IP address (looks like: 123.45.67.89) - write this down!
For DigitalOcean:
- Login to your DigitalOcean account
- Click "Create" → "Droplets"
- Choose Image:
- Select Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
- Choose Plan:
- Select Basic → Regular → $6/month (1GB RAM, 1 CPU)
- Or $12/month (2GB RAM) for better performance
- Choose Datacenter Region:
- Pick a location close to you
- Authentication:
- Choose "Password" for now (we'll set up SSH keys later)
- Create a strong password - save this password!
- Finalize:
- Name your droplet (e.g., "infinity-tools")
- Click "Create Droplet"
After creation: You'll see your server's IP address - write this down!
Step 3: Configure Your Server
Once your server is created, you need to do a few basic setup steps:
Enable Basic Firewall (Important!)
Your server needs basic protection. Here's how (we'll cover connecting to your server properly in the next article, but for now):
For Hetzner:
- Firewall is usually enabled by default, but you can add rules in the Hetzner Cloud console
For DigitalOcean:
- Go to "Networking" → "Firewalls"
- Create a firewall that allows:
- SSH (port 22)
- HTTP (port 80)
- HTTPS (port 443)
- Apply it to your droplet
Why this matters: A firewall protects your server from unwanted access. We'll configure this properly later.
What You'll Need Next
Before you can install Infinity Tools, you'll need:
1. A Domain Name (Optional but Recommended)
What is a domain name? It's like an address for your website (e.g., mywebsite.com).
Why you need it: Infinity Tools can automatically set up secure connections (HTTPS) if you have a domain name. Without one, you can still use it, but browsers will show security warnings.
Where to get one:
- Namecheap - Easy to use, good prices (~$10-15/year)
- Cloudflare - Very affordable (~$9/year), includes free features
- Your cloud provider - Both Hetzner and DigitalOcean sell domains
What to do:
- Buy a domain name (e.g.,
myinfinitytools.com) - Point it to your server's IP address (we'll show you how in the next article)
Don't have a domain? That's okay! You can always add one later or use your server's IP address directly.
2. Basic Information
Server IP Address: You got this when you created your server (looks like: 123.45.67.89)
Server Password (DigitalOcean): The password you created when setting up the droplet
Cloud Provider Account: Keep your login credentials handy
Understanding Server Costs
Monthly Costs:
- Server: €4-6/month (~$5-7) for basic setup
- Domain name: ~$10-15/year (one-time each year)
- Total: ~$6-8/month for your own self-hosted services!
What's Included:
- A great variety of applications (WordPress, password manager, cloud storage, etc.)
- No per-user fees
- No storage limits (within your server's capacity)
- Full control over your data
Compared to SaaS:
- Password manager: $3-5/month per user
- Cloud storage: $5-10/month per user
- Analytics: $100s/month
- Your own server: One price, unlimited everything!
Security Basics
Keep Your Server Safe:
- ✅ Always use strong passwords
- ✅ Keep your server updated
- ✅ Use a firewall (we'll set this up)
- ✅ Don't share your server passwords
- ✅ Enable automatic security updates
Infinity Tools will help with most of this automatically!
You're Ready!
You now have:
- ✅ A cloud account
- ✅ A Linux server running
- ✅ The server's IP address
- ✅ Basic understanding of what you're working with
What's Next?
The next article will cover:
- Connecting to your server using SSH (don't worry, we'll explain this!)
- Getting Infinity Tools onto your server
- Running the installer
- Setting up your first applications
Don't worry if some of this feels new! We'll walk through everything step-by-step, and Infinity Tools will handle most of the technical stuff automatically.
Quick Tips
If you get stuck:
- Both Hetzner and DigitalOcean have excellent documentation
- Take your time - there's no rush
- You can always delete and recreate your server if something goes wrong
Safety first:
Remember:
- Your server is a computer in the cloud - treat it like any important computer
- You can stop your server anytime to avoid charges
- Start small and learn as you go
Next: Connecting to Your Server and Installing Infinity Tools (Article 2)