Introduction​

In today's digital age, a strong online presence is crucial for businesses and individuals alike. Hosting your website on the cloud offers unmatched scalability, reliability, and performance. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) provides a robust and cost-effective solution for website hosting using Object Storage and API Gateway. This blog will walk you through the entire process, offering insights, tips, and best practices for seamless website hosting on OCI.

Why Choose Oracle Cloud for Website Hosting?​

• Scalability: Easily scale your website as traffic grows without worrying about hardware limitations.
• Cost-Effective: Pay only for the resources you use, with no upfront costs.
• High Availability: With OCI's global data centers, ensure your website is always accessible.
• Enhanced Security: Advanced security features like encryption, firewall, and monitoring.

Key Components for Website Hosting on OCI​

1. Object Storage: Used to store and serve static files like HTML, CSS, JS, and media.
2. API Gateway: Acts as a reverse proxy, enabling secure and scalable access to your website.
3. DNS Configuration: Ensures your domain points correctly to your hosted site.
4. IAM Policies: Manage access and permissions securely.

Following diagram shows the architecture that will be setup:

Step-by-Step Guide to Host Your Website on Oracle Cloud​

1. Set Up an Oracle Cloud Account​

• Sign up for a free Oracle Cloud account, which includes free credits to get started.
• Configure your tenancy, compartments, and IAM settings.

2. Create a Virtual Cloud Network (VCN)​

A Virtual Cloud Network (VCN) is a customizable and private network in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. It is a fundamental component for any cloud deployment, including hosting a website. Here's how to create a VCN using the Oracle Cloud VCN Wizard:

Steps to Create a VCN:​

1. Navigate to the VCN Dashboard: Go to the Networking section in the OCI console.
2. Choose the VCN Wizard: The wizard simplifies the setup by automatically creating necessary components like subnets, route tables, internet gateways, and NAT gateways.
3. Enter Network Details:
   • Name: 'StaticWebsiteVCN'
   • CIDR Block: '10.2.0.0/16'
   • Subnet Types: Public and Private subnets
   • Public Subnet CIDR: '10.2.1.0/24'
   • Private Subnet CIDR: '10.2.2.0/24'
   • Internet Gateway: Automatic creation
   • NAT Gateway: Configured for private subnet internet access
4. Select Internet Connectivity: Ensure the Internet Gateway is configured for the public subnet, and the NAT Gateway is in place for private subnet resources.
5. Review and Create: Double-check the configurations, ensure security lists and route tables are correctly set up, and create the VCN.

3. Configure Security Lists​

Security lists act as virtual firewalls for your VCN subnets. To allow HTTP/HTTPS traffic, follow these steps:

1. Access Security Lists: Navigate to the security lists associated with your public subnet.
2. Add Ingress Rules:
   • Source Type: CIDR
   • Source CIDR: 0.0.0.0/0 (for public access)
   • Allowed Ports: 80 (HTTP) and 443 (HTTPS)
   • Port 22: Allow for SSH access if needed
3. Save the Rules: Apply the changes to allow internet traffic to your web application.

4. Set Up Object Storage​

Oracle's Object Storage is ideal for hosting static website files such as HTML, CSS, JS, and media files.

How to Create and Configure Object Storage:​

1. Create a Bucket:
   • Name: StaticWebsiteBucket
   • Storage Type: Standard
   • Set Object Versioning if needed
2. Upload Files:
   • Manually upload files or use the Oracle CLI for batch uploads.
   • Create folders (e.g., CSS, JS, images) if needed.
   • Ensure all files are correctly named and accessible
3. Generate Pre-Authenticated Requests (PARs):
   • Allow API Gateway to securely access files.
   • Set up read-only access to the entire bucket or specific files.
   • Maintain a list of PAR URLs for easy management and updating

5. Configure API Gateway​

The API Gateway serves as the front-end for your hosted website. It handles routing, security, and resource management.

Steps to Set Up the API Gateway:​

1. Create an API Gateway:
   • Choose the public subnet from the VCN created earlier.
   • Configure API endpoints and deployment settings.
   • Define the deployment name and the route base path as '/'
2. Define Backend Routes:
   • Map routes to Object Storage using the PAR URLs.
   • Configure paths for 'index.html', '.js', '.css', '*.jpeg', and other static assets.
   • Use wildcards to simplify routing, e.g., '.css', '.js', '*.jpeg'
3. Deploy and Test:
   • Test the deployment by accessing the API endpoint via a browser.
   • Validate that all assets load correctly and that the website is fully functional.
   • Monitor API calls and traffic through the API Gateway dashboard

6. Set Up DNS and SSL​

For a professional and secure website, setting up DNS and SSL is critical.

1. DNS Configuration:
   • Point your domain to the API Gateway's public endpoint.
   • Use Oracle Cloud's DNS service or an external DNS provider.
   • Configure CNAME or A records as necessary
2. Enable SSL (Optional):
   • Set up an SSL certificate on the API Gateway.
   • Configure HTTPS routing to secure all web traffic.
   • Consider using Let's Encrypt or a third-party SSL provider

Best Practices for Website Hosting on OCI​

• Use Caching: Implement caching strategies to reduce latency.
• Monitor Performance: Set up alerts and dashboards for real-time monitoring.
• Backup and Recovery: Regularly back up your Object Storage data.
• Optimize Costs: Use lifecycle management policies to reduce storage costs.
• Use Pre-Authenticated Requests Wisely: Only expose necessary files to reduce security risks.
• Test Extensively: Before going live, thoroughly test all endpoints and resources

Common Pitfalls and Troubleshooting​

1. Deployment Issues: Ensure that the VCN and API Gateway are correctly configured.
2. File Not Found Errors: Double-check the bucket paths and pre-authenticated request (PAR) links.
3. Access Denied: Validate IAM policies and public access settings for Object Storage.
4. SSL Certificate Issues: Verify SSL configuration on API Gateway if HTTPS is not working.
5. Network Configuration: Ensure that security lists and route tables are not blocking traffic

Conclusion​

Oracle Cloud offers a powerful platform for hosting websites with minimal effort and maximum benefits. By leveraging Object Storage and API Gateway, you can create a scalable, secure, and high-performance website hosting solution. Follow the steps outlined in this guide to master website hosting on Oracle Cloud and take your online presence to the next level.

Please reach out to us for any of your cloud requirements

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Additional Resources​

• Oracle Cloud Documentation
• Getting Started with Object Storage
• Setting Up API Gateway

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How to transfer a domain from AWS Route 53 to Cloudflare. This process might seem a bit complicated, but we'll break it down into manageable steps to ensure a smooth transition.

If you haven't seen our previous video on transferring a domain from GoDaddy to AWS, you can check it out for reference. Now, let's dive into the process of moving a domain from AWS to Cloudflare.

If you haven't seen our previous video on transferring a domain from GoDaddy to AWS, you can check it out for reference. Now, let's dive into the process of moving a domain from AWS to Cloudflare.

Refer How To Transfer Your Domain from GoDaddy to AWS

Step 1: Preparing the Domain for Transfer​

Before we proceed, ensure you have:

• Access to your AWS Route 53 account.
• A Cloudflare account ready for the transfer.

In AWS Route 53:

1. Navigate to the Registered Domains section in the AWS Management Console.
   
2. Find the domain you want to transfer.
3. Before initiating the transfer, disable Auto-Renew for this domain. This prevents automatic renewal during the transfer process.
4. Turn off the Transfer Lock to allow other registrars, like Cloudflare, to accept the domain. This change may take a few minutes to propagate.

Step 2: Obtain the Authorization Code​

1. In the Registered Domains section, look for the Transfer Out option.
2. Click on Transfer to Another Registrar and request the Authorization Code. AWS will generate a code for you. Copy this code, as it will be needed to authorize the transfer to Cloudflare.

Step 3: Starting the Transfer on Cloudflare​

1. Go to Cloudflare and log into your account.
2. In the Cloudflare dashboard, navigate to the Domain Registration section.

3. Choose the Transfer Domain option and enter the domain name you wish to transfer. Click Continue.
4. If you haven't already added the domain in Cloudflare, you'll be prompted to do so now. Enter the domain name and click Continue.

Step 4: Updating Nameservers in AWS Route 53
​

To successfully transfer your domain, you need to update the nameservers:

1. Go back to your AWS Route 53 account.
2. Navigate to the Registered Domains section and select your domain.

3. Click on Edit Name Servers. Update the nameservers to the ones provided by Cloudflare.
4. Always keep a backup of your original nameserver settings in case you need to revert changes.
5. Save the changes. Note that DNS propagation can take up to 24 hours.

Step 5: Validate the Nameservers​

• After a few hours, return to your Cloudflare dashboard. Cloudflare will automatically validate the updated nameservers.
• Once validated, your domain will be marked as Ready to Transfer in Cloudflare.

Step 6: Finalize the Transfer in Cloudflare​

1. In the Cloudflare dashboard, select the domain that is ready for transfer.
2. Enter the Authorization Code you copied from AWS Route 53.
3. Review the pricing details and add a payment method in Cloudflare to cover the transfer fee.
4. Confirm and proceed with the transfer. Cloudflare will then initiate the transfer process.

Step 7: Approve the Transfer in AWS Route 53​

AWS will send an email to the domain's registered email address to approve the transfer:

1. Check your email and click the link provided to approve the domain transfer. This step is crucial to confirm that you consent to the transfer.
2. Approve the transfer in the AWS console to expedite the process.

Step 8: Monitoring the Transfer​

• The transfer might take a few hours to complete. You can monitor the status in the Cloudflare dashboard.
• Once the transfer is complete, the domain status in Cloudflare will change to Active.

Step 9: Post-Transfer Configurations​

1. Verify that the domain is properly set up in Cloudflare and that the DNS records are configured correctly.
2. Adjust any additional settings in Cloudflare, such as automatic renewals and domain locks.

Conclusion

​

Congratulations! You've successfully transferred your domain from AWS Route 53 to Cloudflare. Remember, it's always a good idea to keep backups of your original settings and follow each step carefully to avoid any interruptions.

Refer Cloud Consulting

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