How to Install Ghost on DreamHost?

To install Ghost on DreamHost, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your DreamHost panel and go to the "Domains" section.
2. Click on "Manage Domains" and select the domain where you want to install Ghost.
3. Scroll down to the "Web Hosting" section and click on the "Add Hosting to a Domain / Sub-Domain" button.
4. In the "Choose a Domain/Subdomain" dropdown, select your domain name and click on the "Add hosting" button.
5. Under the "Fully Hosted" tab, enter a name for your website and choose your desired user for FTP access. Click on the "Fully Host This Domain" button.
6. Once the hosting is set up, go back to the "Domains" section and click on "Manage Domains." You will see your domain listed there.
7. Next, you need to set up a database for Ghost. In the "Domains" section, click on "MySQL Databases."
8. Enter a name for your database and click on the "Add Hosting" button. Make sure to note down the database name, username, and password as you will need them later.
9. Now, you need to download Ghost. Visit the Ghost website and navigate to the "Self-Hosted" section.
10. Click on the "Download Ghost" button and save the ZIP file to your computer.
11. Extract the contents of the ZIP file to a folder on your computer.
12. Using an FTP client, connect to your DreamHost hosting account using the FTP username and password you chose earlier.
13. Upload the extracted Ghost files to the root directory of your domain.
14. Once the upload is complete, you need to configure Ghost. In your FTP client, go to the root directory where you uploaded the files.
15. Locate the config.production.json file and edit it using a text editor.
16. Update the "url" parameter with your domain name, and the "database" parameters with the database name, username, and password you obtained earlier.
17. Save the file and close the text editor.
18. Finally, you need to restart your website to apply the changes. In your DreamHost panel, go to the "Domains" section and click on "Manage Domains."
19. Find your domain in the list and click on the "Edit" button.
20. Scroll down and click on the "Restart This Web Service" button to restart your website.

Once the restart is complete, you should be able to access your Ghost blog by visiting your domain name in a web browser.

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How to set up an SSL certificate for a website on DreamHost?

To set up an SSL certificate for a website on DreamHost, you can follow these steps:

1. Purchase an SSL certificate: First, you need to buy an SSL certificate for your website. DreamHost provides SSL certificates through their partner, Sectigo. You can purchase the certificate directly from DreamHost or choose a third-party SSL provider.
2. Choose the SSL type: Once you have your SSL certificate, there are two types you can set up on DreamHost: "Self-signed" or "Fully Qualified Domain Name" (FQDN).

• Self-signed SSL: This type of SSL certificate is free and suitable for testing purposes. It generates a warning in the browser, as it is not verified by a trusted authority.
• Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) SSL: This type of SSL certificate is recommended for production websites. It is verified by a trusted authority and displays a secure padlock in the browser.

1. Activate SSL in DreamHost panel: Login to your DreamHost panel and navigate to the "Domains" section. Click on "Manage Domains" and select the domain you want to set up SSL for.
2. SSL/TLS certificate: Scroll down until you find the "Security" section. Click on the "Add Secure Hosting" button. If you have already purchased an SSL certificate from DreamHost, select "DreamHost SSL". If you have a third-party certificate, select "Third party SSL".
3. Configure SSL: Fill out the necessary details, such as the domain name, CSR (Certificate Signing Request), and the certificate itself. If you have a third-party SSL certificate, you may need to enter additional information provided by your SSL provider.
4. Install SSL certificate: DreamHost will guide you through the installation process, which involves verifying domain ownership and generating private keys. Follow the instructions carefully to complete the installation.
5. Confirm SSL activation: Once the SSL certificate installation is complete, you need to wait for it to be activated. This process can take some time, but you will receive an email notification from DreamHost once it's done.
6. Test SSL installation: After activation, test your SSL certificate by accessing your website with "https://" rather than "http://". If everything is set up correctly, your website should load with SSL encryption and show a secure padlock in the browser.

Note: It's always recommended to have a full backup of your website before making any changes to ensure that your data is safe.

What is the preferred method of updating Ghost on DreamHost?

The preferred method of updating Ghost on DreamHost is to use the Ghost-CLI tool. Here are the steps to update Ghost:

1. Open a terminal or SSH into your server.
2. Navigate to the root directory of your Ghost installation.
3. Run the following command to update Ghost-CLI if needed: sudo npm install -g ghost-cli@latest
4. Stop your Ghost instance by running: ghost stop
5. Run the following command to update Ghost: ghost update
6. Follow the prompts provided by the Ghost-CLI tool to complete the update process.
7. Once the update is finished, start your Ghost instance again using: ghost start

Using the Ghost-CLI tool ensures that the update process is smooth and handles necessary migrations or changes in the Ghost version. Always remember to take a backup of your Ghost installation before performing any updates.

What is the difference between a shared hosting and a VPS on DreamHost?

On DreamHost, the main difference between a shared hosting and a VPS (Virtual Private Server) lies in the way resources are allocated and managed.

Shared Hosting:

• In shared hosting, multiple users or websites are hosted on a single server, sharing its resources.
• Resources such as CPU, RAM, and disk space are shared among all the websites hosted on that server.
• While it is a cost-effective option, the resources are limited and not dedicated solely to your website.
• The performance and speed of your website can be influenced by other websites hosted on the same server.
• Shared hosting is suitable for small to medium-sized websites with moderate traffic.

VPS (Virtual Private Server):

• In a VPS environment, a physical server is divided into multiple virtual servers, each having its own dedicated resources.
• The resources assigned to your VPS are exclusive and not shared with other users.
• You have more control and flexibility over your server, often including root access.
• As resources are not shared, the performance and speed of your website are less affected by other websites.
• VPS hosting is recommended for larger websites or applications that require more resources, security, and custom configurations.

It's important to note that while VPS hosting provides better performance and flexibility, it may require more technical expertise for setup and maintenance compared to shared hosting.