How to Build a Cheap VPS for Self-Hosting (Step-by-Step Guide)
Ready to start self-hosting but not sure where to begin? In this high-level getting started guide, I’ll walk you through setting up your own budget-friendly VPS using Racknerd, and show you exactly how to install the core stack: Docker, Portainer, and Nginx Proxy Manager.
This video lays the groundwork for hosting any of the open-source projects I cover on this channel. Whether you want to run a personal dashboard, file manager, or AI tool — this setup gets you fully prepped. We’ll also cover best practices like creating a non-root user to keep your server secure, and I’ll point you to helpful resources to expand from here.
If you’ve been waiting for the right entry point into the self-hosting world, this is it.
Chapters:
0:00 - Welcome to SYNACK Time
0:25 - Registering our domain name
3:48 - Discussing DNS
5:38 - Picking out our VPS with Racknerd
10:18 - Installing our operating system
12:33 - Installing Docker
16:15 - Setting up Portainer
18:27 - Time for Nginx Proxy Manager
27:40 - Wrapping up
Resources:
Namecheap - https://www.namecheap.com
SYNACK Time RackNerd Plans - https://synacktime.com/racknerd/
Docker Installation - https://docs.docker.com/engine/instal...
Portainer Installation - https://docs.portainer.io/start/insta...
Nginx Proxy Manager Install - https://nginxproxymanager.com/setup/
Additional Resources:
Adding a SUDO User - https://phoenixnap.com/kb/how-to-crea...
Setting up SSH with a key - https://goteleport.com/blog/how-to-se...
Changing the SSH port - https://gcore.com/learning/how-to-cha...
SYNACK Time - https://synacktime.com
SYNACK Time github - https://github.com/SynAckTime/
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Disclosure:
RackNerd has not paid me for my recommendations—everything shared in this video reflects my personal opinion. Some links on SYNACKTime.com are affiliate links, which help support the channel at no extra cost to you.