What is Cloud-Init and how is it used when launching a VPS?

Cloud-Init is the standard multi-distribution package that executes initial server configuration during the first boot of a cloud instance. It reads a '#cloud-config' user-data payload to create users, set hostnames, install packages, configure firewalls, and execute setup scripts.

Why is the top-line '#cloud-config' header mandatory?

The very first line of your user-data script must be '#cloud-config' for the cloud-init daemon to parse the payload as structured YAML rather than an unformatted shell script.

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Infrastructure as Code • Cloud VPS Bootstrap

Cloud-Init & VPS User-Data Script Builder

Visually build automated #cloud-config YAML scripts to provision users, SSH keys, Docker, and firewalls on first server boot.

Server Hostname:

System Timezone:

Default User Account:

SSH Authorized Public Key:

Custom Post-Install Shell Commands (runcmd):

#cloud-config
hostname: vps-prod-01
fqdn: vps-prod-01.localdomain
timezone: UTC

package_update: true
package_upgrade: true

users:
  - name: deploy
    gecos: Deployment User
    sudo: ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD:ALL
    shell: /bin/bash
    groups: [sudo, adm, docker]
    ssh_authorized_keys:
      - ssh-ed25519 AAAAC3NzaC1lZDI1NTE5AAAAIExamplePublicKey admin@azbrand

ssh_pwauth: false
disable_root: true

packages:
  - curl
  - wget
  - htop
  - tmux
  - ca-certificates
  - gnupg
  - git
  - fail2ban
  - ufw

runcmd:
  - [ bash, -c, "ufw default deny incoming" ]
  - [ bash, -c, "ufw default allow outgoing" ]
  - [ bash, -c, "ufw allow 22/tcp" ]
  - [ bash, -c, "ufw allow 80/tcp" ]
  - [ bash, -c, "ufw allow 443/tcp" ]
  - [ bash, -c, "ufw --force enable" ]
  - [ bash, -c, "curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh" ]
  - [ bash, -c, "usermod -aG docker deploy" ]
  - [ bash, -c, "systemctl enable --now docker" ]
  - [ bash, -c, "curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | bash -" ]
  - [ bash, -c, "apt-get install -y nodejs" ]
  - [ bash, -c, "mkdir -p /var/www/app" ]
  - [ bash, -c, "chown -R deploy:deploy /var/www/app" ]

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Paste your cloud-init payload during VPS provisioning for 100% automated infrastructure bootstrap.

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Infrastructure Automation

How Cloud-Init Automates Server Provisioning

Cloud-init is an industry-standard initialization framework that runs during early Linux bootstrap. It eliminates manual SSH setup tasks by reading metadata and user-data payloads supplied via the hypervisor.

Security Hardening on First Boot

By configuring ssh_pwauth: false and injecting authorized public keys before the SSH service is opened to the public internet, servers are protected against botnet brute-force scans from second zero.

Declarative Package Provisioning

Declaring required software under the packages block ensures that package manager locks (e.g. /var/lib/dpkg/lock-frontend) are managed cleanly without race conditions.

Cloud Provisioning Guide

Cloud-Init & VPS User-Data Script Builder

How Cloud-Init Automates Server Provisioning

Frequently Asked Questions