> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.loupp.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Server Creation

> Learn how to create and configure new servers in Loupp using server presets

## Overview

Loupp simplifies server creation by using pre-configured server presets. Once you've created your server presets with your preferred configurations, you can deploy new servers in just a few clicks directly from the dashboard.

## Prerequisites

Before creating a server, you need to:

1. **Configure server provider credentials** (DigitalOcean, AWS, etc.) - see [Server Providers](/server/providers) for setup instructions
2. **Create server presets** with your preferred configurations - see [Server Presets](/settings/presets) for detailed configuration
3. **Ensure you have an active plan** that allows server creation

## Creating a New Server

<Steps>
  <Step title="Access server creation">
    Navigate to the Servers section in your Loupp dashboard and click the "New Server" button.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter server name">
    Provide a descriptive name for your server (3-50 characters, must be unique). You can also use the "Generate custom name" button for automatic naming.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select a preset">
    Choose from your available server presets. Each preset contains pre-configured settings including:

    * Provider and region
    * Server type and size
    * PHP version
    * Database version
    * Other specifications
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create server">
    Click "Create Server" to begin the provisioning process.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Server Presets

Server presets are pre-configured templates that streamline the server creation process. For detailed information on creating and managing presets, see [Server Presets](/settings/presets).

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="What's Included" icon="settings">
    * Provider selection (DigitalOcean, AWS, etc.) - see [Server Providers](/server/providers)
    * Region configuration
    * Server type and specifications
    * PHP version selection - see [PHP Configuration](/server/php)
    * Database type and version - see [Database Management](/server/databases)
    * Server size and resources
  </Card>

  <Card title="Benefits" icon="rocket">
    * Consistent server configurations
    * Faster deployment process
    * Reduced configuration errors
    * Easy replication of successful setups
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Info>
  If you don't have any presets, you'll see a "Create Preset" button in the server creation modal. Create your first preset before attempting to create a server. See [Server Presets](/settings/presets) for detailed configuration options.
</Info>

## Server Setup Process

When you create a new server, Loupp automatically handles the complete setup process:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Step 1: Server Initialization">
    Loupp begins by initializing the server configuration using your selected preset and creating the server record in the database.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Step 2: Infrastructure Provisioning">
    The system provisions the server resources through your chosen provider's API using the preset configuration. See [Server Providers](/server/providers) for supported providers.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Step 3: Software Installation">
    Essential software packages, PHP, database, and other dependencies are automatically installed according to your preset. See [PHP Configuration](/server/php) for PHP-specific settings.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Step 4: Configuration & Optimization">
    The server is configured with security settings, user accounts, and final optimizations based on your preset specifications.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Server Types

Loupp supports different server types for various use cases:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Web Server" icon="globe">
    Standard web server for hosting websites and web applications with PHP support. See [Sites Overview](/sites/overview) for managing web applications.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Database Server" icon="database">
    Dedicated server optimized for database operations and storage with your selected database type. See [Database Management](/server/databases) for database operations.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Server Status Monitoring

During the creation process, you can monitor the server status:

* **Building**: Server is being provisioned and configured
* **Connected**: Server is ready and operational
* **Unreachable**: Server is not responding
* **Archived**: Server has been archived
* **Error**: An issue occurred during setup
* **Deleting**: Server is being removed

<Info>
  The server creation process typically takes 3-10 minutes depending on the provider and server specifications.
</Info>

## Post-Creation Actions

Once your server is active, you can:

* **Access server preparation page**: Monitor setup progress and view real-time logs
* **Deploy applications**: Install and configure your web applications - see [Sites Overview](/sites/overview)
* **Configure databases**: Set up database servers and users (for database servers) - see [Database Management](/server/databases)
* **Manage SSH access**: Configure SSH keys for secure server access - see [SSH Access](/server/ssh)
* **Set up monitoring**: Configure logs, events, and performance monitoring - see [Server Logs](/server/logs) and [Server Events](/server/events)

<Warning>
  Keep your server credentials secure, it gets sent to you via email after creation. Loupp automatically generates and stores sudo passwords, database passwords, and other access credentials.
</Warning>

<Tip>
  After server creation starts, you'll be redirected to the server preparation page where you can monitor the setup progress in real-time.
</Tip>

## Troubleshooting

If server creation fails:

1. **Check provider credentials**: Ensure your API keys are valid and have the necessary permissions - see [Server Providers](/server/providers)
2. **Verify preset configuration**: Ensure your preset has valid provider, region, and specification settings - see [Server Presets](/settings/presets)
3. **Check plan limits**: Verify your current plan allows creating new servers
4. **Contact support**: If issues persist, our support team can help resolve the problem

<Check>
  After successful creation, you'll receive server credentials including SSH access, database passwords, and other essential information for managing your server.
</Check>