What is CloudStick and How Does It Work?
Overview
CloudStick is a SaaS (Software as a Service) server control panel that simplifies the management of PHP applications and websites on cloud servers. It provides an intuitive dashboard that lets you deploy, manage, and monitor your applications without requiring advanced server administration skills — no SSH commands, no manual configuration, no steep learning curve.
CloudStick connects to any VPS or dedicated server from the major cloud providers and installs a lightweight agent that keeps your server under full management. Once connected, every day-to-day server operation — from creating websites and databases to issuing SSL certificates and configuring backups — happens entirely through the CloudStick web dashboard. CloudStick supports servers from: DigitalOcean, Linode (Akamai), Vultr, AWS, Google Cloud, Hetzner, Contabo, and any other VPS provider.
Before connecting a server to CloudStick, make sure it is a fresh Ubuntu LTS install with no existing web stack. Installing CloudStick on a server already running Apache, Nginx, or MySQL may cause data loss. See the How to Install CloudStick on a Cloud Server guide for full prerequisites.
Step 1: Create a VPS Server
Before using CloudStick, you need a VPS from your preferred cloud provider. CloudStick does not provision infrastructure — it connects to and manages servers you already have. Choosing the right Ubuntu version from the start ensures you get the widest PHP compatibility.
CloudStick supports the following Ubuntu LTS versions:
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS — Long-term support, widely available on all cloud providers.
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS — Latest LTS release with improved performance and security updates.
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS — Cutting-edge LTS, available on supported providers.
Always choose a supported Ubuntu LTS version when creating your VPS. Other Linux distributions and non-LTS Ubuntu releases are not supported by CloudStick.
Step 2: Supported PHP Versions
CloudStick supports multiple PHP versions on every supported Ubuntu release, so you can match the PHP version to your application's requirements — whether that is a legacy PHP 8.1 app or a modern PHP 8.5 project. You can also run multiple PHP versions on the same server simultaneously.
| Ubuntu Version | Supported PHP Versions |
|---|---|
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | PHP 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5 |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | PHP 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5 |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | PHP 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5 |
This flexibility lets you host multiple applications on a single server, each running a different PHP version. You can switch the PHP version for any individual website at any time from the Website Management section in the CloudStick dashboard — no server restarts required.
Step 3: Key Benefits
CloudStick is built to remove the operational overhead of server management so developers and agencies can focus on building and shipping applications rather than maintaining infrastructure.
Easy server management: Connect any VPS and manage it entirely from a browser — no terminal required for day-to-day tasks.
One-click website deployment: Create new websites and PHP applications in seconds, with web stack selection (Nginx or OpenLiteSpeed) built in.
Automated server configuration: CloudStick installs and configures the CSF Firewall, SSH key management, and web server stack automatically on first connection.
Multiple cloud provider support: Works with any VPS — DigitalOcean, Vultr, Hetzner, AWS, Google Cloud, Linode, Contabo, RackNerd, and more.
Multiple PHP version support: Run PHP 8.1 through 8.5 on the same server, with per-site version control.
Centralized management: All servers, websites, databases, SSL certificates, and backups visible in one dashboard.
SSL certificate management: Issue free Let's Encrypt SSL certificates or install custom certificates with one click.
Database management: Create and manage MySQL databases visually — no phpMyAdmin needed.
Automated backups: Schedule database and website backups with configurable retention policies.
Server monitoring tools: Real-time CPU, memory, and disk usage visible from the server panel.
Step 4: What You Can Manage with CloudStick
After connecting your server to CloudStick, the dashboard gives you full control over every aspect of your server environment. CloudStick automates server configuration and maintenance so you can manage everything from a single interface.
Websites (Accounts): Create, configure, suspend, rebuild, and delete PHP web applications.
PHP Applications: Deploy any PHP-based application — WordPress, Laravel, MediaWiki, or custom apps.
Databases: Create MySQL databases, manage users and permissions, and reset the root password visually.
SSL Certificates: Issue Let's Encrypt SSL, install wildcard certificates, and enable auto-renewal.
Backups: Enable automated backups for websites and databases, configure schedules, and download snapshots locally.
Domains and DNS Settings: Manage domains for each web application and configure Cloudflare DNS integration.
Cron Jobs: Create and manage server-level cron jobs from the dashboard without editing crontab manually.
File Management: Browse, edit, upload, and download website files using the built-in Advanced File Manager.
Server Services: Start, stop, and restart Nginx, OpenLiteSpeed, MySQL, Redis, and other services from the Services page.
PHP Versions: Switch the PHP version for any individual website at any time without downtime.
Ready to connect your first server? Follow the How to Install CloudStick on a Cloud Server guide for a complete step-by-step walkthrough.