Digital Ocean is a good choice for WordPress cloud hosting due to its affordable pricing, scalability, and one-click WordPress setup. However, you cannot directly make a site live and keep building it.
Setting up a Staging WordPress site is a crucial step for testing updates, new features, and changes before they go live. A staging environment serves as a copy of your live WordPress site, allowing you to experiment with minimal risks.
In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to set up a Staging WordPress site using two methods. First, we shall use Digital Ocean to create a droplet, secure a site, and test your changes. Then, we shall learn an easier way to set up a staging WordPress site using InstaWP.
Prerequisites for Setting up a WordPress Staging Site on DigitalOcean
Before you start, make sure you have the following;
- A Digital Ocean account. Sign up if you don’t have one.
- A domain name (Optional but recommended)
- Basic familiarity with WordPress, including how to install Plugins and configure settings.
With this in place, let’s dive into the next section.
How to Set Up a Staging WordPress Site on DigitalOcean
Step 1: Create a Droplet on DigitalOcean.
Log in to your Digital Ocean account. You must enter your card details to create an account for the first time.
Click on the Create button in the top right corner.
Select Droplets from the dropdown menu to create a new virtual server.
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Select a data center region closest to your location or where most of your users are located.
Choose an OS Image.
Choose the Marketplace tab, and search for WordPress. This will automatically configure your droplet with a WordPress installation.
Select your Droplet’s plan.
Choose the Basic Droplet type. The basic plan is usually sufficient for a staging site.
Select the Regular CPU option of the $6.00/month plan for 1GB CPU.
Next is to select the Authentication Method.
You can select Password to connect to your Droplet as the root user. Make sure you save this password somewhere secure.
Add an SSH Key if you prefer a more secure login than Password.
Name Your Droplet.
Give your Droplet a name that you can easily remember.
Add tags for easily searching for your droplet.
Finally, click on the Create button to create your droplet.
Your droplets will take a few moments to set up, and you will be given an IP Address to access.
Step 2: Access your WordPress Installation.
Once the droplet is ready, access the WordPress site using the droplet’s IP address in a web browser. For example, mine is 157.245.155.217
To see your droplet details, click on the droplet name, for instance, wordpress-staging-site.
Click on Console or Launch Droplet Console button to access the console.
Follow the initial WordPress setup wizard, including setting the title, admin username, password, and email address.
You will be asked if you want to install the SSL certificate. Reply with Y if you are interested.
Wait for the WordPress installation to finish.
Once the installation is done, access your site using your droplet IP address.
Login to your dashboard and you should see a fresh WordPress installation.
View your site by visiting the IP address.
And there you go! Your WordPress staging site is now live.
You can customize your site by installing a theme and plugins you will need to use.
Step 3: Duplicate your Live Site to the Staging Site.
To create an accurate staging environment, you need to migrate your live site to a staging site.
Verify that the staging site looks and works like your live site, including all themes, plugins, and settings. Make the changes that you need in your staging environment.
Setting up a staging site on Digital Ocean allows you to test changes without affecting your site, providing a safer workflow for updates and new features. Regularly using a staging environment ensures a stable and error-free user experience.
Why InstaWP Is a Simpler Alternative for Creating a WordPress Staging Site.
While using Digital Ocean provides robust and customizable options, the process can be intimidating for beginners or those without server management experience. InstaWP simplifies the process by offering a platform dedicated to creating instant WordPress Staging environments.
With InstaWP, you can launch a fully functional staging site in minutes without dealing with server configurations, domain management, or technical complexities.
Benefits of Using InstaWP for Staging
Tools like InstaWP simplify the entire process of creating and managing WordPress sites. It’s a highly efficient solution that saves time, minimizes technical challenges, and provides seamless testing and collaboration tools.
For those looking for a quick and easy way to set up staging environments, InstaWP stands out as an ideal choice.
Instant setup with zero configuration. InstaWP allows you to spin up a WordPress Staging site in seconds. There’s no need to configure servers, install WordPress manually, or deal with DNS settings. It’s perfect for users of all skill levels.
No Technical Expertise is required. Unlike other platforms like Digital Ocean, which demand familiarity with server management, InstaWP simplifies everything into a one-click-and-go process. This makes it accessible to users without any prior experience in hosting or server administration.
Isolated Environment for Testing. The staging sites created on InstaWP are completely isolated from your live site. Any changes or testing will not impact the live site. It’s ideal for testing major updates, new themes, or plugins without risking downtime or breaking your site.
1-Click Managed Hosting. If you wish to change your existing host or have a new website that requires a host, you can go live with InstaWP Live – a great managed hosting service – in seconds.
Built-in Developer Features. InstaWP has several built-in tools that cater especially to WordPress developers and agencies.
- Clone and reset options. Easily duplicate your site or reset it to a clean slate.
- Pre-configured PHP and WordPress Versions. Choose the exact setup that matches your live site for accurate testing.
- File Manager and Database Editor. Direct access to the backend for advanced customization.
- Code Editor. You can edit your code or add custom code online.
- Command-line Terminal. Run WP-CLI commands directly from the InstaWP terminal.
Quick and Seamless Migration. Migrating your live WordPress site to instaWP is a straightforward process using the InstaWP Migration tool. The platform ensures compatibility with popular hosting providers, making it easy to replicate your live environment.
Enhanced Collaboration. InstaWP allows you to share staging sites with others by generating a secure, shareable link. This is beneficial for developers working with clients or teams who need to preview changes before going live.
Temporary Site Expiration. InstaWP provides the flexibility to set an expiration date for staging sites, keeping your dashboard uncluttered. Temporary sites are perfect for short-term testing and can be discarded after use, saving on resources.
Scalability and Flexibility. While InstaWP excels at creating lightweight staging environments, it offers features to handle more complex projects, such as WaaS (Website as a Service), longer storage, backups, and higher performance for demanding tasks.
User-friendly Interface. The InstaWP dashboard is clean, intuitive, and well-organized. Managing multiple staging sites is easy, with options to sort, delete, or update them in one place.
How to Set Up a Staging Site Using InstaWP
Step 1: Sign up for an InstaWP Account.
Visit the InstaWP website and create an account.
You can sign up using your email address or your Google, Facebook, or Twitter account.
Step 2: Install the InstaWP Connect Plugin.
Go to your live website and sign in to the WordPress admin dashboard.
Go to Plugins > Add New Plugin and search for InstaWP Connect.
Click on Install to install and then activate it.
Step 3: Create a Staging Site.
Once the plugin is activated, click on Create Staging.
Click on Connect with InstaWP to connect to your instaWP account.
Click on Approve to accept the request and your account will be connected.
Now click on Create Staging Site to continue.
Select the Staging type and click on Next Step to continue.
You can choose from three options;
Quick Staging -Create a staging environment without media.
Full Staging – Create an exact copy of your site.
Custom Staging – Choose the options that match your requirements.
The next step is to customize your options. Select the options that you want for example you can choose Active plugins only, Active themes only, or enable sync recording.
Click Next Step to continue.
Next is to exclude files and tables that you don’t want in staging.
Continue to the next step if you don’t want to exclude anything.
Now confirm your options. Make sure the options listed are the ones you selected. If something is missing, you can click Back and add it.
Click on Create Staging to continue.
Wait for a few seconds for the staging site to be created.
You can click on Track Migration to see the progress.
Congratulations! Your staging site is now live!
Click on Magic Login to access the WordPress admin dashboard and click on the URL to view the site.
To create another staging, you can click on Create another Staging site.
You can verify that it looks exactly like your production site.
Conclusion
For those who prefer simplicity and speed, InstaWP is a game-changer. It eliminates the technical challenges of setting up a staging environment while maintaining the flexibility of testing updates and changes safely. While DigitalOcean offers more control and scalability, InstaWP is the ideal solution for quick and hassle-free staging environments.
FAQS
- What is a Staging Site, and Why is it Important?
A Staging Site is a duplicate of your live WordPress site, where you can test changes, updates, or new features without affecting your live site. It helps ensure stability and prevents errors from being deployed to your visitors.
- What are the challenges of Setting up a Staging Site on DigitalOcean?
Setting up a staging site on Digital Ocean requires technical knowledge, such as managing droplets, configuring domains, and managing WordPress sites. It can be time-consuming and intimidating for beginners.
- Why is InstaWP a better option for creating Staging Sites?
InstaWP is user-friendly and requires no server management skills. It simplifies the process by offering one-click staging site creation, quick setup, and built-in tools for WordPress management, making it perfect for beginners and advanced users alike.
- Can I migrate my live WordPress site to a staging site created on InstaWP?
Yes, you can easily migrate your live website to InstaWP using the InstaWP Connect Plugin. You can create a copy of your live site in the InstaWP staging environment.
- How long does it take to create a staging site on InstaWP?
With InstaWP, you can set up a staging site in less than 5 minutes. The platform automates the process, so there’s no need for manual configurations or domain setups.
- Which Solution is better? InstaWP or Digital Ocean?
It depends on your needs;
InstaWP: If you want a quick, hassle-free solution that doesn’t require technical skills.
Digital Ocean: If you need more control over your server and prefer a customizable environment, though it requires technical expertise.