Getting Started
Getting Started
This guide introduces the two essential steps for beginning work with the platform: creating an account and deploying an application.
Sign Up: Create an Account
An active platform account is required before you can create environments or deploy applications. Registration is available through either the Cloud Union provider directory or a specific hosting provider’s platform dashboard.
After registration, a confirmation email is sent to the supplied address. Follow the instructions in that message to activate the account. Depending on the provider, CAPTCHA or SMS verification may also be required.
Register through Cloud Union
1Choose a hosting provider
Open the Cloud Union directory. Use the filters and sorting tools to compare providers by location, performance, price, available resources, platform version, and other criteria. Select More Info to review additional details, then click Sign Up for the preferred provider.
2Complete the registration form
Enter your name and email address. You can also provide optional information about the intended project and its requirements.
Accept the platform terms of use and privacy policy, then click Sign Up. Check your inbox for the account-confirmation message.
Register through a Platform Dashboard
1Open the registration option
Visit the dashboard of the selected hosting provider. Expand the menu in the lower-left corner and select Signup.
2Enter your email address
Provide the email address to be used for the account.
Click Sign Up! to accept the provider’s terms of use and privacy policy. The platform then sends a confirmation email automatically.
Deploy an Application
When the dashboard is opened for the first time, a guided tutorial starts automatically. It introduces the platform and walks through environment creation and application deployment. The tutorial can also be opened later through Help > Tutorial.
You can deploy an application in two main ways:
- Automatic installation from the Application Marketplace.
- Manual deployment through the dashboard.
Application Marketplace
The Application Marketplace provides one-click installation for many commonly used applications and development solutions.
1Open Marketplace
Click Marketplace in the top dashboard toolbar.
2Select an application
Browse the categories on the left or use the search field. Hover over the required application and click Install.
3Configure installation settings
Set the environment name, display name or alias, region, and other available preferences. Click Install again to begin.
The platform then creates the required environment topology, deploys the application, installs dependencies, configures database connections where needed, and applies the required settings automatically. The application is usually ready within a few minutes.
Manual Deployment
Use manual deployment when you need to deploy a custom application and control each stage of the process.
1Create a new environment
Click New Environment in the upper-left area of the dashboard.
2Configure the topology
The Topology Wizard allows you to select the programming language, application server, database, load balancer, storage, scaling limits, region, public IP addresses, and other environment options.
- Supported languages include Java, PHP, Ruby, Python, Node.js, .NET, and Go.
- Custom Docker containers can be integrated.
- A wide selection of managed software stacks is available.
- Automatic vertical and horizontal scaling can be configured.
- A public IP address can be attached for direct Internet access.
For a simple first deployment, create one Tomcat application-server node.
3Wait for environment creation
The new environment appears on the dashboard after the platform finishes provisioning the selected resources.
4Select an application package
Open Deployment Manager at the bottom of the dashboard. For this example, use the default Hello World archive and click Deploy to….
5Choose the target environment
Select the required environment in the deployment dialog and click Deploy.
6Open the application
After the successful-deployment notification appears, click Open in Browser to confirm that the application is working.
Applications that require additional configuration, or applications without a web interface, can be managed through the platform’s built-in configuration tools.