# Connect a server to ServerPilot

Once you connect your cloud server, ServerPilot will install and configure everything necessary for fast, secure, and reliable hosting.

## Create a server at your cloud provider

The first step to managing a server with ServerPilot is to create a server at your cloud provider.

When you create the server at your cloud provider, choose Ubuntu LTS 24.04 as the server’s operating system. If your server provider gives you a password for your server’s `root` user, store the password securely such as in a password manager. After creating your server, enable automated server backups at your server provider.

## Run the ServerPilot installer

There are two ways to run ServerPilot’s installer: fully automated or with an installer command you run on your server.

Use the automated installer if:

- Your server provider gave you a password for your server’s `root` user.

Use the installer command if:

- Your server provider did not give you a password for your server’s `root` user.
- You have a firewall at your server provider blocking access to SSH (port 22).

### Option 1: Automated installer

1. In ServerPilot, go to the [Servers](https://manage.serverpilot.io/servers) page in the dashboard and choose **Connect Server**.
2. In the form, enter your server’s IP address and your `root` password.
3. Click **Connect to ServerPilot**.
4. The installation will start and you’ll see the installation’s progress.

### Option 2: Installer command

1. In ServerPilot, go to the [Servers](https://manage.serverpilot.io/servers) page and choose **Connect Server**.
2. In the form, check the box that says “I don’t have a root password or public IP address.”
3. Enter the display name to use for your server in ServerPilot. You can change this later.
4. Click **Connect to ServerPilot**.
5. You’ll be shown a unique installer command for this server. Copy the command to your clipboard.
6. SSH into your server as `root` (or another user with `sudo` privilege), paste the installer command you copied in the previous step, and press **Enter**.
7. When the installer command completes, go back to your browser to see ServerPilot’s progress configuring your server.

## Your server is now connected

Once your server is connected to ServerPilot, you can [create an app](/content/docs/get-started/create-app/index.html) to begin hosting sites on your server.