# How to Host a Website on Your VPS (Nginx)

> Canonical: https://jethost.com/kb/how-to-host-a-website-on-your-vps/ · Last modified: 2026-08-20T06:47:43+00:00

Hosting your own website on a VPS gives you full control over the web server, PHP and configuration. This guide covers a simple Nginx setup on Ubuntu and pointing your domain at your server.

## Install Nginx

Connect over SSH and run `sudo apt update && sudo apt install nginx`. Once it's running, visit `http://YOUR_SERVER_IP` in a browser and you'll see the default Nginx welcome page.

## Point your domain to the VPS

At your domain's DNS, create an **A record** pointing to your VPS IPv4 address (and an **AAAA record** for IPv6). Allow a little time for DNS to propagate, then your domain will load your server.

## Add your site and HTTPS

- Upload your site files to `/var/www/` and create an Nginx server block for your domain
- Open ports **80** and **443** in the VPS firewall
- Install a free Let's Encrypt certificate with **Certbot** for HTTPS

## JetHost Experts Tip

Prefer a control panel? You can install a free panel like **CyberPanel** or **Webmin** on your VPS for a graphical way to manage sites - remember the VPS itself doesn't include cPanel/WHM.

## Need More Help?

With Nginx and a DNS record, your VPS is ready to serve your website over HTTPS. If you get stuck, the JetHost team is available 24/7 and usually answers in under five minutes - just [contact us](https://jethost.com/contact-us/) and we'll help you sort it out. Explore our other [VPS tutorials](https://jethost.com/kb/category/vps/) to get the most out of your server.