---
title: "Use cloud-init to Manage Servers | Hostman Docs"
description: "Cloud-init is a cloud server configuration tool that allows you to pass user parameters when initializing a virtual machine."
---

> For the complete documentation index for AI agents, see [llms.txt](https://hostman.com/llms.txt).

[Cloud-init](https://cloudinit.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html) is a [cloud server](https://hostman.com/cloud-server/) configuration tool that allows you to pass user parameters (user-data) when initializing a virtual machine, thus speeding up and automating the server configuration process.

With cloud-init you can customize the server configuration, install the software, create directories and users, manage access and much more. 

## Formats

You can pass cloud-init scripts as `#cloud-config` text files or `#!/bin/sh` shell scripts.

When using shell scripts, keep in mind:

-   The shell script will be automatically converted to `cloud-config` with the `runcmd` directive;
    
-   `runcmd` is executed once, so if you edit the script and reboot the server, the script will not be executed.
    

If you need to execute the script at every boot, use `cloud-config` scripts with the `bootcmd` directive.

## Important Notes

-   Scripts are run as `root`, so you do not need to add `sudo` to the commands. 
    
-   All files and directories created will belong to the `root` user. If you want another user to have access, set the appropriate permissions for that user in the script.
    
-   The script runs automatically, so you cannot use commands that require action from the user. For commands that require confirmation during execution, use the `-y` flag (for example, `apt upgrade -y`).
    
-   The script execution log is written to the `/var/log/cloud-init-output.log` file.
    
-   When using third-party server images, `cloud-init` may not function correctly.
-   On Ubuntu, `cloud-init` will create the `ubuntu` user by default if there is no `users` directive. To avoid it, use the directive: `users: []`.
    

## Passing the Script

You can pass the `cloud-init` script:

-   When you [create a new server](https://hostman.com/docs/cloud-servers/create-server/). The `cloud-config` parameters will be applied during installation.
    

![Image5](https://content.hostman.com/assets/1c39d9ac-8d10-455a-9e72-8c45e2cc1e19?width=734&height=409)

-   When you [reinstall the server](https://hostman.com/docs/cloud-servers/os-reinstall/). The parameters will be applied during installation.
    

![Image1](https://content.hostman.com/assets/e547994a-3b2a-4cd3-8daf-adf6152f1e54?width=1920&height=1395)

-   At the reboot. In this case, you can pass the script in the **Plan** section and then reboot the server. For the parameters to apply, you must restart the system with the command: `cloud-init clean --reboot`.
    

![Image2](https://content.hostman.com/assets/412d506b-0e81-412a-884f-d65d0204fb27?width=1920&height=958)

## Editing the Script

You can modify the already uploaded `cloud-init` script in the server settings.

For the updated parameters to be applied at the next reboot, you must reboot the system with the command: `cloud-init clean --reboot`.

1.  Go to the **Plan** tab.
    
2.  Click **Edit** in the **Cloud-init** block.
    
3.  Make the changes and save them.
    

![Image2](https://content.hostman.com/assets/412d506b-0e81-412a-884f-d65d0204fb27?width=1920&height=958)

The script will be applied the next time the server is rebooted. 

## Cloud-config examples

The file must begin with the `#cloud-config` in the first line.

**Installing packages**

```shell
#cloud-config
package_update: true
packages:
 - apache2
 - mariadb-server
 - mariadb-client
```

**Creating users**    

```shell
#cloud-config
users:
  - name: username
  - name: new_username
```

**Adding SSH keys**

```shell
#cloud-config
ssh_authorized_keys:
  - ssh-rsa PUBLIC_KEY username@server
```

You can add several keys at once:

```shell
#cloud-config
ssh_authorized_keys:
  - ssh-rsa PUBLIC_KEY username@server
  - ssh-rsa PUBLIC_KEY_2 username2@desktop
```

**Creating a sudo user, adding SSH keys, and configuring the bash shell**

```shell
#cloud-config
users:
  - name: username
    groups: sudo
    shell: /bin/bash
    sudo: ['ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD:ALL']
    ssh-authorized-keys:
      - PUBLIC_KEY username@server
      - PUBLIC_KEY_2 username2@desktop
```

**Installing LAMP on Ubuntu**

```shell
#cloud-config
package_update: true
packages:
  - apache2
  - php-mysql
  - mysql-server
  - libapache2-mod-php
  - php-gd
  - php-curl
runcmd:
  - [ find, /var/www, -type, d, -exec, chmod, 2775, {}, \; ]
  - [ find, /var/www, -type, f, -exec, chmod, 0664, {}, \; ]
write_files:
  - path: /var/www/html/phpinfo.php
    owner: www-data:www-data
    content: |
      ""
```

Once the configuration is complete, the link `http://server_ip/phpinfo.php` will display a page with PHP parameters.

More examples can be found in the [cloud-init documentation](https://cloudinit.readthedocs.io/en/latest/reference/examples.html#cloud-config-examples).

## Shell Scripts Examples

The script must start with the `#!/bin/sh` in the first line.

**Installing packages**

```shell
#!/bin/sh
apt -y update
apt -y install fail2ban
```

**Installing LAMP on CentOS**

```bash
#!/bin/sh
##Installing PHP 7.2
yum -y install epel-release
yum -y install https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/epel/epel-release-latest-7.noarch.rpm
yum -y install https://rpms.remirepo.net/enterprise/remi-release-7.rpm
yum-config-manager --enable remi-php72
yum update -y
yum install -y php php-mcrypt php-cli php-gd php-curl php-mysql php-ldap php-zip php-process php-ldap php-mbstring
##Installing MariaDB 11.02
wget https://downloads.mariadb.com/MariaDB/mariadb_repo_setup
chmod +x mariadb_repo_setup
bash mariadb_repo_setup
yum install -y httpd mariadb-server
##Enabling the services
systemctl start mariadb
systemctl enable mariadb
systemctl start httpd
systemctl enable httpd
##Setting permissions
chmod 2775 /var/www
find /var/www -type d -exec chmod 2775 {} \;
find /var/www -type f -exec chmod 0664 {} \;
## Outputting phpinfo
echo "" > /var/www/html/phpinfo.php
## Opening the port
iptables -t filter -I INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -j ACCEPT
```