Setting Up a Virtual Machine on Oracle Cloud (Using Always Free Resources)

This guide provides a detailed, step-by-step process to create a Virtual Machine (VM) on Oracle Cloud using Always Free resources. Follow these instructions carefully to ensure a successful setup.

Prerequisites

• An Oracle Cloud account (sign up at Oracle Cloud)
• Basic understanding of SSH and Linux commands
• A stable internet connection

Step 1: Sign In to Oracle Cloud

1. Go to Oracle Cloud Console.
2. Sign in with your Oracle Cloud credentials.
3. Navigate to the Compute section by selecting Menu > Compute > Instances.

Step 2: Create a New Virtual Machine (VM)

1. Click Create Instance.
2. Enter a name for your instance (e.g., ProjectZomboid-Server).
3. Under Placement, select the Region closest to your location.
4. In the Shape section, click Change Shape and select Ampere VM.Standard.A1.Flex (ARM-based, Always Free eligible).
5. Set OCPU Count to 4 and Memory (GB) to 24 (maximum for Always Free).

Step 3: Configure the OS Image

1. Under Image and Shape, click Edit.
2. Select Ubuntu 22.04 as the OS.
3. Click Select Image.

Step 4: Configure Networking

1. Under Networking, select Create a New Virtual Cloud Network (VCN).
2. Ensure Assign a Public IP Address is enabled.
3. Click Create Subnet and ensure it is attached to the default VCN.

Step 5: Add SSH Keys

1. Under Add SSH Keys, choose Generate SSH Key Pair (or upload an existing key).
2. If generating, download the private key (.pem file) and store it securely.
3. Click Create to launch the VM.

Step 6: Connect to the VM

1. Once the instance is running, copy the Public IP Address from the instance details page.
2. Open a terminal and run:

   ssh -i /path/to/private-key.pem ubuntu@your-vm-ip

3. If prompted, type yes to confirm the connection.

Step 7: Configure Firewall Rules

Run the following commands to allow traffic for Project Zomboid:

sudo su
iptables -I INPUT -j ACCEPT
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 16261 -j ACCEPT
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 16261 -j ACCEPT
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 16262 -j ACCEPT
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 16262 -j ACCEPT
sudo iptables-save > /etc/iptables/rules.v4
sudo systemctl restart iptables
sudo ufw disable

Step 8: Update the System

Run:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
reboot

Next Steps

Your Oracle Cloud VM is now set up and ready for use! Proceed to the Project Zomboid Server Setup Guide to install and configure a dedicated server on your VM.