OZ Web Expert

How to Install WordPress on a VPS in Sydney

How to Install WordPress on a VPS in Sydney (DigitalOcean + OpenLiteSpeed + Free LE SSL)

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In this step-by-step guide, I’ll show you how to launch a WordPress website using a VPS hosted in Sydney, via DigitalOcean. We’ll use the OpenLiteSpeed image from the DigitalOcean Marketplace, connect a domain from Squarespace, and issue a free SSL certificate from Let’s Encrypt.

Prefer watching over reading? You can check out the full tutorial on YouTube in the player below.

Or if you’re more of an old-school type who likes a proper walkthrough in text — just scroll down. Everything’s laid out step by step, like back in the good days of real how-to blogs.

📌 Table of Contents

  1. Create a DigitalOcean account
  2. Launch a droplet (VPS) in Sydney
  3. Select the OpenLiteSpeed WordPress image
  4. Configure droplet options and root access
  5. Connect your domain via Squarespace DNS
  6. Log in via SSH and finish WordPress setup
  7. Issue a Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate

1. Create a DigitalOcean Account

Head to digitalocean.com and create a free account. You’ll need this to deploy a VPS (known as a “droplet” on DigitalOcean).

2. Launch a VPS in Sydney

After logging in:

  • Click Create → Droplets
  • Choose Marketplace → OpenLiteSpeed WordPress
  • Set region to Sydney
  • Pick a Basic Plan (e.g. $8/month is perfect for blogs)
  • Choose Intel CPU with SSD (35GB is enough) for personal projects
  • Enable backups (optional but useful)
  • Use root password login for simplicity if you’re new to SSH

3. Choose the OpenLiteSpeed WordPress Image

Why this image?

  • ✅ Pre-installed WordPress
  • ✅ Optimised with OpenLiteSpeed (super fast)
  • ✅ Built-in Certbot for SSL
  • ✅ Ready-to-use — no need to configure from scratch

4. Configure Droplet & Root Access

  • Choose password authentication
  • Set a hostname (e.g. personal-blog)
  • Create the droplet and wait a few seconds
  • You’ll see your VPS IP address once the droplet is ready

5. Connect Your Domain via Squarespace DNS

If your domain is registered via Squarespace:

  1. Log in to Squarespace → Domains → DNS Settings
  2. Remove existing A records
  3. Add a new A record:
    Type: A
    Host: @
    Value: Your VPS IP
  4. Add CNAME (for www):
    Type: CNAME
    Host: www
    Value: @ or your root domain

Wait 15–30 minutes for DNS propagation.

6. Log in via SSH and Finalise Setup

Open your terminal and connect:

ssh root@your.ip.address

Use the root password you set earlier.

Once logged in, you can:

  • Check that WordPress is installed (http://yourdomain.com)
  • Complete the final steps of the setup wizard
  • If DNS is connected — proceed to SSL installation

7. Issue Let’s Encrypt SSL Certificate

  1. Follow the prompts (confirm your email, agree to T&C)
  2. Enable forced HTTPS redirect in the OpenLiteSpeed Web Admin Panel (optional but recommended)

After this, your site should load securely at:

https://yourdomain.com

✅ That’s It!

You’ve successfully:

  • Launched a WordPress site in Sydney using a VPS
  • Connected a Squarespace domain
  • Issued a free SSL certificate
  • Boosted performance using OpenLiteSpeed

Need help with setup or hosting for Australian clients? Leave a comment or visit my site — I help agencies and businesses run WordPress fast and securely across AU.