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Cloud

How to Get a Lifetime Free Cloud Server.

Sudeep Shrestha

• 4 min read
How to Get a Lifetime Free Cloud Server.

Cloud computing has become a backbone of modern IT, but many people don’t realize that you can actually get a lifetime free cloud server from Oracle Cloud’s Free Tier. What makes this even better is that you can turn this free server into your own VPN server using WireGuard — giving you privacy, security, and remote access to your home or office network, all without paying a dime.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to claim your free Oracle Cloud server and set up WireGuard as your personal VPN.

Why Oracle Cloud Free Tier?

Oracle Cloud offers a Free Tier that includes:

  • 2 AMD or Arm-based VMs (Always Free)
  • 4 CPUs and up to 24 GB RAM (Arm-based)
  • 200 GB block storage
  • 10 GB object storage
  • 10 TB outbound data transfer per month

This is not a trial — it’s always free, making it a perfect choice for small personal projects like running a VPN server.

Step 1: Sign Up for Oracle Cloud Free Tier

  1. Go to Oracle Cloud Free Tier.
  2. Create a free account (you’ll need a credit/debit card for verification, but Oracle won’t charge you).
  3. After account activation, log in to the Oracle Cloud Console.

Step 2: Create a Free Virtual Machine

  1. In the Oracle Console, navigate to Compute > Instances.
  2. Click Create Instance.
  3. Choose an Always Free Eligible VM:
    • VM.Standard.A1.Flex (Arm-based, up to 4 OCPUs, 24 GB RAM)
    • Or VM.Standard.E2.1.Micro (AMD, 1 OCPU, 1 GB RAM)
  4. Pick your operating system (Ubuntu 22.04 LTS is recommended).
  5. Set up SSH keys so you can connect to your VM.
  6. Launch your instance.

Once it’s running, note down the public IP address — you’ll need it for WireGuard.

Step 3: Update Your Server

Connect via SSH:

ssh -i your-key.pem ubuntu@your-server-ip

Update packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 4: Install WireGuard

Importance of VPN and How to Set Up Your Own Private VPN Using PiVPN on Raspberry Pi or Home Lab
In today’s connected world, online privacy and security have become more important than ever. Every time you browse the internet, your activity may be visible to your internet service provider (ISP), advertisers, and sometimes even hackers sniffing on public Wi-Fi networks. This is where a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
Sudeep ShresthaSudeep Shrestha

Now i would like to make my free cloud server as VPN Server so i can have a free VPN Server out of my Home network and its completely free.

On Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt install wireguard -y

Enable IP forwarding:

echo "net.ipv4.ip_forward=1" | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf
echo "net.ipv6.conf.all.forwarding=1" | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf
sudo sysctl -p

Step 5: Configure WireGuard Server

Generate server keys:

umask 077
wg genkey | tee server_private.key | wg pubkey > server_public.key

Create WireGuard config:

sudo nano /etc/wireguard/wg0.conf

Paste the following (replace values):

[Interface]
Address = 10.0.0.1/24
ListenPort = 51820
PrivateKey = <server_private_key>

[Peer]
# Example client
PublicKey = <client_public_key>
AllowedIPs = 10.0.0.2/32

Bring up WireGuard:

sudo wg-quick up wg0
sudo systemctl enable wg-quick@wg0

Step 6: Add Firewall Rules

Allow WireGuard traffic:

sudo ufw allow 51820/udp

Enable NAT for VPN clients:

sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -o ens3 -j MASQUERADE

(Replace ens3 with your network interface, check with ip addr).

Step 7: Configure a Client

On your laptop or phone, install WireGuard app.

Generate client keys on the server:

wg genkey | tee client_private.key | wg pubkey > client_public.key

Create a client config file:

[Interface]
PrivateKey = <client_private_key>
Address = 10.0.0.2/24
DNS = 1.1.1.1

[Peer]
PublicKey = <server_public_key>
Endpoint = <your_server_ip>:51820
AllowedIPs = 0.0.0.0/0, ::/0

Import this into the WireGuard app.

Step 8: Test Your VPN

  1. Connect to your VPN from the client device.
  2. Visit whatismyipaddress.com.
  3. Your IP should now show Oracle Cloud’s IP, not your local ISP.

Congratulations — you now have a lifetime free cloud VPN server running on Oracle Cloud! 🎉

Why Use Your Own VPN?

  • Privacy: Encrypts all your internet traffic.
  • Bypass restrictions: Access content blocked by your ISP or country.
  • Security: Protect your data on public Wi-Fi.
  • Remote access: Connect securely to home devices.

And best of all — you’re not paying for it!

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