How to Deploy a Free Online Radio Station on a Cloud Server (2025)

Oracle’s Free Tier in 2025 Overview

Everything for Free

Oracle Limitations

My General Setup

A cost that you don't pay for

Setting up the Virtual Machine, Storage, and Network 

Update (October 2025)

Oracle terminated my Free Tier VM after 60 days

Creating a new, smaller AMD VM (experimental)

Switching to a PAY-AS-YOU-GO plan

Setting up a more powerful Ampere VM

Deleting an old VCN

Preparing for the Radio Station Installation

When Creating the VM

Security

SSH Connection

Some basic Linux commands

Create and Attach a Block Volume (optional) 

AzuraCast Installation

About Azuracast

a) The "> docker.sh Method" for Intel and AMD Shapes

b) The "> docker.sh Method" for Ampere ARM-based Shapes (without SSL)

AzuraCast Installation with SSL on an Ampere A1 shape

About the SSL Encryption

Change the Configuration Ports

Nginx and SSL Certificate

AzuraCast Interface

SFTP Connection

AzuraCast Backup

AzuraCast Re-installation (just in case)

a) Restore from PC (recommended)

b) Restore from the Block Volume

Stop AzuraCast (for troubleshooting)

YouTube Streaming

Prerequisites

The FFmpeg Script

The Metadata Update Script

Make Both Scripts Executable

Create a systemd Service for the FFmpeg Script

Create a systemd Service for the Metadata Update Script

Explanation of the Daemon Services

Verify the Scripts Are Running

Keep Your VM from Being Reclaimed as Idle

The Traffic Generator Script

The Traffic Generator Service

Verify the Traffic Generator Is Working

A Cron Job to Keep Your CPU > 20%

AzuraCast Issues & Recommendations

Sequential Playlist

Shuffled Playlist

Playlist Priority

Unplayed-back songs

Relay Issues

The SSL Issue

Final and periodical checks

Troubleshooting the YouTube Relay