The words we use
Cloud tools come with their own vocabulary. Here is what the main terms mean in plain language, in the words you will
see across the console.
Cloud Server. A virtual computer you rent and control. It has its own operating system, memory and disk, and you can log
in to it like any other machine.
Server Plan. The size of a server: how many virtual CPUs, how much memory, and how much disk it gets. Plans run from
g1.nano (tiny, for testing) up to g1.4xlarge (large). You pick a plan when you create a server and can change it later.
Operating System. The system a server starts from, such as Ubuntu, Rocky Linux, Debian or Windows Server. You choose one
when you create the server.
Volume. Extra disk you can add to a server, found under Block Storage. A volume is separate from the server, so you can
detach it and move it to another server.
Snapshot and Backup. Saved copies you can restore from. A snapshot captures a point in time; a backup is a copy kept for
safety.
Object Storage. Storage for files and media, kept in Containers (sometimes called buckets). Good for images, documents,
and backups you want to reach over the web.
Private Network. A network your servers share privately, without exposing traffic to the internet.
Floating IP. A public internet address you attach to a server so people can reach it from outside.
Security Group. The set of firewall rules that decide which ports on a server are open, and to whom.
Region. The location your resources run in: Nairobi, Kigali or Huye.
Wallet. Your prepaid balance. Usage is billed against it as you go. See How billing works.