> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://wiki.daki.cc/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create Your First Free Server

> Step-by-step guide to creating a free server on Daki Hosting — from login to launch.

<Info>
  Free Tier accounts are limited to **one server** per account. Your server starts with **3 days of runtime**, which you can extend for free by watching short ads. See [Renewing Your Free Server](./save-free-server-from-purge) for details.
</Info>

## What you'll learn

* How to log in to the <Tooltip tip="The free-hosting site (dash.daki.cc) where you manage your free server.">Free Tier Dashboard</Tooltip>
* How to create and configure a free server
* What resources your server starts with
* What to do immediately after creation

***

## Creating Your Server

<Steps>
  <Step title="Log in to the Free Tier Dashboard">
    Go to [dash.daki.cc](https://dash.daki.cc). If you are not yet logged in, click **"Sign in with Discord"**.

    Don't have an account yet? See [Create an Account](./account-create) first — it only takes a moment.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open Server Management">
    Once logged in, click the **Server** section in the dashboard navigation menu.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Create">
    Click the **"Create"** button to begin setting up your server.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name your server and choose a language">
    Fill in two fields:

    * **Server Name** — Any name you like (e.g., `MyDiscordBot`).
    * **Language** (<Tooltip tip="A preconfigured template that sets your server's language and type — e.g. Node.js or Python.">egg</Tooltip>) — Choose **Node.js** or **Python**. These are the only options available on the Free Tier.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Finish creation">
    Click **Create**. Your server is now active.

    Your new server starts with:

    | Resource        | Amount          |
    | :-------------- | :-------------- |
    | CPU             | 50% (shared)    |
    | RAM             | 512 MB          |
    | Disk            | 1,024 MB (1 GB) |
    | Initial runtime | 3 days          |
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## What to Do Next

Your server is running — now you need to deploy your application.

1. **Access the Portal** — Log in via <Tooltip tip="Single sign-on — one-click Portal login with no separate password.">SSO</Tooltip> from the **Credentials** tab, or visit [portal.daki.cc](https://portal.daki.cc) directly. See [Portal Overview](./portal).
2. **Upload your code** — Use the built-in file manager or <Tooltip tip="Secure File Transfer Protocol — upload/download files with no size limits.">SFTP</Tooltip>. See [File Manager](./file-manager).
3. **Configure startup** — Set the correct <Tooltip tip="The specific runtime version your server's container runs (e.g. Node.js 22).">Docker image</Tooltip> and startup command. See [Startup Settings](./startup-settings).
4. **Keep your server alive** — Watch ads to extend your <Tooltip tip="The time budget a Free Tier server runs for; extend it by watching ads.">runtime</Tooltip> before it hits zero. See [Renewing Your Free Server](./save-free-server-from-purge).

***

## Troubleshooting

<Warning>
  **The "Create" button is greyed out or missing**
  You already have an active server. Free Tier accounts support one server at a time. Delete your existing server first if you want to start fresh.
</Warning>

<Warning>
  **Server shows as "Installing" for a long time**
  Wait a minute and refresh the page. If it remains stuck, contact support via [Discord](https://discord.gg/daki).
</Warning>

<Info>
  **Need more resources or multiple servers?**
  Consider upgrading to a paid plan. See [Paid Plans](./paid-plans) for options starting at €2/month.
</Info>