Workspace Providers in WPShift

In WPShift, providers are cloud service platforms where servers can be set up and managed. These providers are linked to your workspace via API keys, which allow WPShift to create and manage servers on your behalf. Currently, WPShift supports the following providers:

  • DigitalOcean
  • Linode
  • Vultr
  • Hetzner

Once you add API keys for your preferred cloud provider(s), WPShift can provision servers on those platforms automatically. The cost of using servers is billed directly by your cloud provider—WPShift does not charge for server usage beyond the platform’s management fees.

How Workspace Providers Work

When you link a cloud provider to your workspace using its API key, all users within the workspace who have the Create Server permission can deploy servers through that provider. This centralizes server management while maintaining flexibility over which provider you use.

Key Points

  • API Keys: You provide WPShift with the API keys to your cloud provider account (e.g., DigitalOcean or Vultr). These keys allow WPShift to create and manage servers within your provider's infrastructure.
  • Direct Billing: Any charges incurred from server usage will come directly from the cloud provider. WPShift does not handle or process these charges.
  • Shared Access: All members of your workspace with the appropriate permissions can use the linked API keys to create servers. This simplifies cloud resource management for teams.

Adding a Cloud Provider to Your Workspace

To add a provider to your WPShift workspace, you need to generate an API key from your cloud service provider and connect it to your workspace. Follow the steps below to link a provider:

Step-by-Step Guide to Adding a Provider:

  1. Generate API Key from Your Provider:
    Before adding a provider to WPShift, log in to your cloud provider’s dashboard (e.g., DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, Hetzner) and generate an API key. Each provider has its own process for API key creation, typically found in the API or Developer Settings section of their dashboard. It is possible that you may need to enter a ip address to the api key whitelist. If so, you can add 0.0.0.0 to the whitelist.

  2. Go to Workspace Settings:
    In your WPShift dashboard, navigate to the Workspace Settings and select the Providers tab.

  3. Add Provider API Key:
    Select the provider from the list (e.g., DigitalOcean, Linode). Paste the API key you generated into the appropriate field.

  4. Confirm and Save:
    After entering the API key, click Save. WPShift will now have access to your provider account, and you or your team members can start creating servers.

Managing Provider Keys

Once a cloud provider is added, WPShift will store the API key securely, and authorized users can start creating servers using that provider. You can manage the linked providers from the Providers section in your workspace settings.

Editing or Removing Provider Keys:

  • To Edit: If you need to update the API key (for example, if it expires or you regenerate a new key), navigate to the Providers tab in Workspace Settings, find the provider, and click Edit to update the key.
  • To Remove: If you no longer wish to use a particular provider, click the Remove button next to the provider’s name in the list. This will prevent any further servers from being created using that provider's API key. Existing servers will continue to function normally.

Server Costs and Billing

When you create a server via WPShift, the infrastructure costs are billed directly to you by the cloud provider. WPShift manages the creation and maintenance of servers, but the charges for using the servers come from the provider itself. Be sure to monitor your provider’s billing dashboard for server-related expenses.

Supported Providers:

  • DigitalOcean: Popular for scalable cloud infrastructure and simplicity.
  • Linode: Known for high-performance cloud solutions with flexible pricing.
  • Vultr: Offers cloud computing, block storage, and dedicated servers.
  • Hetzner: Provides affordable and efficient cloud hosting with great performance.

Permissions and Provider Usage

Only members with the Create Server permission in your workspace can deploy servers using the added provider API keys. This ensures that only authorized users can make changes that affect your cloud infrastructure. You can manage permissions through the Members section of your workspace settings.

Permissions to Check:

  • Create Server: Grants the ability to create new servers using the linked provider.
  • Manage Providers: Allows the user to add, edit, or remove cloud provider API keys.

By integrating cloud provider API keys at the workspace level, WPShift simplifies the process of server management and deployment, providing a seamless experience for all team members with the appropriate permissions.