Step by step guide to set up Cloudflare for your website

Here's a simplified step-by-step guide to set up Cloudflare for your website:

1. Sign Up & Login:

   • Visit Cloudflare's website and sign up for an account.
   • Log in to your Cloudflare account.

2. Add Your Website:

   • Click on the "+ Add Site" button.
   • Enter your website's domain name and click "Add Site."

3. Select a Plan:

   • Choose a plan that suits your needs. For most personal websites, the free plan is sufficient. Click "Confirm Plan."

4. DNS Records:

   • Cloudflare will scan your domain's DNS records. Ensure all your DNS records are listed correctly.
   • If any records are missing, you can manually add them, you can check the article here

5. Update Nameservers:

   • Cloudflare will provide you with two nameservers.
   • Log in to your domain registrar's website (e.g., YottaSrc, GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.).
   • Replace your current nameservers with the ones provided by Cloudflare.
   • This step is crucial as it directs your domain's traffic through Cloudflare's network.

6. Wait for Propagation:

   • DNS propagation can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours. Once the nameservers update, your website will be active on Cloudflare.

7. Enable SSL:

   • Go to the "SSL/TLS" tab in Cloudflare.
   • Choose "Flexible" if you don't have an SSL certificate on your server, or "Full" if you do. If you're unsure, start with "Flexible."

8. Basic Settings:

   • Auto Minify: Under the "Speed" tab, enable Auto Minify for JavaScript, CSS, and HTML to reduce file sizes.
   • Always Online: Under the "Caching" tab, turn on "Always Online" to serve a cached version of your site if your server goes down.
   • Security Level: Under the "Firewall" tab, set the security level to "Medium" to balance protection and user accessibility.

9. Page Rules (Optional):

   • You can set specific rules for how Cloudflare interacts with different parts of your site. For example, you can bypass the cache for your admin area or set a browser cache TTL for static assets.

10. Monitor & Adjust:

• Regularly check the "Analytics" tab to see your website's traffic and how Cloudflare is benefiting you.
• Adjust settings as needed based on your website's performance and security needs.