James Whitfield
Cloud Solutions Engineer
Solutions engineer at Raff Technologies. Works with customers to plan workload sizing, cloud migrations, and multi-service architectures. Turns requirements into production-ready deployment plans.
20 articles published
Tutorials(9)
How to Self-Host n8n on Ubuntu 24.04 with Docker Compose
Self-host n8n workflow automation on a Raff Ubuntu 24.04 VM using Docker Compose with PostgreSQL, an Nginx reverse proxy, and free HTTPS via Let's Encrypt.
How to Set Up and Configure UFW Firewall on Ubuntu 24.04
Set up UFW firewall on a Raff Ubuntu 24.04 VM. Learn default policies, SSH rules, rate limiting, port management, and logging for a secure cloud server.
How to Deploy OpenClaw AI Agent on Ubuntu 24.04
Deploy OpenClaw on a Raff Ubuntu 24.04 VM using the official npm installer. Set up your own self-hosted AI agent with Telegram integration, community skills, and persistent memory.
How to Install WordPress on Ubuntu 24.04 with Nginx
Install WordPress on a Raff Ubuntu 24.04 VM with Nginx, PHP-FPM, and MariaDB. A complete step-by-step tutorial for a fast, production-ready WordPress site.
How to Install PostgreSQL on Ubuntu 24.04
Install and configure PostgreSQL on a Raff Ubuntu 24.04 VM. This tutorial covers adding the official repository, creating databases and roles, and securing authentication.
How to Deploy Uptime Kuma with Docker on Ubuntu 24.04
Deploy Uptime Kuma on a Raff Ubuntu 24.04 VM using Docker Compose. Set up self-hosted monitoring with alerts for your websites, APIs, and services.
How to Install Nextcloud on Ubuntu 24.04
Install Nextcloud on a Raff Ubuntu 24.04 VM with Apache, MariaDB, and PHP. Build your own private cloud for file sync, sharing, and collaboration.
How to Install Nginx on Ubuntu 24.04
Install and configure Nginx on a Raff Ubuntu 24.04 VM. This step-by-step tutorial covers installation, firewall setup, server blocks, and verification.
How to Install Docker on Ubuntu 24.04
Install Docker Engine on a Raff Ubuntu 24.04 VM with this step-by-step tutorial. Covers repository setup, installation, Docker Compose, and running your first container.
Guides(11)
Reverse Proxy vs Load Balancer: Which Does Your App Need?
Learn when to use a reverse proxy vs load balancer for cloud apps. Compare roles, trade-offs, and best practices to design a safer, scalable architecture.
From Shared Hosting to Raff for Growing SaaS Teams
Learn how to migrate from shared hosting to Raff for better performance, scalability, and control. A practical SaaS migration path with minimal downtime.
MCP vs n8n vs API Integration: Choosing the Right Automation Layer
Learn the differences between MCP, n8n, and direct API integration. Understand when to use each automation layer and how to choose the right approach for your workflow.
n8n Explained: When Self-Hosted Workflow Automation Makes Sense
Learn what n8n is, when self-hosted workflow automation makes sense, and how to choose the right deployment model for secure, scalable automation on Raff.
Managed Databases vs Self-Hosted Databases
Learn the difference between managed and self-hosted databases, including cost, performance, and operational trade-offs for production workloads on Raff.
Load Balancing Explained: When One Server Isn’t Enough
Learn what load balancing is and when you need it. Understand Layer 4 vs Layer 7, traffic distribution, and how to scale cloud applications reliably on Raff.
Nginx vs Apache: Which Web Server to Choose in 2026
Compare Nginx and Apache across architecture, performance, configuration, and use cases. A detailed 2026 guide with benchmarks to help you choose the right web server.
Self-Hosting in 2026: Why It Matters and How to Get Started
Learn why self-hosting matters in 2026 and how to get started. Covers data ownership, cost savings, top open-source tools, infrastructure choices, and a practical roadmap.
Choosing the Right VM Size for Your Workload
Learn how to choose the right VM size for your workload using CPU, RAM, and storage planning. Match common apps to Raff VM tiers and avoid overpaying.
Horizontal vs Vertical Scaling in Cloud Infrastructure
Learn the difference between horizontal and vertical scaling in cloud infrastructure. Understand when to scale up or scale out for performance, reliability, and cost efficiency.
Block Storage vs Local Disk in Cloud Infrastructure
Learn the differences between block storage and local disk in cloud infrastructure. Understand performance, reliability, and best practices for choosing storage on Raff.