Getting Started

last updated: 2025-08-30

Welcome to DownToZero Cloud! This guide will walk you through the steps to get started with our cloud services. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, this guide covers the essential steps to begin leveraging the power of DownToZero Cloud.

Step 1: Create an Account

To begin using DownToZero Cloud, you first need to create an account:

  1. Go to DownToZero Cloud Signup.

    Sign up form

  2. Enter your email

  3. Enter your password

  4. Click the Sign up button

  5. Once registered, you can log in via the DownToZero Cloud Login.

For cURL, please sign up via the Web UI, then generate an API key for API access.

  1. Go to New API Key.

    shows the dialog for creating an API key

    Click the Create API key button

  2. Export the generated API key

    export DTZ_API_KEY=apikey-sample1234

Step 2: Enable the Container Services

  1. Enable the Container Services

    highlight the enable container service button

  2. Open the Container Services

    shows the Container Services overview

  1. Enable Container Services

    curl -X 'POST' -H "X-API-KEY: $DTZ_API_KEY" 'https://containers.dtz.rocks/api/2021-02-21/enable'

Step 3: Deploy NGINX as a service

  1. Select the Services section

    highlight the services section in the top navigation

  2. Click Create Service

    highlight the create service button in the UI

  3. Enter the service details for NGINX

    highlight the create service button in the UI

    3.1. The prefix should be set to /. 3.2. The image should be set to nginx. 3.3. Click Create Service.

  4. highlighted the service link in the UI

  1. Create the service

    curl -X 'POST' \
'https://containers.dtz.rocks/api/2021-02-21/service' \
-H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-H "X-API-KEY: $DTZ_API_KEY" \
-d '{"prefix": "/","containerImage": "nginx"}'
    This returns the following JSON. 
    {
    "contextId": "context-fxev27jf",
    "enabled": true,
    "serviceId": "service-ibok4vnd",
    "created": "2025-08-30T09:29:09.739001675Z",
    "updated": "2025-08-30T09:29:09.739002547Z",
    "prefix": "/",
    "containerImage": "nginx"
}

Step 4: Verify the deployment

  1. highlighted the service link in the UI

  2. Verify the NGINX deployment

    show a welcome page generated by nginx

  1. Fetch the generated domain for your context.

    curl -H "X-API-KEY: $DTZ_API_KEY" 'https://containers.dtz.rocks/api/2021-02-21/domain'
    This returns the following JSON. 
    [{
    "contextId": "context-fxev27jf",
    "name": "fxev27jf.containers.dtz.dev",
    "verified": true,
    "created": "2025-08-30T08:45:26.656377567Z",
    "updated": "2025-08-30T08:45:26.656378477Z"
}]

  2. Use the name value as the domain to verify your deployment.

    curl "https://DOMAIN_NAME"

With this guide, you’re ready to start using DownToZero Cloud! Should you encounter any issues or have questions, please reach out to our support team at contact@downtozero.cloud.