Step-by-step help for your hosting

• How much storage does a VPS need?

  Estimate disk space for the operating system, apps, databases, logs and backups on Linux and Windows, and learn how much headroom to leave so the disk never fills up.

  Beginner4 min read

• What is SSH and why you use it to manage a Linux VPS

  A beginner's explainer of SSH: secure terminal access to your Linux server, passwords vs keys, which tools to use on Windows, Mac and Linux, and what to learn next.

  BeginnerLinux server4 min read

• Locked out by your firewall? How to get back into your VPS

  If a firewall rule blocked SSH, you can still reach your server through the browser console in your VPS provider's control panel. Disable the firewall, fix the rule and turn it back on safely.

  BeginnerLinux server5 min read

• VPS vs shared hosting: which one do you need?

  Compare shared hosting and a VPS on performance, control, isolation and responsibility, and learn the signs that your site has outgrown shared hosting.

  Beginner5 min read

• Linux command line basics for your first VPS

  Learn how the Linux prompt works, how commands, options and arguments fit together, and the first commands you need to find your way around a new VPS.

  BeginnerLinux server6 min read

• Install SQL Server Express on a Windows VPS

  Install SQL Server Express and SSMS, create a database and app login, and allow remote connections only from your own IP address.

  IntermediateWindows server3 min read

• Windows Update on a VPS: patches and maintenance windows

  Install Windows updates, set active hours, plan a weekly maintenance window and make sure your programs come back after a restart.

  BeginnerWindows server2 min read

• Free up disk space on a Linux VPS

  Find what is using space, then safely clear package caches, systemd journal logs, old Docker data and large log files without breaking running services.

  BeginnerLinux server3 min read

• Install Docker and Docker Compose on a Linux VPS

  Install Docker Engine and the Compose plugin from Docker's own repository, run a first Compose project, cap log size and avoid exposing ports by accident.

  IntermediateLinux server3 min read

• Connect to your Linux VPS with SSH from Windows, Mac or Linux

  Find your login details, connect over SSH from Windows, macOS or Linux, confirm the host key, save a shortcut and fix the most common first-login errors.

  BeginnerLinux server3 min read

• Tune MySQL and MariaDB memory settings for a small VPS

  Set innodb_buffer_pool_size, max_connections and other my.cnf values so MySQL or MariaDB fits the RAM on your Linux VPS and stops swapping.

  IntermediateLinux server6 min read

• How to install Plesk on a Linux VPS (AlmaLinux and Ubuntu)

  Install Plesk on a fresh Linux VPS with the official one-click installer, apply your licence key and log in to the panel for the first time on port 8443.

  BeginnerLinux server8 min read

• How to install HestiaCP on a Linux VPS

  HestiaCP gives you a web panel for sites, mail and DNS on one VPS. This guide runs the official installer with nginx and PHP-FPM or Apache, then opens the panel on port 8083.

  BeginnerLinux server8 min read

• How to install CloudPanel on a Linux VPS

  CloudPanel is a free control panel for Debian and Ubuntu. This guide covers the installer, the admin account and your first login on a fresh Linux VPS.

  BeginnerLinux server5 min read

• How to install Webmin on a Linux VPS

  Install Webmin on a Linux VPS from the official repository, open port 10000 in your firewall and secure the login with two-factor authentication.

  BeginnerLinux server5 min read

• Disable Weak SSH Ciphers and MAC Algorithms on a Linux VPS

  Edit sshd_config to allow only modern ciphers, MACs and key exchange algorithms, then verify the negotiation and keep a fallback session open.

  AdvancedLinux server6 min read

• Proactive Patch Management: Automating Security Updates on Linux VPS

  Set up unattended-upgrades and dnf-automatic so security patches install themselves, then control reboots, package holds and logging so nothing breaks.

  IntermediateLinux server6 min read

• Back Up and Restore Redis Data on a Linux VPS

  Take a safe Redis backup with BGSAVE or redis-cli --rdb, copy the RDB or AOF files off the server, and restore them without losing a key.

  BeginnerLinux server6 min read

• Monitor your VPS with node_exporter and Grafana dashboards

  Install node_exporter on a Linux VPS, scrape it with Prometheus and build a Grafana dashboard so you can see CPU, memory, disk and network history instead of guessing.

  IntermediateLinux server6 min read

• Sync VPS backups to Backblaze B2 or Google Drive with rclone

  Install rclone on a Linux VPS, connect a Backblaze B2 or Google Drive remote, sync your backup folder off-site on a schedule and confirm the copy with rclone check.

  IntermediateLinux server7 min read

Browse by topic

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• Control panelscPanel & WHM, Plesk, DirectAdmin and other panels on your VPS.107 guides
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• Networking & DNSIP addresses, reverse DNS, ports and traffic.72 guides
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• DatabasesMySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, Redis and MongoDB on a VPS.80 guides
• Billing & accountInvoices, renewals, the client area and your account.9 guides
• TroubleshootingWhen something is not working: checks and fixes.127 guides
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