Guides
VPS setup guides and tutorials
Step-by-step guides for running a VPS: base setup, hardening, payments and privacy, written for people who administer their own servers.
Windows and RDP
32What is RDP? Remote Desktop, RDP servers and Remote Desktop Services explained
RDP is Microsoft's Remote Desktop Protocol on port 3389. What an RDP server is, how it differs from RDS and a terminal server, and every RDP guide we have.
~8 min14 Oct 2026How to connect to RDP from Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android
Connect to a Windows server over RDP with its IP, user name and password: mstsc on Windows, Windows App on Mac, iOS and Android, Remmina or FreeRDP on Linux.
~9 min14 Oct 2026RDP from a Mac: connect to Windows with Microsoft's Windows App
The free RDP client for Mac is Microsoft's Windows App: add the server's IP as a PC, sign in, then fix Retina scaling, the clipboard and Ctrl+Alt+Del.
~9 min14 Oct 2026RDP from a Chromebook: connect to a Windows server with Windows App or Remmina
Chromebook RDP: Microsoft's Windows App from Google Play, or Remmina and FreeRDP in Linux. Steps, port 3389, NLA, Ctrl+Alt+Del and the common errors.
~9 min21 Oct 2026Linux remote desktop to Windows: Remmina, FreeRDP and the ERRCONNECT errors
Linux remote desktop to Windows with Remmina or FreeRDP (xfreerdp3): NLA, certificates, monitors, sound, drives, gateways and ERRCONNECT errors.
~9 min22 Oct 2026Remote Desktop Connection Manager (RDCMan): setup and alternatives
RDCMan is Microsoft's free Sysinternals tool for saved RDP connections in groups: install it, import servers, set credentials once, or switch to mRemoteNG.
~8 min03 Nov 2026Network Level Authentication (NLA) in RDP: what it does and how to fix it
NLA makes RDP authenticate before opening a session. Where to require or disable it, why an old client can't connect, and the CredSSP encryption oracle error.
~6 min14 Oct 2026Ctrl+Alt+Del in Remote Desktop: press Ctrl+Alt+End (and what to do on a Mac, a laptop or nested RDP)
In Remote Desktop, Ctrl+Alt+End sends Ctrl+Alt+Del. The Mac and laptop shortcuts, the On-Screen Keyboard trick, nested RDP, and changing your password.
~8 min14 Oct 2026Multiple RDP sessions on Windows Server: two admins free, more needs RDS licences
Windows Server allows two simultaneous RDP sessions out of the box. Add RDP users, allow two sessions per user and learn when you need RDS CALs.
~8 min14 Oct 2026How to enable RDP on Windows Server: Settings, sconfig and PowerShell
Turn on Remote Desktop in Windows Server 2019, 2022 or 2025 with the Settings switch, sconfig or PowerShell, then open the firewall rule and keep NLA on.
~8 min14 Oct 2026RDP port: 3389 on TCP and UDP, the RD Gateway ports, and how to check them
RDP uses port 3389 on TCP and UDP by default; an RD Gateway adds TCP 443 and UDP 3391. How to check the port a server listens on and test it from outside.
~9 min13 Oct 2026How to change the RDP port (3389) on Windows Server without locking yourself out
Change the RDP port on Windows Server: allow the new port in Windows Firewall, set PortNumber under RDP-Tcp, restart TermService, then close 3389.
~6 min11 Oct 2026How to secure a Windows RDP server: the checklist that actually matters
Lock down Remote Desktop on Windows Server 2025, 2022 and 2019: firewall scope, NLA, account lockout, updates, logging and a VPN instead of an open port 3389.
~12 min14 Oct 2026Open a port in Windows Server Firewall (GUI, PowerShell and netsh), and test it
Allow an inbound port on Windows Server 2025, 2022 or 2019 with New-NetFirewallRule or the GUI, limit it to your IP, allow ping and test it from outside.
~9 min14 Oct 2026Use a VPN on a Windows RDP server without locking yourself out
A full-tunnel VPN on a Windows VPS reroutes your RDP replies and cuts you off. Keep RDP reachable with a bypass route, split tunnelling and a failsafe.
~8 min19 Sept 2026xrdp on Ubuntu and Debian: install an RDP desktop (XFCE) on a VPS and fix the black screen
Install xrdp with XFCE on Ubuntu 24.04 or Debian 12/13, add xrdp to ssl-cert, open port 3389 to your IP only or tunnel it over SSH, and fix the black screen.
~10 min14 Oct 2026Ubuntu Server GUI: install a light desktop, reach it remotely, remove it again
Ubuntu server GUI: install Xfce or GNOME on Ubuntu Server 24.04 or 26.04 without the extras, reach it over xrdp or VNC through SSH, and remove it again.
~8 min22 Oct 2026Windows Server evaluation licence on a VPS: limits, expiry and activating your own key
How long the Windows Server 2022/2019 evaluation lasts, what happens when it expires, how to check the days left and how to switch to your own licence key.
~8 min14 Oct 2026Windows Server end of life: support dates for 2019, 2016, 2022 and 2012 R2
Windows Server 2019 end of life is January 9, 2029; 2016 ends January 12, 2027. Every date from Microsoft, what EOL means, ESU and the upgrade paths.
~8 min21 Oct 2026Change a Windows password with net user, PowerShell or Ctrl+Alt+End
net user change password: run net user NAME * to set a new Windows password without showing it, or Set-LocalUser in PowerShell. Policy errors explained.
~7 min22 Oct 2026PowerShell reboot: Restart-Computer, shutdown /r and Restart-Service
PowerShell reboot with Restart-Computer (-Force, -Wait), shutdown /r /t 0 from cmd, Restart-Service for one service, and how to check for a pending reboot.
~9 min22 Oct 2026Windows Task Scheduler: schtasks, PowerShell and cron for Windows
Windows Task Scheduler from the command line: schtasks /create examples, Register-ScheduledTask, running as SYSTEM, Last Run Result codes, cron compared.
~9 min22 Oct 2026How to create a .bat file in Windows: Notepad, syntax and examples
How to create a .bat file: save it from Notepad as All files with a .bat name, then add @echo off, variables, arguments, if/for and three server scripts.
~11 min22 Oct 2026chkdsk commands: /f, /r, /x and /scan on Windows and Windows Server
chkdsk C: /f /r from an admin prompt: /f fixes file system errors, /r also finds bad sectors, /x dismounts first. Restart check, /scan, sfc and DISM.
~10 min21 Oct 2026Windows route add: add, delete and keep routes (route, PowerShell, netsh)
Add a route in Windows with route add DEST mask MASK GATEWAY, keep it with -p, or use New-NetRoute. Metrics, IPv6, deleting routes and keeping RDP alive.
~9 min22 Oct 2026Install Google Chrome on Windows Server 2022 and 2019 (without fighting IE)
Install Chrome on a fresh Windows Server with one PowerShell command or through Edge, get past IE Enhanced Security on 2019, and make Chrome the default.
~7 min14 Oct 2026Install winget on Windows Server 2025, 2022 and 2019, or use Chocolatey
Install winget on Windows Server 2025, 2022 and 2019 with Repair-WinGetPackageManager, use winget install and upgrade, or install Chocolatey instead.
~9 min21 Oct 2026How to install OpenSSL on Windows and Windows Server
Install OpenSSL on Windows with winget, Chocolatey or Git for Windows (openssl.org ships source only), fix PATH and openssl.cnf, and convert PFX to PEM.
~9 min21 Oct 2026wget and curl on Windows: curl.exe, PowerShell aliases and GNU wget
wget for Windows: use the curl.exe built into Windows 10, 11 and Server 2019+, PowerShell's Invoke-WebRequest, or GNU wget from winget or Chocolatey.
~9 min21 Oct 2026Run MetaTrader 4 or 5 on a Windows VPS 24/7: setup, sizing and latency
Install MT4 or MT5 on a Windows Server VPS, keep Expert Advisors running after you disconnect, check the ping to your broker and size the plan honestly.
~9 min14 Oct 2026NinjaTrader VPS: run NinjaTrader 8 on a Windows server 24/7 (setup, latency, sizing)
NinjaTrader VPS guide: NinjaTrader 8 requirements, honest latency for CME and Eurex, setup on Windows Server, restarts, updates, backups and plan sizing.
~8 min21 Oct 2026mstsc command: every Remote Desktop switch, custom ports and .rdp file settings
mstsc opens Remote Desktop Connection. All switches (/v, /admin, /f, /multimon, /span, /shadow), custom ports, Default.rdp and the .rdp settings to know.
~11 min04 Nov 2026SSH and file transfer
14SSH port 22: the default port, how to check which one your server uses, and how to connect on another
SSH listens on TCP port 22 by default. See which port your server really uses, test that it is open, and connect with ssh, scp and rsync on another port.
~8 min11 Oct 2026How to enable SSH on Ubuntu
sudo apt install openssh-server, then systemctl enable --now ssh and ufw allow OpenSSH if a firewall is active. Ubuntu Server already has it; Ubuntu Desktop does not.
~5 min14 Oct 2026SSH on Windows 10 and 11: the built-in OpenSSH client, keys, PuTTY and WinSCP
Windows 10 and 11 include an OpenSSH client: open PowerShell and run ssh user@host. Install it, set up keys, ssh-agent and the config file, or use PuTTY.
~8 min14 Oct 2026PuTTY download for Windows: install, connect over SSH, keys and Pageant
PuTTY download for Windows from the official site only: install the MSI, connect over SSH on port 22, save sessions, use PuTTYgen keys and Pageant.
~9 min21 Oct 2026How to generate an SSH key (ssh-keygen) and use it to log in
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 creates a key pair in minutes. Why ed25519 over RSA, setting a passphrase, copying the key with ssh-copy-id, and loading it into ssh-agent.
~9 min22 Oct 2026ssh-copy-id: copy your SSH key to a server, plus the Windows equivalent
ssh-copy-id -i ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub user@host adds your key to authorized_keys on the server. Every option, a PowerShell version for Windows, and fixes.
~9 min14 Oct 2026SSH config file: ~/.ssh/config examples, keys, ProxyJump and precedence
~/.ssh/config gives each server an alias with HostName, User, Port and IdentityFile, so ssh myvps is enough. ssh keeps the first value found: Host * goes last.
~10 min14 Oct 2026How to secure SSH access on a public server
Port 22 gets brute-forced within minutes. Key-only auth plus fail2ban and a firewall removes almost all the risk. The practical, in-order setup.
~6 min22 Oct 2026Change the SSH port on Ubuntu 24.04, Debian and Rocky without locking yourself out
Open the new port first, edit sshd_config, and on Ubuntu 24.04 restart ssh.socket, or the change silently does nothing. Plus SELinux on Rocky Linux.
~10 min14 Oct 2026SSH tunnel explained: local, remote and dynamic (SOCKS) port forwarding
What an SSH tunnel is and how to build one: local forwarding with ssh -L, reverse tunnels with ssh -R, a SOCKS proxy with ssh -D, autossh and PuTTY.
~12 min14 Oct 2026Transfer files to a VPS: scp, rsync and SFTP from Windows, macOS and Linux
Copy files to and from your server with scp, sync folders with rsync over SSH, or drag and drop with WinSCP or FileZilla over SFTP. Exact commands inside.
~10 min14 Oct 2026scp command: copy files over SSH, with examples for every common flag
scp copies files over SSH: scp SOURCE TARGET, remote side user@host:path. Examples for -r, -P port, -i key, Windows, spaces, the SFTP switch and errors.
~10 min14 Oct 2026rsync command: examples for SSH, exclude, --delete, progress and dry run
rsync -av SOURCE/ DEST/ copies a folder and later sends only changes; a slash on the source copies its contents. Examples for SSH, exclude, --delete, dry run.
~10 min14 Oct 2026The sftp command: uploading, downloading and browsing over SSH
sftp user@host opens an interactive session over SSH. get, put, ls, cd and lcd explained, non-interactive one-line transfers, and sftp vs scp vs FTP/FTPS.
~8 min14 Oct 2026Linux commands
39Linux commands cheat sheet: files, processes, networking and more
The Linux commands a server admin uses daily (files, permissions, processes, networking, systemd, packages), grouped into one reference, linking the full guide for each.
~10 min14 Oct 2026pwd command: print working directory, -L vs -P and $PWD
The pwd command prints the directory your shell is in. -L vs -P with symlinks, $PWD and $OLDPWD, cd -, and how a script finds its own directory.
~5 min21 Oct 2026How to copy files and folders in Linux: the cp command, cp -r and cp -a
How to copy a file in Linux with cp, copy a folder with cp -r or cp -a, copy files to another directory, keep permissions, and fix common cp errors.
~9 min22 Oct 2026How to rename a directory in Linux: the mv command for files and folders
How to rename a directory in Linux with mv: rename files and folders, move them into directories, -i, -n and -T, bulk renames, and fixes for mv errors.
~9 min21 Oct 2026How to delete files and directories in Linux: the rm command, rm -r and rmdir
How to delete a file in Linux with rm, remove a directory and its contents with rm -r, use rmdir and find -delete safely, and fix rm errors.
~8 min21 Oct 2026mkdir command: create folders in Linux, with -p for parent folders and -m for permissions
The mkdir command creates folders in Linux: -p for nested paths, -m for permissions, brace expansion, and fixes for File exists and Permission denied.
~8 min21 Oct 2026How to create a file in Linux: the touch command, echo, cat and tee
How to create a file in Linux: touch for empty files, echo and heredocs for content, sudo tee for root-owned files, fallocate for size, touch timestamps.
~7 min21 Oct 2026Symbolic links in Linux: create a symlink with ln -s, and fix or remove one
A Linux symlink points to another path. Create a symbolic link with ln -s, repoint it with -sfn, find broken links and remove one without losing data.
~6 min21 Oct 2026find command in Linux: search by name, size, age and permissions, with -exec and -delete
The find command in Linux by example: -name, -type, -size, -mtime, -perm, -maxdepth, -exec vs -exec +, safe -delete, -print0 with xargs and -prune.
~10 min21 Oct 2026grep command: cheat sheet for -i, -v, -r and regex
grep PATTERN FILE prints matching lines. -i ignores case, -v inverts the match, -r recurses a directory. Flags, basic vs extended regex, and grep in a pipeline.
~6 min14 Oct 2026cat command in Linux: view, combine and create files
The Linux cat command prints and joins files. cat -n, -b, -s and -A, creating files with > and a heredoc, the cat file > file trap, tac and big files.
~8 min21 Oct 2026sed command: find and replace, delete lines, and edit files in place
sed 's/old/new/g' replaces every match; -i edits the file in place. Line and pattern addresses, deleting lines, and the GNU vs BSD -i trap on macOS.
~7 min14 Oct 2026awk command: columns, patterns, sums and real log examples
The awk command prints columns ($1, $NF), filters lines by pattern and sums or counts in END. Real nginx log one-liners, printf, and mawk vs gawk.
~9 min21 Oct 2026cut command: fields, characters and real examples on Linux
The cut command prints fields (-d, -f), characters (-c) or bytes (-b) from each line. Ranges, --complement, log and /etc/passwd examples, and the CSV trap.
~7 min21 Oct 2026wc command: count lines, words, bytes and files on Linux
The wc command counts lines, words and bytes: wc -l, -w, -c, -m, -L, totals, wc -l < file, counting files with find, and grep -c vs grep | wc -l.
~7 min21 Oct 2026uniq command in Linux: remove duplicate lines, count with -c, and sort -u
The uniq command removes adjacent duplicate lines, so sort first: uniq -c counts, -d and -u filter, -f, -s and -w compare parts. With nginx log examples.
~7 min22 Oct 2026chmod command: 777, 755, +x and recursive, explained properly
What chmod 777, 755 and +x actually set, octal vs symbolic mode, chmod -R without breaking directories, and why chmod 777 is almost never the right fix.
~8 min14 Oct 2026chown: change file ownership on Linux, with -R and user:group
sudo chown USER:GROUP FILE changes who owns a file; add -R for a whole directory. Who is allowed to chown what, numeric UIDs, --reference, and chown vs chmod.
~6 min14 Oct 2026The tar command: extract and create tar.gz (and tar.xz, tar.bz2) files in Linux
Extract a tar.gz with tar -xzf, pick the target folder with -C, list the contents first and create archives yourself. Covers .tar.xz, .tar.bz2 and .zst.
~9 min14 Oct 2026zip command in Linux: zip a directory, exclude files, split and encrypt
Linux zip command: zip -r a directory, exclude with -x, update, split and password options, unzip -l/-t/-d, and zip vs tar.gz with measured sizes.
~8 min21 Oct 2026Types of shell in Linux: sh, bash, dash, zsh, fish, ksh and tcsh compared
Types of shell in Linux compared: sh, bash, dash, zsh, fish, ksh, tcsh. Check which shell you use, change it with chsh, and write portable scripts.
~8 min22 Oct 2026echo command in Linux and bash: -n, -e, quoting and printf
The echo command in bash and sh: -n and -e, escapes, quoting variables, writing to files, sudo echo vs tee, colours, and why scripts use printf instead.
~7 min21 Oct 2026How to redirect stdout and stderr to a file in Bash
Redirect stdout and stderr to a file in Bash: > and >>, 2>, why 2>&1 goes last, &>, /dev/null, tee -a, and the versions for cron and systemd services.
~8 min21 Oct 2026How to set an environment variable in Linux, and make it permanent
Set an environment variable in Linux with export NAME=value. Make it permanent in ~/.bashrc or /etc/profile.d, and pass it to systemd, cron and sudo.
~11 min21 Oct 2026alias command in Linux and bash: create, list, remove and keep aliases
The alias command in Linux and bash: define, list and remove aliases, keep them in ~/.bashrc, use a function for arguments, and aliases in scripts.
~7 min22 Oct 2026xargs command in Linux: -0, -n, -I {}, -P and when to use find -exec instead
xargs turns input into arguments for another command: -0 with find -print0, -n per run, -I {} placeholder, -P in parallel, -r for empty input.
~8 min21 Oct 2026bash sleep command: wait seconds, minutes or forever, in loops and on Windows
The bash sleep command: seconds, minutes and fractions, sleep infinity, retry loops until a port opens, sleep vs timeout vs wait, and Windows timeout.
~7 min22 Oct 2026man command in Linux: how to read man pages, sections and man -k
How to use the man command and Linux man pages: reading and searching a page, sections 1, 5 and 8, man -k and apropos, and man pages on minimal Ubuntu.
~7 min22 Oct 2026How to exit vim: :wq, :q! and every other way out
Esc then :wq saves and quits; :q! quits without saving. Every exit command, why vim traps people in the first place, and how to change the default editor.
~6 min14 Oct 2026Vim commands cheat sheet: search, find and replace, delete lines
Vim find and replace with :%s/old/new/g, search with / and n, delete lines with dd, ggdG or :g/pattern/d. A Vim commands cheat sheet with real output.
~10 min22 Oct 2026nano text editor: how to save and exit, shortcuts and settings
How to save and exit nano: Ctrl+O, Enter, Ctrl+X. The nano text editor's shortcuts for search, replace and cut, what ^ and M- mean, nanorc and sudoedit.
~8 min22 Oct 2026tmux cheat sheet: sessions, windows, panes and the keys you actually use
The tmux keys and commands used every day: Ctrl-b bindings for windows and panes, detaching and reattaching a session, copy mode, and a minimal .tmux.conf.
~8 min14 Oct 2026screen command in Linux: sessions, detach, reattach and scrollback
The screen command in Linux keeps a session running after SSH disconnects: screen -S, Ctrl-a d, screen -ls, screen -r, windows, scrollback and logging.
~8 min21 Oct 2026nohup command: keep a process running after you log out
nohup runs a command that ignores the hangup signal, so it keeps running after SSH drops: nohup.out, redirecting output, disown, checking and stopping it.
~8 min21 Oct 2026How to clear the terminal in Linux: clear, Ctrl+L, reset and the scrollback
Clear terminal screens in Linux with clear or Ctrl+L, keep or wipe the scrollback, fix a garbled terminal with reset, and clear bash history properly.
~6 min22 Oct 2026ls command in Linux: read ls -l, show hidden files, sort by size and list only directories
ls command in Linux: read ls -l columns, show hidden files, sort by size or date, list only directories, and why scripts should not parse ls.
~12 min04 Nov 2026How to run a .sh file in Linux: chmod +x, ./script.sh, bash, sh and source
Run a .sh file in Linux: chmod +x, then ./script.sh, or bash script.sh without chmod. What sh and source change, and fixes for Permission denied and CRLF.
~10 min04 Nov 2026Bash for loop: lists, ranges, files, lines and arrays, with real output
Bash for loop syntax with tested output: lists, {1..10} ranges and steps, C-style loops, files, lines with while read, arrays, break, continue, parallel.
~12 min04 Nov 2026How to switch user in Linux: su, su - and sudo -i, with the errors fixed
Switch user in Linux with su - USERNAME, or sudo -i on Ubuntu with root locked. su vs su - vs sudo tested, su: Authentication failure and nologin fixed.
~9 min04 Nov 2026Linux server administration
28Initial server setup: the first ten minutes on a new VPS
A repeatable checklist for a fresh Ubuntu or Debian server: non-root user, key-only SSH, firewall, automatic security updates, hostname, timezone and swap.
~7 min08 Aug 2026Create a sudo user on Ubuntu, Debian and Rocky Linux, and fix 'is not in the sudoers file'
Add a user with adduser, grant sudo through the sudo or wheel group, test it safely and fix 'user is not in the sudoers file' without locking yourself out.
~8 min14 Oct 2026Add a user to a group in Linux: usermod -aG, gpasswd and adduser
Linux add user to group: sudo usermod -aG GROUP USER, then log in again. Why -a matters, gpasswd, adduser, newgrp, creating users and removing them.
~8 min21 Oct 2026How to list users and groups in Linux (and see who is logged in)
List every account with getent passwd, show only real login users, see a user's groups with id, and check who is logged in now or logged in recently.
~9 min14 Oct 2026Change the hostname on Ubuntu (and Debian or Rocky Linux) without a reboot
Ubuntu change hostname: sudo hostnamectl set-hostname NAME, update the 127.0.1.1 line in /etc/hosts and stop cloud-init reverting it. Debian and Rocky too.
~7 min21 Oct 2026Linux date and timezone: date formats, timedatectl and setting the clock
Set the date in Linux, format it (+%F %T, +%s, ISO 8601) and convert with date -d; change the timezone with timedatectl, plus NTP and why servers use UTC.
~8 min22 Oct 2026How to check your Linux version: Ubuntu, Debian, Rocky and the kernel
cat /etc/os-release shows the distribution and release on any modern Linux, uname -r the kernel. Plus lsb_release, hostnamectl and the codenames apt needs.
~7 min14 Oct 2026Ubuntu system requirements: minimum RAM, CPU and disk for Server and Desktop
Ubuntu system requirements for 24.04 and 26.04 LTS: official minimum RAM, CPU and disk for Server and Desktop, supported architectures and real sizing.
~7 min22 Oct 2026systemctl commands: listing, restarting and checking services
systemctl list-units, status, start/stop/restart, enable --now, is-active and list-timers, with real output for each, and where systemctl stops and journalctl takes over.
~7 min14 Oct 2026Create a systemd service: run any script or app at boot and restart it on crash
Write a unit file, enable it with systemctl enable --now, restart it on failure, run it as a non-root user and read its logs with journalctl.
~13 min14 Oct 2026journalctl: reading, following and filtering the systemd journal
journalctl -u for one service's log, -f to follow it live, --since/--until to narrow by time, -p for severity and -g to search text, with real output for each.
~7 min14 Oct 2026tail command: -n, -f, -F and following log files on Linux
The tail command prints the last lines of a file; tail -f follows it live and tail -F survives log rotation. Plus +N, head combos and grep buffering.
~7 min21 Oct 2026crontab -e, -l and -r explained: editing, listing and clearing a user's cron jobs
crontab -e edits your scheduled jobs, -l lists them, -r deletes all of them with no confirmation. The five time fields, cron's own environment and the %-escaping trap.
~8 min14 Oct 2026Linux reboot and shutdown commands: reboot, shutdown, systemctl
sudo reboot restarts a Linux server now; sudo shutdown -h now powers it off. How shutdown's time and wall-message arguments work, and cancelling a scheduled one.
~6 min14 Oct 2026List processes in Linux with ps aux: every column, plus the ps commands you need
What USER, PID, %CPU, %MEM, VSZ, RSS, STAT and TIME mean in ps aux, how to sort by memory or CPU, find a process by name and show the process tree.
~9 min22 Oct 2026htop explained: CPU bars, sorting, filtering and the top command equivalents
How to read htop: CPU bar colours, load average, memory and steal time, plus the keys to sort, filter, search, tree view and kill, with top equivalents.
~10 min21 Oct 2026Kill a process in Linux: kill, pkill and the right signal
kill PID sends SIGTERM to stop a process cleanly; kill -9 forces it. How to find the PID, kill whatever holds a port, and when kill -9 doesn't work.
~7 min14 Oct 2026Linux CPU info: lscpu, /proc/cpuinfo, nproc and CPU temperature
Get CPU info on Linux with lscpu, /proc/cpuinfo and nproc: model, cores, threads, flags like AVX2, clock speed, and CPU temperature with lm-sensors.
~8 min22 Oct 2026How to check memory usage in Linux: free -h, /proc/meminfo, top and ps
Check memory usage on Linux with free -h and read the available column, not free. Plus /proc/meminfo, vmstat, top, ps by RSS, swap and OOM signs.
~9 min22 Oct 2026How to add swap space on Ubuntu and Debian: swap file, size and swappiness
Create a swap file with fallocate, enable it, keep it after reboots and tune swappiness. How much swap a small VPS needs, and when swap will not save you.
~9 min14 Oct 2026Check disk usage and find large files on Linux: df, du, ncdu and find
See free space with df -h, find the biggest folders with du or ncdu, list the largest files with find, and clean up logs, Docker and apt caches safely.
~10 min14 Oct 2026Mount a disk in Linux: a new drive, a drive with data on it, and /etc/fstab
Linux: mount a new drive with data already on it without formatting it. lsblk -f, mount, /etc/fstab by UUID with nofail, and a blank disk set up safely.
~8 min21 Oct 2026Test disk speed on Linux: fio for IOPS and throughput, dd for a quick check
Benchmark a VPS disk properly with fio (random 4k IOPS, sequential throughput, latency), see why dd numbers mislead, and read the results honestly.
~9 min14 Oct 2026lsof command: find what uses a port, a file or deleted disk space
The lsof command lists open files and their processes: lsof -i :PORT, -p PID, -u user, +D dir, deleted files with lsof +L1, and lsof with kill.
~8 min21 Oct 2026Best Linux distro for servers: Debian, Ubuntu, Rocky, Alma and more
The best Linux distro for servers is usually Debian or Ubuntu LTS, Rocky or AlmaLinux for RHEL software. Support windows, packages and use cases compared.
~8 min22 Oct 2026Upgrade Ubuntu 22.04 to 24.04 with do-release-upgrade, and fix "Please install all available updates"
"Please install all available updates for your release before upgrading": the fix, then Ubuntu 22.04 to 24.04 with do-release-upgrade, safely over SSH.
~9 min21 Oct 2026Upgrade Debian 12 (Bookworm) to Debian 13 (Trixie) on a server, step by step
Back up, fully update Bookworm, switch the sources to trixie, run apt full-upgrade inside tmux and check what changed: the safe in-place upgrade on a VPS.
~13 min14 Oct 2026LVM in Linux: extend a logical volume, add a disk, snapshots and shrink rules
LVM in Linux: check if your server uses it, grow the root volume after a disk resize with growpart, pvresize and lvextend -r, snapshots, shrink rules.
~12 min04 Nov 2026Packages and command not found
2How to install a .deb file on Ubuntu: apt, dpkg and gdebi
To install a deb file on Ubuntu, run sudo apt install ./file.deb so apt pulls in the dependencies. Plus dpkg -i, gdebi, inspecting, removing and errors.
~10 min21 Oct 2026How to install an RPM file on Linux: dnf, rpm -ivh and yum
Install RPM files on Linux with dnf install ./file.rpm, which resolves dependencies, or rpm -ivh, which does not. Upgrade, query, remove, check signatures.
~10 min22 Oct 2026Web servers and HTTP errors
9What is nginx? The web server and reverse proxy explained
What is nginx? A free web server, reverse proxy, load balancer and cache. What nginx is used for, nginx vs Apache, its config layout and how to install it.
~8 min21 Oct 2026What is a reverse proxy? How it works, the headers that matter, and what goes wrong
A reverse proxy sits in front of your servers: it terminates TLS, routes by host and path, balances load and caches. How it works and the bugs it causes.
~9 min14 Oct 2026How to point a domain at your VPS (and add HTTPS)
Two DNS records and a short wait. Which record types to use, how to verify propagation, why it is not instant, and how to add a free HTTPS certificate.
~5 min08 Aug 2026Nginx reverse proxy with Let's Encrypt: put any app behind HTTPS
Proxy a Node, Python or Docker app on localhost through Nginx, get a free Let's Encrypt certificate with certbot, and pass WebSockets and real client IPs.
~10 min14 Oct 2026How to install Caddy on Ubuntu and Debian: Caddyfile, HTTPS and logs
Caddy install on Ubuntu and Debian from the official repository: Caddyfile for static, PHP and proxy sites, automatic HTTPS, logs, and Caddy vs nginx.
~9 min22 Oct 2026How to install Apache on Ubuntu and Debian: virtual hosts, PHP-FPM and HTTPS
Install Apache with apt install apache2 on Ubuntu or Debian: open ufw, add a virtual host, run PHP-FPM, get HTTPS with Certbot. Plus Rocky's httpd.
~9 min22 Oct 2026How to restart or reload nginx, and when a reload is not enough
Restart nginx with sudo systemctl restart nginx, or reload it without dropping connections. Run nginx -t first, read the errors, reload nginx in Docker.
~8 min21 Oct 2026.htaccess redirect: 301 rules for pages, folders, HTTPS, www and domain moves
.htaccess redirect rules for Apache: Redirect 301, RedirectMatch and RewriteRule for HTTPS, www, folders, domain moves and query strings, plus curl tests.
~9 min22 Oct 2026WordPress on a VPS: install it on nginx, PHP-FPM and MariaDB step by step
Set up a WordPress VPS on Ubuntu 24.04 or Debian 13: nginx, PHP-FPM, MariaDB, WP-CLI, HTTPS with certbot, permissions, fail2ban and backups, step by step.
~10 min22 Oct 2026SSL and browser errors
2openssl commands: checking certificates, generating keys and random values
OpenSSL commands with real output: s_client to test a server's TLS, x509 to read a certificate, req for a CSR or self-signed certificate, rand for secrets.
~7 min22 Oct 2026curl ignore certificate: -k, --insecure and the safer fixes (wget, PowerShell)
curl -k (--insecure) makes curl ignore certificate errors, wget --no-check-certificate does the same. Why it is risky, and safer fixes: --cacert, pinning.
~9 min22 Oct 2026Networking and DNS
34What is DNS? How the Domain Name System works, record by record
DNS turns names into IP addresses: how a lookup travels from resolver to root to authoritative server, what each record type does, TTLs, and how to check.
~9 min14 Oct 2026DNS record types explained: A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT and more, with examples
The types of DNS records in one table: A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, NS, SOA, PTR, SRV, CAA and HTTPS, each with a zone-file example and a dig command.
~9 min21 Oct 2026What are nameservers? How they work, how to change them and how to check them
Nameservers decide which provider answers for your domain. How they differ from DNS records, how to change them, use Cloudflare's, and check them with dig NS.
~8 min14 Oct 2026What is an FQDN? Fully qualified domain names explained, found and set on a server
An FQDN is a host's complete DNS name, from host label to top-level domain: web01.example.com. How to find and set it on Linux and Windows, and why it matters.
~10 min14 Oct 2026Reverse DNS and PTR records: how to look them up, who sets them, and how to get them right for mail
A PTR record maps an IP back to a host name. Whoever holds the IP sets it, usually in your host's panel. How to look it up, set it and pass mail rDNS checks.
~10 min14 Oct 2026Google Public DNS: 8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4, IPv6 addresses and how to set them
Google Public DNS: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 (IPv4), 2001:4860:4860::8888 and ::8844 (IPv6). Set them on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android or a router, test with dig.
~9 min21 Oct 2026How to flush the DNS cache on Windows, macOS and Linux
The exact command for each OS: ipconfig /flushdns on Windows, dscacheutil on macOS, resolvectl flush-caches on Linux, plus clearing Chrome and Firefox's own DNS cache.
~7 min14 Oct 2026How to edit the hosts file on Windows, macOS and Linux (and why changes seem ignored)
How to edit the hosts file: the Windows path and Notepad as admin, /etc/hosts with sudo on Mac and Linux, syntax, DNS flush, and why changes seem ignored.
~8 min21 Oct 2026nslookup command: syntax, record types and real output on Windows, Linux and macOS
nslookup NAME asks your DNS server for a name's records; add -type=mx or -type=txt, or a server address. Syntax for Windows, Linux and macOS, with real output.
~10 min14 Oct 2026Port 53: why DNS needs both UDP and TCP, how to test it, and how to free it from systemd-resolved
DNS uses port 53 over UDP and TCP: UDP for lookups, TCP for large answers and zone transfers. How to test it, firewall it and free it from systemd-resolved.
~10 min14 Oct 2026Common ports: TCP and UDP port numbers every server admin meets, and which to expose
A list of common TCP and UDP ports (SSH 22, HTTPS 443, DNS 53, MySQL 3306, RDP 3389) with what each one does and whether to expose it to the internet.
~8 min14 Oct 2026Port 443 and port 80: the HTTPS and HTTP ports on TCP and UDP, opened, tested and redirected
Port 80 is HTTP and port 443 is HTTPS, both over TCP; HTTP/3 adds UDP 443. See what listens, open both in the firewall, test them, redirect 80 to 443.
~10 min14 Oct 2026FTP port numbers: 21, 20, passive ranges, FTPS 990 and SFTP 22 explained
FTP uses port 21 for commands and port 20 or a passive range for data. FTPS adds TLS on 21 or 990, SFTP runs over SSH on 22. Which to open, and which to use.
~11 min14 Oct 2026SMTP ports 25, 587, 465 and 2525: which one to use, how to test it, and the IMAP and POP3 ports
Send mail from apps on port 587 (STARTTLS) or 465 (TLS); port 25 is only for server-to-server delivery. IMAP uses 993, POP3 995. How to test each port.
~11 min14 Oct 2026IMAP and POP3 ports: 143, 993, 110, 995 explained
IMAP uses port 143, or 993 for IMAPS; POP3 uses port 110, or 995 for POP3S. What the two protocols actually do differently, and which ports a mail server should open.
~5 min14 Oct 2026MySQL port: 3306 and 33060, how to check, change and open it safely
The MySQL port is 3306 by default, plus 33060 for MySQL 8's X Protocol. Check and change it, -P vs -p, safe remote access and connection errors (111, 110).
~8 min21 Oct 2026SNMP port numbers: UDP 161, 162, 10161 and 10162 explained
The SNMP port is UDP 161 for queries and 162 for traps; 10161 and 10162 carry SNMP over TLS. Versions, firewall rules, snmpwalk tests and the risks.
~9 min21 Oct 2026Linux mail command: send email from the terminal with mail, sendmail, msmtp and swaks
The Linux mail command explained: send email from the Ubuntu terminal with mail or sendmail, relay through port 587 with msmtp, test with swaks.
~9 min22 Oct 2026ping command: options, output and why ping fails on Windows, Linux and macOS
ping HOST sends ICMP echo requests and shows each round trip in ms. Options for Windows, Linux and macOS, how to read the output, and why ping fails.
~10 min14 Oct 2026How to ping a port: test a TCP port on Windows, Linux and macOS
You can't ping a port: ping uses ICMP, which has no ports. Test a TCP port with Test-NetConnection, nc, curl or bash, and read what each result means.
~7 min21 Oct 2026telnet command: test ports, talk SMTP and HTTP, and exit
The telnet command opens a raw TCP connection to any port: install it, test a port, talk SMTP or HTTP by hand, exit with Ctrl+], and safer alternatives.
~9 min21 Oct 2026traceroute command: how to read hops, * * * and tracert on Windows
The traceroute command lists every router on the way to a host. How to read hops and * * *, use -n, -I and -T, tracert on Windows, and when to use mtr.
~10 min21 Oct 2026How to check open ports on Linux: ss, lsof, netstat, and from the outside
List listening ports with ss -tulpn, find the process behind a port with lsof, then check from outside whether the firewall really lets traffic through.
~7 min14 Oct 2026netstat command: netstat -tulpn, the ss equivalents and Windows netstat -ano
The netstat command shows listening ports and connections: netstat -tulpn and its ss equivalents, counting states, Windows netstat -ano and common errors.
~9 min21 Oct 2026Test a VPS's network: speedtest, iperf3 and mtr, and read the results honestly
Measure a server's bandwidth with speedtest and iperf3, find packet loss with mtr, and see why one test to one server says little about your users' route.
~11 min22 Oct 2026Check your IP address on Linux: ip addr, hostname -I and your public IP
ip -brief addr show lists every interface's address; hostname -I prints just the addresses. Neither shows your public IP behind NAT; curl ifconfig.me does.
~6 min14 Oct 2026Static IP address: what it is, and how to set one on Linux and Windows
A static IP stays the same every time; a dynamic one is handed out fresh. What that means in practice, and how to set a static IP with netplan, nmcli and on Windows.
~8 min14 Oct 2026Subnet cheat sheet: IPv4 masks, hosts and prefixes from /8 to /32
Every IPv4 prefix /8–/32 with its subnet mask, wildcard mask and usable host count, plus RFC 1918 private ranges and the IPv6 /64 and /48 sizes that matter.
~7 min14 Oct 2026How to disable IPv6 on Ubuntu and Linux (sysctl, GRUB, netplan)
Disable IPv6 on Ubuntu or any Linux with sysctl or the ipv6.disable=1 kernel parameter, per interface or in netplan. Verify it, undo it, or prefer IPv4.
~9 min22 Oct 2026What is TCP? The Transmission Control Protocol explained: handshake, ports and TCP vs UDP
What is TCP? The Transmission Control Protocol delivers data reliably and in order: the three-way handshake, ACKs, congestion control, ports, TCP vs UDP.
~9 min21 Oct 2026What is a proxy server? How it works, what it hides, and how to run your own
A proxy server makes requests on your behalf so sites see its IP, not yours. HTTP vs SOCKS5, what a proxy does not hide, and running a private one on a VPS.
~9 min13 Oct 2026What is a CDN? How content delivery networks work, from the origin server's side
A CDN caches your site's files on servers near your visitors: how caching, cache headers and origin pulls work, what a CDN does not do, and origin setup.
~9 min14 Oct 2026curl command examples: GET, POST, headers, auth and redirects
curl -X POST -d for form data, curl -H for headers, curl -u for basic auth, curl -L for redirects, curl -o to save a file, with the actual output of each one.
~6 min14 Oct 2026tcpdump command: examples, filters, pcap rotation and Wireshark over SSH
tcpdump examples tested on Linux: capture a port or host, filter syntax, save and rotate pcap files, spot SYN floods, stream to Wireshark over SSH.
~13 min04 Nov 2026Security and privacy
21UFW firewall setup: deny by default, open what you serve
Configure UFW the safe way: allow SSH first, open only the ports you serve, restrict sensitive ports by source, and rate-limit the noise.
~5 min05 Oct 2026fail2ban on Ubuntu and Debian: jail.local, the SSH jail, unbanning and nginx jails
Install fail2ban, put ignoreip and the sshd jail into jail.local (backend = systemd on Debian 12), check with fail2ban-client status and unban with unbanip.
~10 min14 Oct 2026ClamAV on Linux: install it, update the signatures and scan safely
ClamAV Linux guide: install on Ubuntu, Debian or Rocky, keep signatures current with freshclam, scan with clamscan or clamd, and know its limits.
~10 min22 Oct 2026What is a DDoS attack? How it works, what it looks like on a server, and what to do
A DDoS attack floods a server from many machines until real users cannot get through. Volumetric, protocol and layer 7 attacks, amplification, and what to do.
~9 min14 Oct 2026DDoS-protected VPS: what 'always-on' protection covers, and what it can't
Network DDoS mitigation stops floods before they reach your VPS, but not every attack. What it covers, what you still configure, and what to ask a host.
~9 min14 Oct 2026What is a VPN used for? How VPNs work, explained
What is a VPN used for: public Wi-Fi, private networks, a fixed exit IP. How VPNs work, what they do not hide, the protocols, and VPN vs proxy vs Tor.
~8 min22 Oct 2026Set up your own WireGuard VPN server on a VPS (Debian and Ubuntu)
Install WireGuard on Debian 12/13 or Ubuntu 24.04, create keys, enable forwarding and NAT, open UDP 51820 and connect your laptop and phone, step by step.
~12 min14 Oct 2026Tailscale exit node on a VPS: routing your traffic through a server you control
Set up a VPS as a Tailscale exit node: install, enable IP forwarding, advertise, approve, route a device through it. Exit node vs subnet router vs WireGuard.
~6 min14 Oct 2026Headscale on a VPS: your own Tailscale control server
Headscale is a self-hosted, open-source Tailscale control server. Install it on a VPS, put it behind a reverse proxy, create a user, and connect the Tailscale client.
~7 min14 Oct 2026Running a Tor relay on a VPS: middle, guard, bridge or exit
How to run a Tor relay on a VPS: what each relay type means for you and your host, torrc settings, bandwidth caps and why exits need permission.
~8 min03 Oct 2026Host a .onion site on a VPS: Tor onion service with nginx
Run a Tor onion service on a VPS: nginx on localhost, two torrc lines, where the .onion address comes from, how to stop leaks, and what the AUP allows.
~8 min10 Oct 2026Kali Linux on a VPS for pentesting: the setup that works
No Kali template? Run Kali's tools on a hardened Debian VPS in Docker, and stay inside your written scope and the host's rules while you test.
~9 min14 Oct 2026How to update Kali Linux: apt full-upgrade, sources and the new signing key
How to update Kali Linux: sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade -y, the correct kali-rolling source, the 2025 signing key fix, metapackages and reboots.
~8 min22 Oct 2026Running nmap, masscan and zmap from a VPS without getting null-routed
Why hosts null-route scanners, and how to run authorised nmap, masscan and zmap work from a VPS: exclusion lists, rate ceilings and the flags that matter.
~10 min05 Oct 2026No-KYC VPS: what it really means, and what a host still has to know
KYC is an anti-money-laundering duty most hosts are not bound by. What 'no KYC' honestly covers, why some hosts still ask for ID, and the lawful minimum.
~8 min14 Oct 2026Anonymous VPS hosting: what is actually possible, and what is not
An honest look at what a host can and cannot know about you, what your own setup leaks, and how to run a VPS that is not trivially tied to your identity.
~8 min14 Oct 2026Best offshore VPS hosting in 2026: seven providers side by side, and a buyer's checklist
Seven offshore VPS hosts side by side (jurisdiction, KYC, Monero, DMCA scope, entry price), each fact sourced and dated, then the checklist for any host.
~12 min22 Oct 2026What DMCA-ignored hosting actually means, and what it doesn't
DMCA-ignored hosting is a policy, not immunity: what a §512 notice is, what an offshore host owes it, which rules still apply, and when an offshore VPS fits.
~8 min14 Oct 2026How to buy a VPS with Bitcoin: a step-by-step walkthrough
Buying a VPS with Bitcoin, explained from plan to running server: wallet, network, fees, confirmations and what happens if you send too little.
~8 min21 Oct 2026How to pay for a VPS with Monero anonymously, step by step
Six steps to pay for a VPS with Monero without an ID check, what a host can still see, and why a Bitcoin payment is far easier to trace.
~9 min14 Oct 2026Run your own Monero node on a VPS (monerod, step by step)
Download and verify monerod, run it as a hardened systemd service, open P2P, keep RPC private and connect your wallet over an SSH tunnel or Tor.
~7 min19 Sept 2026Docker, databases and apps
28Install Docker on Ubuntu 24.04 and Debian 12/13 from the official repository
Install Docker Engine and Compose from Docker's apt repository on Ubuntu 24.04 or Debian 12/13, run it without sudo and stop it bypassing your firewall.
~11 min08 Oct 2026docker run command: ports (-p), environment variables, volumes and the entrypoint
The docker run command explained: -d, --name, -p ports and why they bypass ufw, -e and --env-file, volumes, --restart, and overriding the entrypoint.
~10 min21 Oct 2026Docker commands cheat sheet: containers, images, Compose and cleanup
docker ps, rm, rmi, compose up -d and system prune: the Docker commands used daily, grouped by containers, images, Compose and freeing up disk space.
~9 min14 Oct 2026How to stop and remove Docker containers, images and volumes
Docker remove container and image commands: docker stop, rm -f, rmi, prune with -a and --volumes, the image is being used error and docker system df.
~10 min21 Oct 2026Install MariaDB or MySQL on Ubuntu 24.04 and Debian 12/13, and secure it
Install MariaDB (Debian's default) or MySQL 8 on Ubuntu 24.04 and Debian 12/13, harden it, create an app user and allow remote access safely.
~9 min14 Oct 2026Install PostgreSQL on Ubuntu 24.04 and Debian 12/13 and allow remote connections
Install PostgreSQL from the distro or PGDG repository, create a role and database, set pg_hba.conf and listen_addresses for remote access, and back up.
~9 min14 Oct 2026How to install SQLite on Ubuntu, Debian and Windows, and use the sqlite3 shell
Install SQLite with apt install sqlite3 or winget on Windows, then use the sqlite3 shell (.tables, .mode, .import, .backup), WAL mode and Python's sqlite3.
~9 min22 Oct 2026How to install Redis on Ubuntu and Debian, and secure it
Install Redis on Ubuntu and Debian with apt or packages.redis.io, lock it to localhost with a password and ACL users, and set persistence and maxmemory.
~10 min22 Oct 2026Install MongoDB on Ubuntu and Debian: repository, mongosh and authentication
Install MongoDB 9.0 on Ubuntu 24.04 or Debian 13 (8.0 on Debian 12) from the official repo, connect with mongosh, enable authentication, keep 27017 closed.
~9 min22 Oct 2026MySQL and MariaDB: listing users and databases
SHOW DATABASES lists databases a user can see, and there is no SHOW USERS, so query mysql.user instead. How to list accounts, check their grants, and size each database.
~5 min14 Oct 2026PostgreSQL: list databases, create users and grant access in psql
Postgres list databases with \l and users with \du, create a user and a database it owns, grant access, change passwords and fix permission errors.
~13 min22 Oct 2026MySQL backup: back up and restore a database with mysqldump
MySQL backup with mysqldump or mariadb-dump: --single-transaction, gzip, restore, a cron script with rotation, offsite copies with rsync and restore tests.
~10 min22 Oct 2026Install phpMyAdmin on Ubuntu and Debian, and lock it down
Install phpMyAdmin on Ubuntu 24.04 or Debian 12/13: sudo apt install phpmyadmin, tick apache2 with Space (nginx: add a location block), then lock it down.
~11 min11 Oct 2026How to install Node.js on Ubuntu, Debian and Windows, and update Node and npm
Install Node.js the right way: NodeSource or nvm on Ubuntu and Debian, the MSI on Windows Server. Check node -v, update Node and npm, run it as a service.
~10 min21 Oct 2026How to install Python on Ubuntu and Debian: python3, venv, pip and newer versions
Install Python on Ubuntu or Debian: which python3 each release ships, apt install python3-venv python3-pip, virtual environments and newer versions.
~8 min22 Oct 2026How to check the Python version on Windows, Linux and macOS, and in code
How to check Python version: python3 --version on Linux and macOS, py --version in cmd, sys.version_info in code, plus venvs, pip and several versions.
~7 min21 Oct 2026How to install pip on Windows, Linux and macOS, and use pip install
How to install pip on Windows, Debian, Ubuntu and macOS: check with python3 -m pip --version, fix a missing pip, use pip install and upgrade pip safely.
~9 min21 Oct 2026How to install Go (Golang) on Linux and Windows, and use go install
Install Go the official way: the go.dev tarball in /usr/local/go plus PATH, apt or snap, the Windows MSI, then go install, GOBIN and cross-compiling.
~10 min22 Oct 2026How to install Java on Windows and Ubuntu: OpenJDK 21 and 25, JAVA_HOME
Install Java on Windows with the Temurin MSI or winget, and on Ubuntu or Debian with apt (OpenJDK 21, 25). Set JAVA_HOME, switch versions, match Minecraft.
~8 min22 Oct 2026How to create a new branch in Git: git switch -c, git checkout -b and git push -u
How to create a new branch in Git with git switch -c or checkout -b, from a tag or remote branch, push it with -u, delete it, and install Git on Ubuntu.
~11 min21 Oct 2026How to rename a Git branch: local, remote, and master to main
Git rename branch: git branch -m old new renames it locally. Then push the new name, delete the old one on the remote, update clones, move master to main.
~10 min21 Oct 2026Self-host n8n on a VPS with Docker Compose and HTTPS
Run n8n on your own VPS with Docker Compose, PostgreSQL and an Nginx HTTPS proxy, keep webhooks working, back up the encryption key and update safely.
~12 min14 Oct 2026Self-host Uptime Kuma on a VPS: Docker Compose, Nginx with HTTPS, alerts and backups
Run louislam/uptime-kuma:2 with Docker Compose on 127.0.0.1:3001, behind Nginx or Caddy with TLS and WebSocket headers. Then add alerts, backups and upgrades.
~10 min14 Oct 2026Open WebUI and Ollama on a VPS: a private, self-hosted chat UI
Run Ollama and Open WebUI together with Docker Compose on a VPS for a private, ChatGPT-style interface. Honest sizing for CPU-only hosting and no-GPU model limits.
~9 min14 Oct 2026Jellyfin server: install and run your own media server on Linux
Set up a Jellyfin server on Ubuntu, Debian or Docker: official repository, port 8096, library permissions, HTTPS with nginx, CPU transcoding and backups.
~10 min22 Oct 2026How to install FFmpeg on Ubuntu, Debian and Windows, and check that it works
Install FFmpeg with apt on Ubuntu and Debian, winget or a zip build on Windows, add it to PATH, check -version and encoders, then make HLS and push RTMP.
~11 min21 Oct 2026How to set up an RTMP streaming server with nginx
Set up an RTMP server with nginx on Debian 12 or Ubuntu 24.04: the rtmp block, OBS settings, HLS for browsers, a locked publish point and bandwidth math.
~8 min21 Oct 2026What is IPTV? How it works, IPTV vs OTT, and what an IPTV server needs
What is IPTV? TV delivered over IP: multicast in operator networks, HLS or DASH over the internet. How it works, IPTV vs OTT, and IPTV server bandwidth.
~9 min21 Oct 2026Game servers
19How to make a Minecraft server on a VPS: Java, RAM, ports and a systemd service
Run a Minecraft Java server on a Linux VPS: the right Java version, enough RAM, port 25565 (no router forwarding needed), a systemd service and backups.
~11 min22 Oct 2026Modded Minecraft server: Forge, Fabric and a CurseForge server pack
Download a modpack's server pack from CurseForge or Modrinth, install the matching Java version, accept the EULA, size the RAM, and run it as a systemd service.
~7 min22 Oct 2026Minecraft server IP: how to find your server address and share it
What a Minecraft server address is and how to find your server IP on a VPS or at home: ports 25565 and 19132, a domain with an SRV record, and fixes.
~8 min22 Oct 2026Terraria server hosting on Linux: dedicated server, TShock, tModLoader and port 7777
Terraria server hosting on your own VPS: the 1.4.5.8 dedicated server, serverconfig.txt, TCP 7777, tmux and systemd, TShock on .NET 9, tModLoader.
~10 min22 Oct 2026Garry's Mod server on Linux: SteamCMD, GSLT, server.cfg, Workshop and port 27015
Set up a Garry's Mod server on Linux: SteamCMD app 4020, a GSLT token, server.cfg, Workshop collections, UDP 27015, TTT or DarkRP, and systemd.
~9 min22 Oct 2026Space Engineers dedicated server on a Windows VPS: SteamCMD, ports and setup
Space Engineers server hosting on your own Windows VPS: SteamCMD app 298740, UDP 27016, the configurator, mods, auto-start, backups and RAM sizing.
~10 min22 Oct 2026Palworld dedicated server on Linux: SteamCMD, port 8211, settings and RAM
Set up a Palworld dedicated server on Ubuntu or Debian: SteamCMD app 2394010, UDP 8211, PalWorldSettings.ini, systemd, backups and honest RAM sizing.
~10 min14 Oct 2026Valheim dedicated server hosting on Linux: SteamCMD, ports 2456–2457, crossplay and backups
Run a Valheim 1.0 dedicated server on Linux: SteamCMD app 896660, UDP 2456–2457 or -crossplay, a systemd unit that saves on stop, world files and backups.
~9 min14 Oct 2026Enshrouded dedicated server: Windows VPS setup, enshrouded_server.json and port 15637
Host an Enshrouded dedicated server on a Windows VPS: SteamCMD app 2278520, UDP port 15637, enshrouded_server.json user groups, autostart and backups.
~10 min14 Oct 2026Satisfactory dedicated server on Linux: SteamCMD, ports 7777 and 8888, RAM and claiming
Run a Satisfactory dedicated server on Linux: SteamCMD app 1690800, ports 7777 TCP/UDP and 8888 TCP, RAM for the late game, claiming, systemd and backups.
~10 min14 Oct 2026ARK: Survival Ascended dedicated server on a Windows VPS: setup, ports, RAM and clusters
The ASA dedicated server (Steam app 2430930) is Windows-only. Set it up on a Windows VPS: SteamCMD, runtimes, UDP 7777, GameUserSettings.ini and 16 GB+ RAM.
~9 min14 Oct 2026Rust server hosting on your own VPS: SteamCMD, ports, wipes and how much RAM
Host a Rust server on your own Linux VPS: SteamCMD app 258550, launch flags, ports 28015 to 28017 and 28082, wipes, Oxide or Carbon, and honest RAM sizing.
~11 min14 Oct 20267 Days to Die dedicated server on Linux: SteamCMD 294420, serverconfig.xml, ports and a safe telnet
Set up a 7 Days to Die dedicated server on Linux: SteamCMD app 294420, serverconfig.xml, ports 26900-26902, safe telnet, systemd and RAM by map size.
~10 min14 Oct 2026Project Zomboid dedicated server hosting on Linux: SteamCMD 380870, UDP 16261-16262, RAM, admin and mods
Host a Project Zomboid dedicated server on Linux: SteamCMD app 380870, UDP 16261-16262, -Xmx in ProjectZomboid64.json, admin password, mods and systemd.
~11 min14 Oct 2026How to set up a FiveM server on a Linux VPS: FXServer, txAdmin, port 30120 and MariaDB
Set up a FiveM server on Linux: the recommended FXServer artifact, txAdmin on 40120, a Cfx.re Portal key, port 30120 TCP and UDP, OneSync, MariaDB for QBCore.
~10 min14 Oct 2026DayZ server hosting: set up a DayZ dedicated server on Linux or Windows
DayZ server hosting on your own VPS: SteamCMD app 223350 with a game-owning login, serverDZ.cfg, ports 2302 and 27016, mods, BattlEye and restarts.
~10 min22 Oct 2026Arma 3 server hosting on Linux and Windows: SteamCMD, server.cfg, ports 2302 to 2306 and mods
Arma 3 server hosting on your own VPS: SteamCMD app 233780 with a Steam login, server.cfg, UDP 2302 to 2306, mods and keys, headless clients.
~10 min22 Oct 2026TeamSpeak server on Linux: install TeamSpeak 3, open the ports, become admin
Run your own TeamSpeak 3 server on a Linux VPS: version 3.13.8, licence, systemd, ports 9987 and 30033, the privilege key, backups and the TS6 beta.
~9 min22 Oct 2026Host a Discord bot 24/7 on a VPS (discord.js or discord.py)
Run a discord.js or discord.py bot around the clock on a Linux VPS: install the runtime, keep the token out of the code and restart it with systemd or PM2.
~8 min14 Oct 2026Hosting basics and providers
17What is a VPS? Virtual private servers explained, and how to choose one
A VPS is a virtual machine you rent with its own OS, IP address and root access. How it works, VPS vs shared and dedicated, sizing, and the first steps.
~9 min14 Oct 2026What is a dedicated server? Bare metal explained, and what to check before renting one
A dedicated server is a whole physical machine rented to one customer: no neighbours, no hypervisor. What you get, how it differs from a VPS, what to check.
~8 min14 Oct 2026What is web hosting? Hosting types, and domain vs hosting explained
Domain vs hosting: the domain is your site's address, hosting is the server that stores and serves it. Web hosting meaning, types and how DNS links them.
~7 min21 Oct 2026CPU cores vs threads: what the difference means, and what a vCPU is
Cores vs threads: a core is a physical unit, a thread is a logical CPU that SMT (Hyper-Threading) adds. What a VPS vCPU is and how to count both on Linux.
~8 min21 Oct 2026What is virtualization? Virtual machines, containers and the types in between
Virtualization splits one physical machine into many virtual ones: server, OS-level, storage and network virtualization, VMs vs containers, and VPS hosting.
~8 min14 Oct 2026What is a hypervisor? Type 1 vs type 2, and how virtual machines really run
A hypervisor creates and runs virtual machines. Type 1 vs type 2, how VT-x and AMD-V make it fast, KVM vs Hyper-V vs ESXi, and how to tell which one you run on.
~9 min14 Oct 2026What is KVM? The Linux hypervisor behind most VPS hosting, explained
KVM is the hypervisor built into the Linux kernel. How it works with QEMU and libvirt, how to check for it and create a VM, and what a KVM VPS is.
~9 min14 Oct 2026What is Proxmox VE? The free hypervisor behind most self-managed VM hosts
Proxmox VE is a free, open-source Debian-based hypervisor that runs KVM VMs and LXC containers from a web UI. What it is, what it costs, when to run it.
~5 min14 Oct 2026How to install Proxmox VE 9 on a dedicated server (ISO or Debian 13)
How to install Proxmox VE 9: ISO or Debian 13, hostname and repository, vmbr0 on a rented server, securing port 8006 and the VMware import wizard.
~9 min22 Oct 2026What is Hyper-V? Microsoft's hypervisor explained, with the commands to use it
Hyper-V is the type 1 hypervisor in Windows Server and Windows Pro: enable it with one PowerShell command, pick Gen 1 or 2, and why bare metal suits it.
~9 min14 Oct 2026What is NVMe? Why NVMe SSDs are faster than SATA, and what it means on a server
NVMe is the protocol fast SSDs use over PCIe: 64K queues instead of SATA's one. Why it is faster, form factors, NVMe on Linux, and what a VPS actually sees.
~8 min14 Oct 2026What is ECC memory? How error-correcting RAM works and how to check for it
ECC memory corrects single-bit errors and detects double-bit ones before they corrupt data. How it works, why servers use it, DDR5 on-die ECC, how to check.
~8 min14 Oct 2026What is RAID? RAID storage levels 0, 1, 5, 6 and 10 explained
RAID storage combines several disks into one for speed, redundancy or both: RAID 0, 1, 5, 6 and 10 compared, hardware vs software RAID, checking an array.
~8 min22 Oct 2026What is block storage? Block vs file vs object storage, and using a volume on Linux
Block storage presents raw disk blocks your server formats itself: how it differs from file and object storage, and how to format, mount and grow a volume.
~8 min14 Oct 2026Moving a website from shared hosting to a VPS without downtime
Inventory, TTLs, rsync, mysqldump and a cutover you test before DNS changes: the staged migration that moves a site onto a VPS with no visible downtime.
~11 min03 Oct 2026Server migration checklist: move to a new VPS with near-zero downtime
Migrate a server to a new VPS with near-zero downtime: inventory, lower the DNS TTL, rsync files, dump databases, test via hosts file, sync again, switch DNS.
~12 min14 Oct 2026Proxmox helper scripts: what they run on your host, and how to pin them
Proxmox VE helper scripts run as root on your host: what a script does, how to read and pin it to a commit, what post-install changes and how to roll back.
~12 min04 Nov 2026