Thanks To:

MGLim [me] for starting this guide
Prof CPLim [dad] complaining that the old server was too slow and offering to test the usability
YOU for reading this and supporting this project.

Why this guide?

Simple. Minimalistic is what I like. VPS? Shared Hosting? I have tried and fed up with preinstalled rubbish i have to deal with on the machine itself. So I ventured into Cloud Computing: using rackspacecloud. There are other good alternatives such as slicehost or amazon EC2. Rackspacecloud have relatively low pricing structure at 0.01 cents per hour, so you can spawn as many machines as you like. I used ubuntu linux, as I am familar with the environment and commands. Slick and nice, does the job and supported by millions.

LAMP server! Linux, Apache Lighttpd, MySQL, Php

With simple tools, you can control many. With complicated tools, you can control one; as simple as that.
So I am going with

  • ubuntu linux server edition 9.10,
  • Lighttpd (webserver used by youtube meebo wikimedia),
  • MySQL (nuff said),
  • Php.

Other applications I feel vital are,

  • vsftpd,
  • python,
  • sqlite,
  • wordpress

This will arm yourself with a typical but essential server that will do most of what 98% of the internet world is doing.

What about mail server?

Ahh. clever. I have tried that as well. Installing postgress + dovecot + courier + mysql. The setup is horrendous. Unless you have a few admins, minions to spare or have 3 brains 6 arms; stay well clear. If you must, try iredmail [Google code]. I will still advise mail servers to be installed on a separate server by itself. It has a high chance of screwing up your configs.
So What I am doing? Use Google Apps to host 50 free email accounts. Effectively its a personal mail server that hosts (xxxxxx@yourdomain.com) 7gb free, upgradable to 25gb. Mine is a small development group so 50 is enough. If you are running a medium – big company. dun be stingy. pay google 50usd per account to sort out the problems.

So What will I have after doing all this?

You will have, if you do not get into too much problems:

  • A fast!! working lighttpd Web Server (hosting yourdomain.com)
  • A working mail server (hosting yourname@yourdomain.com) which links to gmail and supports IMAP, POP, SMTP (Powered by Google APPs Standard, so no SPAM hurray!)
  • Some security on your private server
  • A working cloud server that has ondemand backup or scheduled backup
  • Web Server supports PHP MYSQL
  • Wordpress installations that can be updated via FTP
  • FTP server linking to your web server

How to use this guide?

Just follow the “>” into your command line terminal. “[]” Represents comments that I make. It should be quite straight forward. If you get into problems or have suggestions: post a comment
This Guide used:

  • RackspaceCloud Hosting [256mb ram / 10gb HDD]
  • Ubuntu Linux Server 9.10 / 9.04
  • Php 5.2.x, Mysql 5.x, LightTPD 1.5
  • Wordpress 2.8.4 / 2.9.x
  • 4x Wordpress websites with moderate traffic [apparently lightTPD server can handle 10k connections/per without breaking a sweat]

I would presume that the follow would work on most configurations. The setups are done simply and mostly default. So it would work if your version is not too far behind or forward in time.
Before we start, I assume you have account with RackspaceCloud. (other providers or personal machine may work; but I will be biased towards my installation methods).

How you can help?

  • Help find problems in this guide?
  • Suggest simpler methods
  • Try the guide and let us know your experience
  • Make a donation to ensure this website goes on

To-Add

Configuring mysql

Installing wordpress 2.9.x on your new machine [problems on mod-rewrite url is odd]

[Changing hostname]

[rkhunter]

References

https://help.ubuntu.com/9.10/serverguide/C/index.html

virtualbox
ubuntu.com 9.10 desktop iso

Version History

0.1.4 Added UFW
0.1.3 Added new problem for lighttpd
0.1.2 Added FTPS with VSFTPD (Very Secure FTP Daemon)
0.1.1 Added Chkrootkit
0.1.0 Finalised on creating 3 test sites. Added new commands
0.0.10 Added new notes for wordpress
0.0.9 Added lightly configuration
0.0.8 Add [skeleton]
0.0.7 Cleaned up guide to make it more readable
0.0.6 Added [DNS settings]
0.0.5 [Created domain user]
0.0.4 Added [vsftpd][Google apps setup]
0.0.3 Added [setting local]
0.0.2 Added [updating time]
0.0.1 Created new instance.