Tutorials
Tutorials we ran before we wrote them.
Every command here was run on a real machine first, and the output you see is what came back. Including the errors, because that’s where most tutorials leave you stuck. Want the bigger picture first? Start with the guides.
Before you start
What you need
- A Linux server you can log in to as root, or as a user with sudo. Any provider works; the steps are not specific to us.
- A terminal with SSH. Windows 10 and 11, macOS and Linux all have one built in (how to connect).
- Ten to thirty minutes for most tutorials.
How each tutorial works
- The short answer comes first, so you can skip ahead if you know the basics.
- Commands are ready to copy, followed by the output a real machine printed.
- The errors you are most likely to hit are shown with their cause and the fix.
Do it safely
- Practise on a fresh server first. An hourly server you delete afterwards bills only the hours it ran.
- When changing SSH or firewall settings, keep a second session open until you have tested a new login.
- Read a command before you paste it, ours included.
SSH and access
Create SSH keys, log in from Windows, macOS or Linux, and get back in when a login stops working.
Security hardening
Close the doors automated attacks try first: key-only SSH, fewer open ports, and security updates that install themselves.
- SSH hardeningDisable root login and passwords, and change the SSH port on Ubuntu 22.04 and 24.04 without locking yourself out. Tested steps and a free sshd checker.14 min read
- Unattended upgradesTurn on unattended-upgrades on Ubuntu 22.04 and 24.04, choose what it installs and when it reboots, then prove it runs. Free one-paste checker inside.12 min read
Docker and apps
Install and run software cleanly: Docker and Compose, self-hosted apps, and keeping them running after a reboot.
Networking and VPN
Private tunnels, VPNs, ports and firewalls: route your traffic through your own server.
Troubleshooting
Search by the exact error message: what causes it, how to confirm the cause, and the fix.
Practise on a server you can throw away.
Hourly billing capped at the monthly price, paid from a crypto balance. Break it, delete it, deploy a fresh one. Billing stops when you delete it.