Ubuntu
Ubuntu Server notes: initial setup, updates, hardening, networking and services, tested on current LTS releases.
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Server Migration: Build a Full Test Copy Before You Touch DNS
Moving a forum, WordPress, Nextcloud and mail off a dead Plesk box: pull with ssh -A, test via hosts file, doveadm imapc for mail, then the delta cutover.
Running Linux -
The First Hour on a New VPS: IPv6, Reverse DNS and Port 25
Fresh Ubuntu 24.04 VPS: IPv6 that cloud-init didn't set, swap, SSH keys only, a provider mail block on port 25, PTR records, then KeyHelp on top.
Running Linux -
Daylight Saving Time on Servers: What Actually Breaks When the Clocks Change
Clocks went back tonight. What DST does to cron jobs, systemd timers, logs, databases, backups and game server restarts, and why my servers all run on UTC.
Running Linux -
php2shell: Your Host Is Patched, Your Docker Containers Probably Aren't
PHP shipped an emergency fix for CVE-2026-109618/109619. How I checked which of my servers were really patched, and why the Docker containers were not.
Running Security -
Moving Mailboxes Off a Shared Host: imapsync, DNS and the Outlook Autodiscover Trap
How I moved a small business mail domain to my own server: imapsync in Docker, delta syncs, MX/SPF/DKIM cutover, and why Outlook ignored my autoconfig.
Running Linux -
KeyHelp: The Free Plesk Alternative I Moved To (and Its API Traps)
Plesk license expired, panel dead. I moved to KeyHelp: non-interactive install, one client per company, and the API gotchas that cost me hours.
Running Linux -
Running PHP 7.4, 8.3 and 8.4 Side by Side on One Server
One server, three apps, three PHP versions: PHP-FPM per version, one pool per site, a handler per vhost and the right CLI binary for every cron job.
Running Linux -
systemd Timers Instead of cron
Replace cron jobs with systemd timers — .timer + .service pairs, OnCalendar syntax, Persistent catch-up, journald logging, and when cron is still fine.
Running Linux -
Enshrouded Dedicated Server on Linux — SteamCMD, Wine, and the RAM Reality
Run an Enshrouded dedicated server on Ubuntu via SteamCMD + Wine. Systemd unit, ports, the real RAM requirement, save backups, and the gotchas the wiki skips.
Running Gameserver -
bpftrace One-Liners I Actually Use on Production Linux
Eight bpftrace one-liners that replace half of strace, iotop, and tcpdump without the perf hit. Real tracing for sysadmins on modern kernels.
Running Linux -
Caddy vs Nginx — When 5 Lines Beats certbot + Cron
Honest take on Caddy vs Nginx for small servers. Auto-HTTPS Caddyfile in 5 lines vs nginx + certbot. Where each one actually wins.
Running Linux -
Satisfactory Dedicated Server on Linux — Native, Lightweight, and Boring (in the Best Way)
Set up a Satisfactory dedicated server on Ubuntu via SteamCMD. Native Linux build (no Wine), small RAM footprint, ports, claim flow, save backups.
Running Gameserver -
ARK Survival Ascended Dedicated Server on Linux — Wine, 16 GB RAM, and Patience
How to run an ARK Survival Ascended dedicated server on Ubuntu via SteamCMD and Wine. Real RAM requirements, ports, mods via CurseForge, weekly restart strategy.
Running Gameserver -
Restic Backups to S3 / MinIO — Encrypted, Deduplicated, Restore-Tested
Real backup setup with Restic — encrypted offsite to S3 or self-hosted MinIO, dedup, retention, and the restore-drill that proves your backups actually work.
Running Linux -
Proxmox + Cloud-Init — Spinning Up an Ubuntu VM in 30 Seconds
Build a reusable Ubuntu cloud-image template on Proxmox with cloud-init. Clone, set hostname, IP, SSH key, boot — full VM in under a minute. The setup I run on node1.
Running Linux -
Netdata on Ubuntu — Live Server Metrics in 5 Minutes
Install Netdata on Ubuntu for per-second server metrics. Install, bind to localhost, SSH-tunnel the dashboard, ship alerts to Discord.
Running Linux -
WireGuard VPN on Ubuntu — the Setup I Actually Use
Minimal WireGuard setup on Ubuntu. Server config, one client, UFW rule, QR code for the phone. The version I run on my home-lab jumpbox.
Running Security -
Valheim Dedicated Server on Linux — the One Thing People Get Wrong
Valheim dedicated server on Ubuntu via SteamCMD. Systemd unit, port 2456-2458, the SteamAppId thing that trips everyone up, backups that actually survive crashes.
Running Gameserver -
SSH Hardening Checklist for Ubuntu Servers
Lock down SSH on Ubuntu 24.04 without locking yourself out: keys only, no root, the cloud-init drop-in trap, socket activation, verification.
Running Linux -
Palworld Dedicated Server on Linux with SteamCMD
Palworld dedicated server on Ubuntu via SteamCMD: native Linux build, systemd unit, the empty PalWorldSettings.ini trap, steamclient.so fix, backups.
Running Linux