UPDATE: How-to Install/Upgrade Nginx to 0.7.62 - VPS Bible
VPS Bible Reflects New Nginx/WordPress Versions, with Future Commitment
The VPS Bible has been updated to reflect the latest stable Nginx release - 0.7.62 - the effect that this has on the overall setup and, while we're about it, the latest stable WordPress release too.
You may have noted this on the relevent Bible post comment sections but I figured it was important enough to post up as well, particularly for those of you wondering how to upgrade an existing installation as I've got some news about that too.
Basically, bozo-here upgraded the Bible last week to reflect Nginx' up-to-date release, then forgot to mention it.
Apologies for any confusion to those folks who wondered why the version had changed overnight, and what if anything that meant ..
the_guv's sistasite: Setup The Ultimate VPS
"Blank box to top-notch web server"
- plain English copy/paste tutorials with video
- written for VPS beginners and Linux newbies
- perfect for multiple sites, blogs & more
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Ubuntu & Debian, Nginx (beats Apache), MySQL, PHP-FPM, Xcache, WordPress, WP MU, Drupal etccccc
Set Up an Unmanaged VPS (4 Newbies) .. The V-P-S Bible
In 20 copy/paste steps .. from zero to hero, blank box to cute-as Linux server.
Scroll down for the full series index.
So, hey, shed shared & viva virtual! Hope it helps. the_guv
Nginx Upgrade Impacts fastCGI File (libfcgi0 > libfcgi0ldbl)
Actually, the change did impact one thing. In the section Serve Multiple Sites & Blogs with Virtual Hosts, the fastCGI shared library file libfcgi0 became obsolete, now replaced by libfcgi0ldbl, but anyone installing from the VPS Bible would have been prompted about this newly recommended file .. I know because I tested it, and have had confirmation from Zereshk who followed this guide and kindly nudged me to amend that post, which I have.
WordPress Instructions Reflect An Upgrade Too
For those of you with WP blogs, you probably know they have upgrades pretty much every week.
While I've reflected the latest stable release as well, in WordPress Setup & Updates from the Command Line, for this particular platform you are encouraged to check for upgrades, for reasons of security, which you can do once it's installed anyway, and would be prompted to do in the WP Admin pages.
You may like to read my Video How-to: 10 Tips To Make WordPress Hack-Proof, which gives some WP-endorsed security tips. Specifically on a note about upgrading, you may also like to peek at my cautionary tale about WP upgrading in The Fine Art of WP Upgrades. Wait up! .. for the record, I'm using the very latest WordPress release and it's playing fair.
VPS Bible: guv's Commitment To Stay Up-To-Date With VPS Upgrades
As Nginx or any other key application stable releases are upgraded, I'll be amending the Bible accordingly, the changes tested each time. I won't necessarily do this immediately a new stable release is available. My experience is that new stable releases are often, er, not!
Also, for the record, and as has been rightly requested by one or two folks, I'll be adding a Guide to Upgrade an Existing Nginx Installation Safely in the VPS Admin section, pretty shortly, so watch for that.
Cheers all.
the_guv
SETUP an Unmanaged VPS (4 Newbies) .. The V-P-S Bible
Serve multi sites & blogs on a budget .. at the fastest possible speed .. with the least downtime .. in the most secure environment .. and future-proofed for easy admin.
That's what the VPS Bible is about, stepped out in simple copy & paste guides.
From high traffic WordPress blogs to startup web hosts, here's what you need.
Click here if you're running a LINUX PC locally
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Setup Unmanaged VPS: The Ubuntu-Nginx Guide
Introducing vpsBible's how-to guide for setting up a super-charged unmanaged VPS featuring Ubuntu and Nginx.
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VPS (Virtual Private Server) vs Shared vs Dedicated
Before getting stuck in, let's compare the web host types in detail and weigh up the differences between managed & unmanaged VPS.
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Set Up a VPS Linux Distribution
Opening a VPS hosting account, we'll choose, configure & launch a Linux server 'distribution'.
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Set Up Command Line Interface (CLI) using PuTTY
Now we've got a server to play with, we'll connect to it, using the 'ssh' protocol for a super-secure link.
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Create a Linux User & Set Permissions
Initially you've logged into your remote Linux machine as 'root'. We'll add you as a user now, with root or SuperUser permissions.
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Encrypt Data with OpenSSH & Auto-Login with PuTTY
Now we can use 'authentication keys' to shore up our connection while simplifying login to an automated, password-free yet secure process.
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Harden the Secure Shell (SSH) & Create a Firewall
The final security step: galvanizing the OpenSSH protocol and setting up an ‘iptables’ firewall. Now the server is rock ruddy solid.
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Edit bashrc for User-Friendly Linux, plus System Updates
We use the terminal a whole lot so let's cut ourselves a break and create some command shortcuts, then update the server.
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Add a Domain Zone to Your VPS
To make your server aware of yourDomain.com you'll need a few 'DNS' records. Damn this is simple I'm practically asleep!
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Prepare Linux Server for Email with Postfix
In order to send and receive email from our web applications we'll install some software and tweak the 'RDNS' record.
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Install PHP5 & MySQL – The One-Stop FastCGI Index Page
Add PHP5 & MySQL, but which FastCGI method is best? Here's the benchmarking, 4 ways to install/compile, add caching modules & more.
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Nginx (better than Apache) Web Server
Let's install this supersonic web server, tweaking its file structure & adding default configuration files.
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Setup FileZilla for Secure FTP (SFTP)
There's FTP, and then there's 'Secure FTP'. We'll set up FileZilla using SFTP - and those authentication keys - for secure file transfers.
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Serve Multiple Sites & Blogs with Virtual Hosts
We want a website folder structure, some permissions, some site-specific configuration files and, hey, we'll hook up 'FastCGI'.
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Adding Sub-Domains with Nginx
Need a sub-domain? If you do, here’s how to add subDomain.yourSite.com with an 'A record' and a configuration file.
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Integrate A CMS Like WordPress, WP MU, Drupal etc
For those of you wanting to use a specific content framework, such as a CMS, blogging or forum software, pop in here and we'll sort that out.
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Configure phpMyAdmin for Nginx to Maintain MySQL
Rather than have to crunch databases via the command line, we can make life easier by adding this splendid tool to manage them.
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Google Apps for Domain-Specific Email
GA’s free Standard Edition for catchall webmail - POP-ping or IMAP-ped to your desktop client - saves precious server resources for your webs.
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Moving Day! How to Move Your Blog or Site
Nearly there. Here's the web site or blog migration guide, relocating to your VPS with minimal or no downtime.
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Appendix 1a: Nginx Control Panel
You’re migrating shared-to-VPS and want a GUI like cPanel? No you don’t, not after you read this! What’s more, you don’t need one either.
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Appendix 1b: Nginx Control Panel Workarounds
For every control panel module there's an equivalent terminal command. They're all linked from here so, hey, no excuses!
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Appendix 2: Add Web Sites Nginx Cheatsheet
Once you’ve set up your first site, adding more gets easier. Especially when you can refer to this. (Let's face it, I'm just too good to you.)
If you liked that ...
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VPS Bible Updated with New Nginx/WordPress Versions
The VPS Bible has been updated - and fully tested - to reflect the latest stable releases for Nginx (0.7.64) and WordPress (2.9.1). Dependency packages remain the same. The test, meanwhile, which followed the entire [...] -
Set Up Unmanaged VPS (4 Newbies) - Part 14: Tweak Nginx for WordPress - Pretty URLs & WP Super Cache
For the blog platform WordPress to work properly with Nginx we need to tweak the web server configuration. This tutorial will enable both caching - integrating the WP Super Cache plugin - and activate pretty [...] -
Set Up Unmanaged VPS (4 Newbies) .. The V-P-S Bible
Welcome to the_guv's 20 part VPS how-to bible, complete with video tutorials. If you are outgrowing your shared host, are paying big bucks for a managed VPS or want to rightsize from an old dedicated plan, this [...] -
Maintain Unmanaged VPS - Part 1: Add Web Sites Nginx Cheatsheet
Create additional sites & blogs quickly & easily. After creating the DNS entries, just add a vhost file, its symlink, restart Nginx and go play. OK. So I did this guide already, already! But as this is one [...] -
Maintain Unmanaged VPS - Part 2: Adding Sub-Sites with Nginx
Create sub-sites or prefixed WordPress blogs quickly & easily. Just create an A record, add a vhost file & symlink and restart Nginx. This is very similar to adding a domain, which is detailed here and [...] -
Set Up Unmanaged VPS (4 Newbies) - Part 15: WordPress Setup & Updates from the Command Line
This how-to guide uses Subversion to download & install standalone WordPress blogs & their plugins, quickly and easily from your Linux command line interface, with simple updates thereafter. It also [...]
Ben January 4th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Happy New Year Guv!
Got to say, thanks to your blog I've sucessfully part moved my sites from an unreliable shared host, to a very good VPS provider. I'm totally glad I came across your site as I didnt want to move to a shared host again, as one site regularly crashed the shared one as its a busy forum.
Anyway, regarding the post above about blogging about keeping your VPS applications updated would be very welcome. Would there also be a chance of blogging about backing up your VPS? On cpanel, it was very easy to take a full backup snapshot in a couple of clicks (files, db's, settings, emails etc) and it would download a zip file. I'm reading up on doing an rsync backup and crontabing it automatically - as my host provides backup space on a separate mount......but I'd still like to take a daily snapshot to my desktop (if poss???).
Anyway, keep up the good work.
Ben.
the_guv January 9th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
@Ben .. HNY to you too, and thank you.
Yes, I do have a bunch more VPS Admin tutorials to set out, including this one which is actually written or, well, drafted. Please bear with me.
Basically an rsync cron is what you need. Don't forget the db too - likely more important .. this is covered already in some VPS Admin tutorial here.