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What (Else) Should I Do after Setting Up my Ubuntu Server?

May 17, 2013 3.2k

Hi, I have just finished setting up my Ubuntu server (thanks for the guides here! :) ) for my multiple websites. I understand that there is *still* much to be done before I can even start working on the websites and so I read a bit more and have the following questions... 1. Should I even use phpMyAdmin? I heard that it provides a convenient way to manage databases (I am going to need to input a lot of data; every bit of convenience counts!) but there seem to be lots of security issues with it. 2. How do I use cron jobs to my advantage? I understand that they can help me do certain administrative tasks (especially updates) but I am not sure where to start learning more about them... 3. What/How should I monitor my server? 4. Should I install ClamAV or TripWire for the server? 5. How should I "harden" my Apache server? Thanks!

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5 Answers

kamaln7 MOD May 17, 2013

1. As you like. I personally have a separate locked-down phpmyadmin droplet.

2. http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/define-cron-crond-and-cron-jobs/

3. You can use a service like pingdom to get notified if your server goes down.

4. As you wish.

5. There's a lot of information about that on the internet: https://encrypted.google.com/search?q=how+to+secure+apache

c0smicalninja May 20, 2013

If possible, replace Apache with Nginx if you're paranoid over security, especially, if you run a PHP website.

victoriousrock May 20, 2013

@Kamal:

1. Hmmm... How would that droplet be able to control the MySQL servers in other droplets?

2. Ah I see, thanks!

3. Pingdom is too expensive for my usage (but I have managed to find free services like StatusCake). Am I right to say that it is possible to do everything using Apache's features? Or should I just leave it to such services for efficiency?

4, 5. Ok then :)

@Dave Smith: I am not sure if my websites will be purely PHP though so I am going to stick with Apache

kamaln7 MOD May 23, 2013

1. You just give it access to mysql (https://www.digitalocean.com/community/articles/how-to-create-a-new-user-and-grant-permissions-in-mysql) and install phpmyadmin on it so you can connect to the other db server.

3. There are many free alternatives out there such as StatusCake and Uptime Robot.

victoriousrock May 28, 2013

Thanks, will go check those out too :)

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