One VPS to Rule Them All

For the past three years, I’ve been on quite the adventure with my trusty $5/month VPS. It’s like the Swiss Army knife of servers, juggling everything from static websites to a Nextcloud server and even an email server. Let’s take a look at my setup and some of the measures I’ve taken to build a spaceship with a toaster.

NOTE: A spaceship unless you want to run docker. You can’t fit a fuging whale 🐳 inside a toaster

TOC

• Main features
  • Hosting Static Websites
  • Nextcloud Server
  • Email Server
• Security Measures
  • HTTPS Redirection
  • SSH Key Authentication
  • Automatic Certificate Renewal
  • Auto Package Updates
• Conclusion

Main features

Hosting Static Websites

There’s no much mystery to this. I simply serve all my static sites with nginx. I also have them setup so that http always redirects to https.

Nextcloud Server

Nextcloud is my digital filing cabinet—perfect for file synchronization and sharing. Arguably the only “bloated” part of my setup, but also pretty powerful. Hosting it on my VPS gives me control over my data while accessing it from anywhere. The installation was a breeze, also because I had nginx setup prior to this.

Email Server

Setting up an email server can be daunting, but with the right tools, it’s achievable. I configured my server using the emailwiz script, which simplifies the installation of Postfix, Dovecot, SpamAssassin, and OpenDKIM. This ensures secure and private communication. I managed to set it up so that it admits multiple domains. Took me some time but it was worth it!

Security Measures

HTTPS Redirection

To enhance security, all my Nginx-hosted websites automatically redirect HTTP traffic to HTTPS. This ensures that all data transmitted between users and the server is encrypted, protecting against potential eavesdropping.

SSH Key Authentication

I set up my server to allow only SSH key-based authentication. Goodbye, brute-force attacks! I also have a backup plan with two-factor authentication (2FA) through my VPS provider—because God forbid I lose access to my keys…

Automatic Certificate Renewal

I use Certbot for automatic SSL certificate renewal, which means I don’t have to stress about certificates expiring. The renewal process is managed by cron jobs, keeping everything seamless. It’s like having a personal assistant who never takes a coffee break!

Auto Package Updates

To ensure my server is always up to date with the latest security patches and features, I set up automatic package updates. This minimizes vulnerabilities and keeps my services running smoothly.

Conclusion

This three-year journey has been a wild ride into the world of VPS hosting. With a simple setup, I’m able to host multiple services securely and efficiently. Whether you want to run static websites, a cloud server, or manage your email with multi-domain support, a single VPS can truly do it all—especially at the price of a fancy coffee!

NOTE (AGAIN): Unless you want to run docker. You can’t fit a fuging whale 🐳 inside a toaster