One of my stranger hobbies is setting up servers to host websites.
There are 2 reasons for this: the first is the beauty of watching a pile of hardware with a terminal interface transform into a polished, sophisticated graphical interface.
The second reason is that I set up a server properly once, and it keeps generating steady monthly income from a satisfied client.
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This server is being used to host a web application.
The setup process involved the following steps:
- Installing AlmaLinux 9
- Installing the WHM web hosting platform
- Connecting a domain to Cloudflare
- Pointing the domain to the server via DNS
- Setting up a cPanel hosting account
- Enabling brute-force attack protection
- Blocking geo-locations to restrict geographic access to the server
- Configuring automatic local backups at the hosting provider
- Installing the JetBackup backup system
- Configuring automatic backups to a remote server
- Enabling two-factor authentication for access to the management interface
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A good server isn't an expensive thing. You simply need to set it up carefully, with the right tools, and without cutting corners.
If you're also struggling with a website that generates mostly headaches and costs a fortune, here's a tip from me — your solution lies in the server.
Pictured: before and after.
From an initial terminal interface over SSH, to a fully graphical, advanced WHM platform at the end of the process.