Level 88
This is a really good site: https://serversforhackers.com/
2 likes
Jun 28, 2015
9
Level 7
Where to start learning server management
Having rolled into web design and web development (10 yrs now) I still lack knowledge about servers. Until now, I develop locally on MAMP, AMPS and Homestead and just upload projects by FTP to simple shared webhosts. Never have had the need to do anything command line, server set up, ssh, etc. for the 50-80 sites I've build.
But I can see the issues with such an approach. FTP-ing files to a server with a live site has its drawbacks.
So I watched all Laracasts on Forge, https://laracasts.com/series/server-management-with-forge but most of it is way over my head. They are good screencasts, but you first have to understand the underlying things.
Where could I start learning this stuff? What are the essentials? Some good books or sites recommended?
Level 22
You can try serversforhackers if you enjoy video tuts. Or go for the book. There is a lot of essential stuff to build reliable and safe servers.
Level 7
Thanks, that looks like a good resource. Maybe a bit too advanced still, but definitely something I'll check out.
Level 65
Most people who use Forge do NOT know how to setup those things manually. It does however require you to know a little about what it's doing. Most of it is not even server related but PHP/Nginx.
I pretty much learnt myself by having multiple servers and reading tutorials from Google and questions on http://unix.stackexchange.com
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Level 47
I would just jump in a give it a shot. Make a simple project, get a DigitalOcean account and go. DigitalOcean is nice because they only charge you for the time your servers are up and they make it extremely easy to create a new VPS. This means that if you totally mess up your Droplet (VPS), you can just delete it and start a new one in about a minutes time with no charge. They also have fairly good documentation, but some of it is outdated and I find it a little unorganized and hard to navigate.
1 like
Level 2
You can also view the following series:
Sysadmin Casts - bite-sized sysadmin screencasts (released weekly)
This serie didn't publish since april but I think is a must review :)
That and the Servers For Hackers are amazing.
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Level 7
@bashy yes I guess the reason Forge exists is to make it easier, not having to set up servers by hand. My problem is that I don't even know what most of the basic concepts mean or how they generally work, so every minute or few minutes in watching the Laracasts on Forge I'm like "wth is he talking about?".
If Jeffrey or Taylor say "Now we -simply-/ -just- create an ssh key by doing ..", I'm like "what is an ssh key and how does that even work?" Etc.
@zachleigh I might do that at some point. However, I first need at least some basic knowledge.
@cloud4bpm thanks for the link, I'll also check those out.
Level 47
If you want to learn basic Linux stuff, this course is pretty good (and free). https://www.edx.org/course/introduction-linux-linuxfoundationx-lfs101x-2
Level 8
If you're on OSX, you're essentially already on a server (Apple's server software is basically a GUI to make some of your life easier).
If you"re on a *nix/*bsd distro then you are doing what OSX can do without the hardware buy-in.
I'd say the easiest start is with a the above 2 options. Next would be trying to get vagrant running.
Then you move on to DigitalOcean or another such service. The real benefit of having an outside hosted server to work which is to force you to get used to working with the command line.
Steps:
- installing all of the requirements to get a web hosting site ready to run
- securing your installs
- Installing Gitlab ... or something that you might need
- getting your hosting environments working with multiple domains.
- what ever you are trying to achieve
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