How I created this blog

Still in progress:

1- Get a VPS:

There are so many options, AWS, GCP, OVH, etc. I used OVH as it was pretty cheap initially and chose the most basic VPS. I use Debian as OS.

https://www.ovh.co.uk/vps/

2- Get a domain

There are many place to buy domains, you dont need anything fancy and spend big. Just google. I used OVH too

https://www.ovh.co.uk/domains/

3- Install LAMP

I used several links.

https://linuxconfig.org/how-to-install-a-lamp-server-on-debian-9-stretch-linux

The above should give you a working database (MariaDB/MySQL), PHP(7.0) and a web server (Apache2).

I found an issue trying to get apache and php to work.:

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/47024111/apache-installing-and-running-php-files

https://askubuntu.com/questions/451708/php-script-not-executing-on-apache-server

At the end I had to remove a module, add php7.0 module and restart. Afterwards I could thest apache was executing php. Once that was configured I removed the php file as recommended.

sudo a2dismod mpm_event
sudo a2enmod php7.0
sudo systemctl restart apache2

If apache+php dont work properly, the next steps will fail.

4- Install PHPmyAdmin

I used these links:

https://www.hostingadvice.com/how-to/install-phpmyadmin-on-ubuntu/

https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-install-and-secure-phpmyadmin-on-debian-9

4- Get SSL cert:

You can get this for free: https://letsencrypt.org/

It is so easy to get your certs generated, installed and renewed, that I can’t believe it:

https://certbot.eff.org/lets-encrypt/debianstretch-apache

5- Install WordPress

https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-install-wordpress-with-lamp-on-debian-9

Still needed some tweaking as I am pretty clueless with Apache to make work WordPress:

https://www.rosehosting.com/blog/how-to-set-up-apache-virtual-hosts-on-debian-9/

6- Security

Keep in mind that you will create several user/pass.

  • mysql root user/pass
  • phpmyadmin user/pass
  • wordpressuser for mysql
  • wordpressuser for UI

Be conscious with the security, you don’t want your server/apps to be hacked and used for doggy activity.

Will ask for help to some friends and will another post how to secure this environment.