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.
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:
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.