Hello! I'm a bit overwhelmed by the number of options I have encountered while transitioning from virtual hosting to a virtual server. There are a variety of operating systems to choose from, such as CentOS, Debian, Ubuntu, Windows Server, and Free DSB. In terms of web servers offered in VestaCP, there's nginx + apache, nginx + php-fpm, apache, and none. Additionally, there are a plethora of settings including ftp, mail, dns, firewall, and more. As an ordinary internet citizen, how can I make an informed decision about it all?
My server is intended for several sites, some personal and others public-facing. Currently, my server has 1 core, 1 Gb RAM, and 12 Gb SSD NVMe on Debian 9. I chose to install nginx + apache using the following command: 'bash vst-install.sh --nginx yes --apache yes --phpfpm no --named no --remi no --vsftpd yes --proftpd no --iptables yes --fail2ban yes --quota no --exim yes --dovecot yes --spamassassin yes --clamav yes --softaculous no --mysql yes --postgresql no --hostname ... --email ... --password ... --force'. However, my one website hosted on the server isn't heavily visited (up to 150 uniques per day), and the RAM gets fully loaded after a short period of time, with only 40-60 MB remaining free.
I'm unsure if this is because I'm not using a high-quality website engine, but I do find it very convenient. I'm considering upgrading to a new server with 3 cores, 4 Gb RAM, and 48 Gb SSD NVMe, but I'm uncertain about what web server and other settings to choose. We were advised to use nginx + php-fpm, but we had to abandon it due to the lack of htaccess support.
Do you have any advice or links to helpful resources for comparing web servers and configurations? Thank you!
From what I understand based on your question and work experience, you have the freedom to choose any option with minimal impact.
To elaborate:
1) If you're a beginner and simply want a functional setup, apache + mod_php + any software would suffice.
2) For regular use, nginx + fpm + debian is commonly utilized as it's known for its stability. However, you can opt for other software versions if you prefer.
3) Lastly, if you're dealing with highload, using swoole/roadrunner + clear linux would be a suitable option.
Which option would be more administratively convenient for you or the admin? It appears that we should build upon this. An established choice that is favored by admins, users of this distribution, etc. is Debian, which is essentially considered the default option.
However, I suggest taking a closer look at NixOS, which is a relatively new alternative. It offers the practical and convenient ability to roll back updates in the event of an unsuccessful one. Conversely, with Debian, problems may arise, requiring a fresh backup to be kept on standby.
If you use the Bitrix virtual machine, you will gain enough knowledge about it to remember it vividly.
To optimize your machine greatly, try using Centos and executing a bash script. Simply change the 'mbstring...=0' parameter, and you'll be set with an optimized machine that has both Nginx and Apache.
It sounds like you have quite a few options to consider when it comes to transitioning from virtual hosting to a virtual server and managing the various settings for your websites. Let's break down your concerns and find some solutions:
1. Operating System: Since you're already using Debian 9, you may want to consider upgrading to Debian 10 or even Ubuntu, as they are both popular choices for web servers due to their stability and large community support.
2. Web Server: Considering your current RAM limitations and the number of websites you intend to host, it might be a good idea to switch to nginx + php-fpm for better performance and resource efficiency. As for htaccess support, you can emulate its functionality using nginx configuration, or you could consider using Apache in a reverse proxy setup if htaccess is crucial for your websites.
3. Server Resources: The upgrade to a server with 3 cores, 4 GB RAM, and 48 GB SSD NVMe should provide a significant boost in performance, especially considering the number of websites you plan to host.
4. Managing Resources and Performance: To better manage your server resources, you may need to optimize your website code and configurations, implement caching mechanisms, and periodically review and adjust your server settings to ensure optimal performance.
To make an informed decision about all these options, it would be beneficial to research and understand the implications of each choice. Reading through official dоcumentation for the operating systems and web server software, as well as community forums and tutorials, can provide valuable insights into the best practices and considerations for setting up and managing a web server.
For comparing web servers and configurations, you can refer to benchmark tests and performance comparisons between different setups. Websites like TechEmpower (https://www.techempower.com/benchmarks/) and Litespeed (https://www.litespeedtech.com/benchmarks/) provide detailed benchmarks and comparisons that can help you evaluate the performance of different web server configurations.
Here are some additional considerations and tips to help you make an informed decision about your web server configuration and resources:
1. Resource Management: With the upgrade to a new server, consider implementing resource monitoring tools such as Munin, New Relic, or Prometheus to keep track of your server's performance, resource usage, and potential bottlenecks. This will help you optimize your server settings and configurations based on actual resource utilization.
2. Caching: Implementing caching mechanisms at both the server level (using nginx or Apache modules) and application level (through plugins or code optimizations in your website engine) can help alleviate the load on your server and improve response times for your visitors.
3. Content Delivery Networks (CDN): Utilizing a CDN can offload static content delivery from your server and distribute it globally, reducing the load on your server and improving the overall website performance.
4. Security Considerations: When evaluating web server and other settings, prioritize security measures such as firewall configurations, regular software updates, and SSL/TLS certificate installation to ensure a secure environment for your websites.
5. User Experience: When choosing your web server and configurations, consider the impact on user experience. For example, faster response times and improved performance can lead to higher visitor satisfaction and retention.
6. Testing and dоcumentation: As you make changes to your server setup, consider creating a testing environment to evaluate the impact of configuration changes before applying them to your production environment. Additionally, dоcumenting your server setup and configurations can be invaluable for future reference and troubleshooting.
Finally, don't hesitate to seek advice and support from online communities and forums dedicated to web development, server administration, and specific software technologies. Sharing your specific setup and requirements with experts in these communities can provide valuable insights and recommendations tailored to your needs.
Understand your website needs. Determine the website type and purpose. For example, a blog needs different features than an online store.
Research and compare hosting providers. Look at the different hosting providers available, and compare their core services to find the most suitable one.
Check the key features. Research the features that the web hosting company offers, especially for security and performance.
Look for dedicated support. Choose a web host that offers support 24/7 to ensure that you can get help right away in case of any issues.
Find the right plan. Get a suitable plan to host your website. Consider the resources and note the web hosting type.