First steps on a new dedicated server

Your delivery email contains the server's IP address and login details. Do these steps before you install anything else.

1. Log in and update

ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP
apt update && apt full-upgrade -y

2. Use SSH keys, not passwords

# on your own computer
ssh-copy-id root@YOUR_SERVER_IP

# then on the server, in /etc/ssh/sshd_config set:
PasswordAuthentication no

systemctl restart ssh

3. Enable a firewall

apt install -y ufw
ufw allow OpenSSH
ufw enable

Keep a remote-console session in mind as your fallback if you lock yourself out.

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