Overview ​

In this tutorial, we will cover a variety of topics related to configuring a Linux server. We will start by setting up Cloudflare DNS for our server, which provides a secure and reliable way to manage DNS records.

Next, we will create an unprivileged user, to run our server processes, which helps to improve security. We will then configure SSH settings and enable MFA (multi-factor authentication) for SSH to further enhance server security, including setting up SSH keys for secure login.

We will also set up an SMTP mail server to enable email notifications for system events, as well as automate unattended updates to keep our system up-to-date.

To improve our command line experience, we will explore some awesome shell utilities, including some popular tools that can boost productivity and make it easier to work with the command line.

We will also configure uncomplicated firewall and implement Cloudflare WAF (Web Application Firewall) to help protect our server from common web application attacks.

To prevent unauthorized access to our server, we will use a port scan attack detector and Fail2ban, a tool that can automatically block IP addresses that have been identified as malicious.

Finally, we will explore some additional topics that can be useful for server administrators, including configuring the .bashrc file, setting up a WireGuard VPN, and using Docker and Portainer to manage containerized applications.

By the end of this tutorial, you will have a solid understanding of how to configure a Linux server and implement best practices for security and system management.