Last Updated: May 23, 2012

October 26, 2011

Opening the Pod Bay Doors: How to Prepare Your Server for Virtualization

We’re glad to hear you’ve finally sprung for a virtual private server! We’ve been espousing the benefits of just such a rig as an intermediary step between a dedicated behemoth and the too-tight confines of cheap shared hosting. It’s an excellent solution for the small business with a need to upgrade, but now that you’ve actually pulled the trigger on your own VPS project, how in blue blazes are you actually supposed to implement this thing for your clients?

Before freaking out or hiring a tech specialist (Same thing, right?) take a quick second to read through our handy guide below on just how to prepare your server for the creation of virtual private servers. Starting, of course, with:

1.  Step One: Right off the bat, you’ll want to decide how much of the CPU, RAM, and disc space you’ll want to allot to each partition. Obviously, this is a pretty crucial step, and you should take the deliberate time to get everything set out correctly. Will you be routing most of your traffic through a UNIX-based VPS, or will you be treating that portion as a sandbox for hypothetical web revisions? Either of these require very different loads on the CPU, as well as RAM and memory space. Carefully consider your server’s optimization, and when all looks well, then move on to the next step.

2.  Lock ‘Em Down: Once you’ve partitioned off your beauty of a server, immediately lock everything down as tightly as you can. You’ll want to ensure that no one user can get out of their virtual server, even if there’s no obvious threat or malice involved. You never know when Dumb Luck McJoe might manage to squeeze his way through the shell into the root, and if that happens, it’s not a far stretch to mumble the words, “Total system shut down.” In other words: Take all necessary precautions, and then take a few more, just in case.

3.  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Next you’ll want to fine-tune everything about your server to streamline its performance. Resist the urge to max out your box with as many VPS as you can shove into it. Leave some margin for error, as you never know when a client’s portion may become hyperactive. On that note: Never be afraid to tell a client to consider a dedicated server if they’re hogging too much of your server’s juice. Finally, disable any unnecessary processes running on the main server. This will free up RAM elsewhere, and improve performance for your clients.

 

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