Linux server security is of critical importance to sysadmins. One central part of keeping Linux servers secure is by installing security updates promptly. Too often, there are compromised servers on the internet due to pending security updates waiting for a manual update. On both Ubuntu and Debian, the unattended-upgrades package can be configured to perform […]
Enable Automatic Updates – Fedora/Red Hat + Bonus Tip
Linux server security is crucial to Linux server administration. Part of keeping Linux servers secure is installing security updates shortly after they become available. Too often, compromised servers are a result of pending security updates awaiting manual installation. In general, for critical servers where you cannot afford unplanned downtime should be very careful with automatic updates. While there are […]
Best Linux distro and Desktop Environment Combinations
Are you searching for the best Linux distro (distribution) and DE (Desktop Environment) combination? What better way to increase your familiarity with Linux servers than running Linux on your laptop or workstation? As mentioned previously, there’s the best Linux Distro for me and the best Linux Distro for you. What you choose today will often change […]
Ransomware: Implementing a “No Concessions” Ransomware Policy
Ransomware has emerged as a particularly relentless and disruptive force against organizations worldwide. The debate over whether to adopt a “no concessions” policy—refusing to pay ransoms to cybercriminals—mirrors long-standing discussions in counter-terrorism and hostage situations. This article aims to explore the various facets of this debate, considering ethical, legal, and strategic dimensions, and evaluating the […]
PHP Performance: Additional CPU cores vs Faster CPU cores
Some time ago, I received an email from a client experiencing slow performance issues with a LEMP (Linux, Nginx, MySQL, and PHP web server). During a full audit, I found that the server’s load average was pretty low (see below screenshot). However, the website was indeed very slow. There were some misconfigurations, but one of […]
PHP 8: After 4 years, only 30% of PHP websites use it. But why?
Two years ago, one of our online community members discussed some of the reasons behind the slow adoption of PHP 8. One member stated that it’s due to PHP compatibility issues across new releases. In contrast, another put it down to the fact that important software/frameworks did not support PHP 8 until recently. I think […]
Strip Down Apache to Improve Performance & Memory Efficiency
Can you believe that it’s been more than a decade since the release of Apache 2.4?! If you haven’t replaced Apache with Nginx, then here’s a quick guide for boosting Apache’s performance using a method that’s often overlooked. Now, before we get into that, please note that I’m not claiming that Apache is faster than […]
dnf error: cannot find the libbrotlidec.so.1 library (cPanel/WHM CentOS 7 to AlmaLinux 8)
Upgrading from CentOS 7 to AlmaLinux 8 is a significant step towards ensuring that your systems remain secure, supported, and up-to-date with the latest features and security patches. AlmaLinux 8, as a community-driven replacement for CentOS, offers a robust and reliable platform that is binary compatible with RHEL 8. This transition, however, can sometimes present […]
5 database metrics every DBA should monitor for peak performance
Database monitoring is indispensable for maintaining the health, performance, and reliability of your database system. It provides administrators and IT teams with real-time insights into the system’s operations, enabling them to proactively identify and address potential issues before they need to be escalated. You can confirm your database operates efficiently and delivers optimal performance by […]
50 Essential Linux Commands that You Should Know
In this blog post, I will list 50 essential Linux commands you need to know to manage Linux systems effectively. These commands will help you perform various tasks efficiently. This post is a follow-up to my previous blog post: 90 frequently used Linux Commands. However, it’s designed to provide you with a carefully categorized list […]