Name: Step By Step - Setting Up WordPress on a VPS for Beginners
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Created byAndrew Eaton

Last updated 3/2025

English

What you'll learn

From scratch, create a virtual private server instance
Setup, from scratch, a VPS or dedicated Server
Learn how to harden and optimize a VPS or dedicated server
Install multiple WordPress sites on a VPS
Harden and optimize a WordPress site from the server and application side
Learn how to harden a WordPress site from the server side first and then install a security plugin.
Optimize a WordPress site from the server side and then make use of a caching plugin.

Course content

21 sections • 87 lectures • 10h 53m total length

Course Introduction - Part 18:51
Welcome to the updated Definitive WordPress course on self-hosting WP sites using a VPS or dedicated server.
Course Introduction - Part 26:16
Welcome to the updated Definitive WordPress course on self-hosting WP sites using a VPS or dedicated server.

Linux Essential Skills - Part 118:43
To complete this course successfully, you need have a basic knowledge of a few Linux commands and processes.
In this section I'm going to introduce you to the essential Linux skills you need to complete this course successfully.
This is the new 2024 Linux Essential Skills mini - crash - course that I include with all my courses.
If you are new to Linux, it's very important that you take your time and work your way through this lecture. You must use this section to familiarize yourself with the commands and the various aspects of Linux in relation to this course. All of the topics are important, don't skip any of the topics in this lecture.
If you are familiar with Linux and have used the command line to before, then please feel free to skip this lecture.
This is the first Essential Skills Lecture [ 1/4 ]
If you require any additional information regarding any topic in this section, please ask for my help using the course Q&A.
Linux Essential Skills - Part 228:18
To complete this course successfully, you need have a basic knowledge of a few Linux commands and processes.
In this section I'm going to introduce you to the essential Linux skills you need to complete this course successfully.
This is the new 2024 Linux Essential Skills mini - crash - course that I include with all my courses.
If you are new to Linux, it's very important that you take your time and work your way through this lecture. You must use this section to familiarize yourself with the commands and the various aspects of Linux in relation to this course. All of the topics are important, don't skip any of the topics in this lecture.
If you are familiar with Linux and have used the command line to before, then please feel free to skip this lecture.
This is the second Essential Skills Lecture [ 2/4 ]
If you require any additional information regarding any topic in this section, please ask for my help using the course Q&A.
Linux Essential Skills - Part 324:30
To complete this course successfully, you need have a basic knowledge of a few Linux commands and processes.
In this section I'm going to introduce you to the essential Linux skills you need to complete this course successfully.
This is the new 2024 Linux Essential Skills mini - crash - course that I include with all my courses.
If you are new to Linux, it's very important that you take your time and work your way through this lecture. You must use this section to familiarize yourself with the commands and the various aspects of Linux in relation to this course. All of the topics are important, don't skip any of the topics in this lecture.
If you are familiar with Linux and have used the command line to before, then please feel free to skip this lecture.
This is the third Essential Skills Lecture [ 3/4 ]
If you require any additional information regarding any topic in this section, please ask for my help using the course Q&A.
Linux Essential Skills - Part 425:45
To complete this course successfully, you need have a basic knowledge of a few Linux commands and processes.
In this section I'm going to introduce you to the essential Linux skills you need to complete this course successfully.
This is the new 2024 Linux Essential Skills mini - crash - course that I include with all my courses.
If you are new to Linux, it's very important that you take your time and work your way through this lecture. You must use this section to familiarize yourself with the commands and the various aspects of Linux in relation to this course. All of the topics are important, don't skip any of the topics in this lecture.
If you are familiar with Linux and have used the command line to before, then please feel free to skip this lecture.
This is the fourth Essential Skills Lecture [ 4/4 ]
If you require any additional information regarding any topic in this section, please ask for my help using the course Q&A.

Software Required to Complete the Course - Part 13:31
You can use any operating system installed on your PC or MAC to complete this course. What version of MACOS or Windows is immaterial, what's important is the server operating system or distribution installed on the server and that will be Ubuntu 22.04. We will specify the server OS when we create the server instance.
For the course, you will need to use a web browser, a text editor and a terminal emulator. The terminal emulator is the most important of all, as you’ll be using terminal to configure your server.
All the software is FREE and/or OPEN SOURCE - you will NOT be required to purchase any software, themes or plugins
Software Required to Complete the Course - Part 23:16
You can use any operating system installed on your PC or MAC to complete this course. What version of MACOS or Windows is immaterial, what's important is the server operating system or distribution installed on the server and that will be Ubuntu 22.04. We will specify the server OS when we create the server instance.
For the course, you will need to use a web browser, a text editor and a terminal emulator. The terminal emulator is the most important of all, as you’ll be using terminal to configure your server.
All the software is FREE and/or OPEN SOURCE - you will NOT be required to purchase any software, themes or plugins

Web Hosts, Server Resources and Creating a Server Instance - Part 15:22
In this section we are going to look at Web Hosts, Server Resources and how to Create a Server Instance.
When choosing a host, I recommend you don’t choose a host based solely on price.
A cheap host is nothing but trouble, as you'll experience slow network speeds, hardware failures due to cheap hardware and bad support. Stay away from cheap hosting…
Web Hosts, Server Resources and Creating a Server Instance - Part 210:07
In this section we are going to look at Web Hosts, Server Resources and how to Create a Server Instance.
When choosing a host, I recommend you don’t choose a host based solely on price.
A cheap host is nothing but trouble, as you'll experience slow network speeds, hardware failures due to cheap hardware and bad support. Stay away from cheap hosting…

Initial Hardening as ROOT - Part 14:27
Server hardening is the process of improving the security of the server by implementing various steps to improve the security of a default server installation.
Some of the steps include locking down remote access, closing unused ports and services using the firewall. An important principle of server hardening is to only install the packages that are needed to accomplish a task and not to install unnecessary packages on the server.
A brief summary of the hardening steps we are going complete in this section as the root user:
change the root user’s password
add a new non root user that we going to continue configuring the server as
give this new user root privileges
disable root login
Initial Hardening as ROOT - Part 24:14
Server hardening is the process of improving the security of the server by implementing various steps to improve the security of a default server installation.
Some of the steps include locking down remote access, closing unused ports and services using the firewall. An important principle of server hardening is to only install the packages that are needed to accomplish a task and not to install unnecessary packages on the server.
A brief summary of the hardening steps we are going complete in this section as the root user:
change the root user’s password
add a new non root user that we going to continue configuring the server as
give this new user root privileges
disable root login
Initial Hardening as ROOT - Part 35:16
Server hardening is the process of improving the security of the server by implementing various steps to improve the security of a default server installation.
Some of the steps include locking down remote access, closing unused ports and services using the firewall. An important principle of server hardening is to only install the packages that are needed to accomplish a task and not to install unnecessary packages on the server.
A brief summary of the hardening steps we are going complete in this section as the root user:
change the root user’s password
add a new non root user that we going to continue configuring the server as
give this new user root privileges
disable root login
Initial Hardening as ROOT - Part 44:27
Server hardening is the process of improving the security of the server by implementing various steps to improve the security of a default server installation.
Some of the steps include locking down remote access, closing unused ports and services using the firewall. An important principle of server hardening is to only install the packages that are needed to accomplish a task and not to install unnecessary packages on the server.
A brief summary of the hardening steps we are going complete in this section as the root user:
change the root user’s password
add a new non root user that we going to continue configuring the server as
give this new user root privileges
disable root login
Initial Hardening as ROOT - Part 52:57
Server hardening is the process of improving the security of the server by implementing various steps to improve the security of a default server installation.
Some of the steps include locking down remote access, closing unused ports and services using the firewall. An important principle of server hardening is to only install the packages that are needed to accomplish a task and not to install unnecessary packages on the server.
A brief summary of the hardening steps we are going complete in this section as the root user:
change the root user’s password
add a new non root user that we going to continue configuring the server as
give this new user root privileges
disable root login
Initial Hardening as ROOT - Part 67:33
Server hardening is the process of improving the security of the server by implementing various steps to improve the security of a default server installation.
Some of the steps include locking down remote access, closing unused ports and services using the firewall. An important principle of server hardening is to only install the packages that are needed to accomplish a task and not to install unnecessary packages on the server.
A brief summary of the hardening steps we are going complete in this section as the root user:
change the root user’s password
add a new non root user that we going to continue configuring the server as
give this new user root privileges
disable root login
Initial Hardening as ROOT - Part 75:06
Server hardening is the process of improving the security of the server by implementing various steps to improve the security of a default server installation.
Some of the steps include locking down remote access, closing unused ports and services using the firewall. An important principle of server hardening is to only install the packages that are needed to accomplish a task and not to install unnecessary packages on the server.
A brief summary of the hardening steps we are going complete in this section as the root user:
change the root user’s password
add a new non root user that we going to continue configuring the server as
give this new user root privileges
disable root login

Initial Hardening as a NON ROOT user - SSH Key Authentication - Part 17:48
As the non-root user, we will continue hardening the server by implementing the following measures:
SSH key authentication replaces password authentication with a public / private key pair authentication system when logging into your server.
A ssh config file makes logging to a server using ssh key authentication quick and easy
Server updates deal with ensuring all the packages installed on the server are up to date.
Implementing a firewall policy allows you to lock down and close any unused ports and services that are not being used.
Fail2ban is an intrusion prevention framework that will protect your server from brute-force attacks.
Initial Hardening as a NON ROOT user - SSH Key Authentication - Part 213:01
As the non-root user, we will continue hardening the server by implementing the following measures:
SSH key authentication replaces password authentication with a public / private key pair authentication system when logging into your server.
A ssh config file makes logging to a server using ssh key authentication quick and easy
Server updates deal with ensuring all the packages installed on the server are up to date.
Implementing a firewall policy allows you to lock down and close any unused ports and services that are not being used.
Fail2ban is an intrusion prevention framework that will protect your server from brute-force attacks.
Initial Hardening as a NON ROOT user - Config File7:44
As the non-root user, we will continue hardening the server by implementing the following measures:
SSH key authentication replaces password authentication with a public / private key pair authentication system when logging into your server.
A ssh config file makes logging to a server using ssh key authentication quick and easy
Server updates deal with ensuring all the packages installed on the server are up to date.
Implementing a firewall policy allows you to lock down and close any unused ports and services that are not being used.
Fail2ban is an intrusion prevention framework that will protect your server from brute-force attacks.
Initial Hardening as a NON ROOT user - Server Updates12:53
As the non-root user, we will continue hardening the server by implementing the following measures:
SSH key authentication replaces password authentication with a public / private key pair authentication system when logging into your server.
A ssh config file makes logging to a server using ssh key authentication quick and easy
Server updates deal with ensuring all the packages installed on the server are up to date.
Implementing a firewall policy allows you to lock down and close any unused ports and services that are not being used.
Fail2ban is an intrusion prevention framework that will protect your server from brute-force attacks.
Initial Hardening as a NON ROOT user - The Firewall8:09
As the non-root user, we will continue hardening the server by implementing the following measures:
SSH key authentication replaces password authentication with a public / private key pair authentication system when logging into your server.
A ssh config file makes logging to a server using ssh key authentication quick and easy
Server updates deal with ensuring all the packages installed on the server are up to date.
Implementing a firewall policy allows you to lock down and close any unused ports and services that are not being used.
Fail2ban is an intrusion prevention framework that will protect your server from brute-force attacks.
Initial Hardening as a NON ROOT user - Fail2Ban - Part 19:18
As the non-root user, we will continue hardening the server by implementing the following measures:
SSH key authentication replaces password authentication with a public / private key pair authentication system when logging into your server.
A ssh config file makes logging to a server using ssh key authentication quick and easy
Server updates deal with ensuring all the packages installed on the server are up to date.
Implementing a firewall policy allows you to lock down and close any unused ports and services that are not being used.
Fail2ban is an intrusion prevention framework that will protect your server from brute-force attacks.
Initial Hardening as a NON ROOT user - Fail2Ban - Part 29:29
As the non-root user, we will continue hardening the server by implementing the following measures:
SSH key authentication replaces password authentication with a public / private key pair authentication system when logging into your server.
A ssh config file makes logging to a server using ssh key authentication quick and easy
Server updates deal with ensuring all the packages installed on the server are up to date.
Implementing a firewall policy allows you to lock down and close any unused ports and services that are not being used.
Fail2ban is an intrusion prevention framework that will protect your server from brute-force attacks.

Installing the LAMP Stack - Apache3:22
In this section we are going to install our hosting stack:
Web Server - Apache
Database Management System - MariaDB
Scripting Language - PHP8.1
After installing the various packages we need to complete a few initial configuration steps. For example, we need to set how Apache processes php files.
Installing the LAMP Stack - MariaDB2:18
In this section we are going to install our hosting stack:
Web Server - Apache
Database Management System - MariaDB
Scripting Language - PHP8.1
After installing the various packages we need to complete a few initial configuration steps. For example, we need to set how Apache processes php files.
Installing the LAMP Stack -PHP8.16:11
In this section we are going to install our hosting stack:
Web Server - Apache
Database Management System - MariaDB
Scripting Language - PHP8.1
After installing the various packages we need to complete a few initial configuration steps. For example, we need to set how Apache processes php files.
Installing the LAMP Stack - ModPHP_or_PHPFPM6:03
In this section we are going to install our hosting stack:
Web Server - Apache
Database Management System - MariaDB
Scripting Language - PHP8.1
After installing the various packages we need to complete a few initial configuration steps. For example, we need to set how Apache processes php files.

Harden the LAMP Stack - Introduction - Reload or Restart3:09
In this section we are going to harden the stack components: Apache, MariaDB and PHP8.1
We'll remove any dangerous default settings that were applied during the installation process. This ensures that the hosting environment has been hardened correctly and sufficiently.
Some of the steps include preventing information leakage, removing default unsecured accounts and combating hash collision attacks.
Harden the LAMP Stack - Apache10:03
In this section we are going to harden the stack components: Apache, MariaDB and PHP8.1
We'll remove any dangerous default settings that were applied during the installation process. This ensures that the hosting environment has been hardened correctly and sufficiently.
Some of the steps include preventing information leakage, removing default unsecured accounts and combating hash collision attacks.
Harden the LAMP Stack - MariaDB2:42
In this section we are going to harden the stack components: Apache, MariaDB and PHP8.1
We'll remove any dangerous default settings that were applied during the installation process. This ensures that the hosting environment has been hardened correctly and sufficiently.
Some of the steps include preventing information leakage, removing default unsecured accounts and combating hash collision attacks.
Harden the LAMP Stack - PHP8.1-FPM5:53
Hardening the lamp stack: disable allow_url_include, turn off allow_url_fopen, and set cgi.fix_path_info to zero in php.ini; back up and edit with nano, then restart php 8.1-fpm.

Optimize the LAMP Stack - Apache8:32
In this section we are going to optimize Apache, MariaDB and PHP8.1
Optimizing the stack components is important as it creates a stable, yet performant, environment for your sites.
After completing this section, your will have tweaked the web server, the database management system and php for the best possible performance.
Optimize the LAMP Stack - MariaDB13:09
In this section we are going to optimize Apache, MariaDB and PHP8.1
Optimizing the stack components is important as it creates a stable, yet performant, environment for your sites.
After completing this section, your will have tweaked the web server, the database management system and php for the best possible performance.
Optimize the LAMP Stack - PHP8.1-FPM14:01
In this section we are going to optimize Apache, MariaDB and PHP8.1
Optimizing the stack components is important as it creates a stable, yet performant, environment for your sites.
After completing this section, your will have tweaked the web server, the database management system and php for the best possible performance.

Requirements

This course is designed for the absolute beginner
No prior knowledge of server administration is needed, I'll be guiding you step by step throughout the course.
No knowledge of Linux is required
Don't download or install any software, what you need and how to install it is covered in the course
You should be running a WordPress site already, as this course will not teach you how to use WordPress

Description

This course will teach you how to host multiple WordPress sites on your very own Virtual Private Server,

This version of the course is based on Ubuntu 22.04, which is supported until April 2025 or April 2032 with the free Ubuntu Pro plan. This course also includes PHP8.1, which is up to 50% faster than previous versions of PHP.

Having issues with your current shared web host? With this course you can...

Say goodbye to shared hosting and one click WordPress installers!
Say goodbye to bad web hosts!
Say goodbye to terrible tech support that take days to solve issues
Say hello to the only WordPress course that is going to put YOU in true control of your server and your WordPress sites.
Say goodbye to bloated control panels filled with ads

As your site grows some shared hosts will throttle your site and sometimes even shut your site down if your site consumes to many resources. The more visitors you get, the more resources you are going to use. It ends badly, with your site income reduced to zero and your clients angry due to the downtime...

Shared hosting is designed for hosting static sites, not dynamic WordPress sites. Some of the main disadvantages of shared hosting:

you are sharing server resources with many other websites - this causes slow loading times and poor performance if other sites on the server are using too many resources.
if another site on the server is hacked, it could potentially affect your site as well.
you are limited by the amount of customization you can do with your site.

What's the solution?

The solution is to move your WordPress hosting to a Virtual Private Server. If you need more control over your website's performance, security, and customization, you need to consider a VPS hosting.

Some of the main advantages of VPS hosting:

With VPS hosting, you have dedicated resources that are not shared with other users, which ensures that your website is not affected by the activities of other websites on the server and due to this you experience better performance.
VPS hosting allows you to customize your server environment to meet your specific needs - Redis and Memcached are just two examples
VPS hosting is scalable, you can easily increase or decrease the resources allocated to your server depending on your needs.
VPS hosting is more secure compared to shared hosting because your resources are isolated from other users on the server. This reduces the risk of your website being affected by security vulnerabilities in other websites on the server.

What this course offers?

When you take this course, you will soon realize and wonder why it took you so long to move your WordPress sites from shared hosting to an unmanaged VPS. Please don't let the word unmanaged scare you. An unmanaged VPS simply means the host keeps the network connected and the host node running, you are in control and responsible for everything else on the server. I'll guide you, step by step through the process of setting up an unmanaged VPS and then I'll also be guiding you through setting up WordPress on that VPS.

Never used the command line before? Never edited a configuration file before? No problem, I will teach you and provide you with the knowledge you need.

I cover all aspects, no matter if you are using Windows or MACOSX. We will download the software, I'll show you how to install and configure the software and most important how to use the software. Prior to each section, I'll explain what we are doing, why we are doing it and in plain easy to understand English. You won't find any long and boring PowerPoint presentations and minute after minute looking at me talking to the camera. It's us and the command line, nothing else. The command line is easy to use, just think of terminal as a very basic word processor. I'll be there guiding you step by step.

This course is based on using Apache as your web server for the following reasons:

more compatible with different web applications and plugins, including those used by WordPress.
.htaccess files makes it easier to make changes to a WordPress site without needing to have access to the server configuration.
has a more user-friendly configuration process, this is a huge advantage for those who are not experienced server administrators.
large ecosystem easier to find support when you need it.

One of the most important and often overlooked aspects of this course is that you will be able to use the knowledge gained from this course to add to your monthly income.

You can do this by:

offer and charge for various services on freelancing sites
offer existing clients additional services for a recurring monthly fee
offer new clients services for a recurring monthly fee, you can now offer hosting instead of just design services.

Who this course is for:

This course is meant for anyone who is tired of shared hosting and wants discover the benefits hosting their WordPress sites on a VPS
If WordPress site security concerns you - take this course as security comes FIRST and and not as an afterthought - you will secure your site using the server and not a plugin.
This course is for anyone who has received a warning from their shared host that their WordPress site is using too many server resources
This course is for anyone who wants to drastically improve the way they administer WordPress sites on a VPS
Anyone who wants to spend more time creating content and less time updating multiple WordPress sites using the dashboard?
Web designers who want to offer additional services to their clients
Anyone wanting to offer their services on fiverr setting up an unmanaged VPS and administering the VPS for a monthly fee
Business owners who want to setup WordPress on their own server
Anyone who wants to learn the best and quickest way to setup a WordPress site.
Anyone who wants to be able to build WordPress sites quickly and easily

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Course Introduction - Welcome2 lectures • 15min

Linux Essential Skiils4 lectures • 1hr 37min

Software Required to Complete the Course2 lectures • 7min

Web Hosts, Server Resources and Creating a Server Instance2 lectures • 15min

First Server Login1 lecture • 6min

Initial Server Hardening as the ROOT user7 lectures • 34min

Initial Server Hardening as a NON ROOT user7 lectures • 1hr 8min

Installing the L(AMP) Stack - Apache, MariaDB & PHP8.14 lectures • 18min

Harden the LAMP Stack4 lectures • 22min

Optimize the LAMP Stack3 lectures • 36min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: