Question: I have a virtual private server (or dedicated server) with lots of files from numerous websites. How can I keep my files indexed and search for them whenever I need them? Answer: There are two tools that make searching for files in Linux easy: locate and slocate. The only …
Read More »How to Turn Off ModSecurity for a Site
Question: My dedicated server is running ModSecurity, but one of the websites needs it turned off in order to operate correctly. How do I turn it off for just one site? Answer: Before you proceed, keep in mind the reason you have ModSecurity installed in the first place. It is …
Read More »Track website outages with uptime monitors
In the busy world we live in, it’s impossible for most people to monitor their sites 24/7. But tracking your site’s speed and uptime throughout the day is critical. Thankfully, you can use an uptime monitor to track the availability of any URL. Most uptime trackers charge a small fee …
Read More »Managing Linux System Programs and Processes
Question: Something is hogging the CPU cycles on my Linux dedicated server. It has gotten really slow. How can I monitor running programs and processes? Answer: Linux has a handy little tool called “top” that, when run, reveals your top running processes. It also gives you information about your memory …
Read More »What is a Cron Job?
Question: What is a Cron Job? Answer: A cron job is a periodic script run using scheduling software called “cron”. Linux and other Unix-like operating systems use it. A shared web hosting provider may allow you to run local user cron jobs, and those settings are usually accessible through your …
Read More »When Your Dedicated Server Goes Down
Question: I just ordered a remote dedicated server, and I am concerned about trusting my data with someone else. What are my options if the server goes down? Answer: Generally speaking, you do not have much to worry about. You most likely did your homework before selecting your web host. …
Read More »Calculate bandwidth usage with free online tools
When signing up for a hosting plan, one of the most important factors to consider is how much bandwidth is provided. Data transfer is expensive but necessary. Too much and you will be throwing money away, too little and your site will be shut down. Predicting bandwidth usage is something …
Read More »Sex in the data center?
The average data center technician is called to perform a number of duties. These include troubleshooting with customers, replacing system hardware, installing Linux kernel updates, and rebooting equipment. One system admin on Yahoo Answers, however, seems to have a much different view of this job: I am a night technician …
Read More »Don't be frugal with web hosting
When friends ask me about signing up with a dedicated or shared web host, one question I am invariably asked is: “What’s the cheapest provider?” Frugality is an important virtue to master, but when it comes to web hosting, you get what you pay for. You may be tempted to …
Read More »Google releases data center efficiency video
Last April, Google hosted the Efficient Data Center Summit, where bigwigs from the largest IT companies showed up to share tips for reducing resource usage, learn from one another, and share hugs and kisses. The attendees gained all sorts of useful insight on how to make their data centers greener …
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