Insights, tutorials, and updates from the CoolVDS team
It is not a matter of if, but when a botnet scans your IP. From configuring iptables to securing SSH, here is how we lock down CentOS and Debian servers to comply with Datatilsynet standards.
Is Apache eating all your RAM? Discover how to compile PHP 5.2.10 with the PHP-FPM patch and pair it with Nginx to survive the Slashdot effect. A guide for serious SysAdmins.
Is your Apache server ready for a massive traffic spike? Learn how to implement HAProxy 1.3 for robust load balancing, reduce downtime, and why hardware isolation matters for Norwegian businesses.
Still using plain FTP? You are broadcasting passwords in cleartext. Here is how to lock down your server using SFTP and OpenSSH chroots on CentOS 5 and Debian Lenny.
Default CentOS installs are a security nightmare. Learn the essential iptables rules, SSH hardening techniques, and kernel tweaks required to survive the hostile internet of 2009. Don't let a brute-force botnet turn your server into a zombie.
Is mod_php eating your RAM? Learn how to implement the PHP-FPM patch with Nginx to handle high concurrency without melting your server. A 2009 guide to high-performance VPS tuning.
Stop relying on manual 'cp -r' for disaster recovery. Learn the 2009 industry standards for automated backup strategies using rsync, cron, and off-site replication to satisfy Datatilsynet.
Stop gambling with oversold resources. We analyze the Xen hypervisor architecture (Dom0 vs DomU), Paravirtualization performance, and why serious Systems Administrators in Norway are ditching containers for true hardware isolation.
As we approach 2010, the "Cloud" buzzword is shifting IT budgets. We analyze why moving from physical SANs to VDS-based storage improves TCO and I/O performance in Norway.
A default Linux install is a sitting duck. From iptables configuration to securing SSH, here is how we harden CentOS and Debian servers against brute-force attacks and script kiddies.
Stop relying on 'security through obscurity'. Learn to deploy a hardened OpenVPN endpoint on CentOS 5, manage TUN/TAP interfaces correctly, and secure your Oslo-Kyiv data pipeline against snooping.
Is Apache's memory footprint killing your swap? We compare the industry standard against the event-driven challenger, Lighttpd, to see which web server rules the Norwegian hosting market in 2009.
Sending passwords in cleartext is professional suicide. With the recent Gumblar exploits targeting FTP, we detail how to lock down your Norwegian VPS using OpenSSH's chroot features.
Tired of 'noisy neighbors' killing your database performance? We break down why KVM virtualization on Linux 2.6 is superior to container-based legacy systems, and how to tune I/O schedulers for maximum throughput.
Public Wi-Fi is a minefield for packet sniffers. Learn how to deploy a secure OpenVPN server in Norway using 2048-bit RSA keys and Xen virtualization to protect your traffic.
Is Apache choking your server's memory? We benchmark Apache Prefork against Lighttpd's event-driven architecture to see which web server rules the 2009 hosting landscape.
When your single Apache server hits MaxClients, your business stops. Learn how to deploy HAProxy 1.3 to distribute load, maintain session persistence, and keep your Norwegian VPS online.
Stop letting shared hosting IPs blacklist your business. We break down a battle-tested Postfix/Dovecot setup on CentOS 5 that ensures deliverability and compliance with Norwegian data laws.
Stop your emails from hitting the spam folder. A battle-hardened guide to configuring Postfix in 2009, ensuring clean headers, proper rDNS, and compliance with Norwegian data laws.
In 2009, an unpatched server lasts less than 15 minutes online before compromise. Here is the battle-tested hardening checklist for CentOS and Debian systems.
JavaScript trackers lie. Bots, text-based browsers, and privacy plugins make client-side analytics unreliable. Learn how to deploy AWStats on your VDS for the absolute truth.
Is Apache mod_php eating your RAM? Discover how switching to PHP-FPM and Nginx can handle high concurrency without melting your server. A guide for serious sysadmins.
Is your database locking up under load? Learn how to optimize MySQL 5.1 on CentOS, tune your my.cnf for heavy traffic, and why disk I/O latency is the silent killer of web applications.
Is Apache eating your RAM? Stop scaling vertically. Learn how to deploy Nginx 0.7 as a reverse proxy to handle thousands of concurrent connections while cutting server load in half.
Public Wi-Fi is a security nightmare. Learn how to deploy a hardened OpenVPN server on CentOS 5 to secure your remote connections using 2048-bit RSA encryption.
Is your data stuck on a single spinning disk? In 2009, 'The Cloud' is more than buzz—it's about survival. We analyze RAID 10 reliability, I/O bottlenecks, and why Norwegian privacy laws beat the Patriot Act.
Is your VPS randomly killing MySQL processes? In 2009, the hosting market is flooded with oversold OpenVZ containers. We dive deep into /proc/user_beancounters, kernel limits, and why hardware virtualization (Xen/KVM) is the only safe bet for Norwegian businesses.
Is your site stalling under load? It might be disk I/O on /tmp. We explore replacing file-based sessions with the emerging Redis key-value store to slash latency.
Is your database locking up under traffic? We dive deep into my.cnf optimization, the InnoDB vs MyISAM debate, and why disk I/O latency is the silent killer of Web 2.0 applications.
Stop letting "noisy neighbors" steal your CPU cycles. We compare KVM against container-based virtualization to show why hardware isolation is the only choice for serious hosting in 2009.