Next year I'm hoping to launch my new site; in the past I have needed to spend over $270/month for a dedicated server to handle site load but I really want to cut down these costs by using unmanaged dedicated servers. I'm a programmer and have some small knowledge of linux and ssh, I'm just wondering what is a good place to start looking into if I want to learn how to manage and configure a unmanaged dedicated server? I have installed unbuntu on an old laptop and am trying to learn as much about it as possible. Any other valuable tips that any expierenced server admins could give me? I understand its going to take a while to learn how to manage a server- I am willing to give up the time to learn this.
try CentOS, and yum update Install ISPConfig, and Learn how to run your own DNS, i dont use DNS they reckon, i use bind9
The best thing I can say is read up on any documentation regarding the server operating system you chose to go with. The next would be learning Apache followed by any server control panel you intend to use. That is just a rough overview though.
You wont learn much with ubuntu. Try centos or debian. Do you really have the time to manage those servers by yourself? You will have to deal with setting IPTables, resolving other issues and everything. I suggest that you hire a cheaper dedicated fully managed VPS from wither wiredtree.com or VPS.net
There are lots of providers you can trust, i am using zipservers over years and they setup your server and they too provide 1 hour server admin time free, which i hardly need to use.
That is not true. While each Operating System is different in terms how they do something, they are all based on the Linux Kernel and thus you will learn Linux.
Yes they are. But Ubuntu is more geared toward being user friendly. So it's very easy compared to other Linux OS. I did not say you wont learn anything, just that you will be limited by UBUNTU
Best way is to get your hands dirty. Use centos as it is supported by most although ubuntu server is OK. You can install virtualmin on it. I suggest buying a very cheap VPS (IE 20 bux a month) with minimal centOS install. Get one where you have the ability to reformat yourself. Test out different free panels and also try non panel. Have a domain to play with and break the OS install Play with yum.. play with diff repos for yum also and eventually you can try compiling from source (but worry about that later). The thing about panels is that if they break, you will need to understand how it works underneath the "hood" so don't ever take a shortcut by just using panels. For me I sometimes compromise by using the panel for things like DNS, ftp and I use hands on stuff for things like nginx, php But its all up to you.. just be ready to play with it and really really read alot of stuff Of course you can always use your home PC but that can be problematic if you have minimal understanding of network.