Ubuntu 18.04 – MySQL and phpMyAdmin

Linux, Uncategorised
Introduction This follows on from the recent post to set up Apache2 on Ubuntu 18.04 Step 1 — Installing MySQL Now that you have your web server up and running, it is time to install MySQL. MySQL is a database management system. Basically, it will organize and provide access to databases where your site can store information. Again, use apt to acquire and install this software: sudo apt install -y mysql-server Step 2 — Securing MySQL When the installation is complete, run a simple security script that comes pre-installed with MySQL which will remove some dangerous defaults and lock down access to your database system. Start the interactive script by running: sudo mysql_secure_installation This will ask if you want to configure the VALIDATE PASSWORD PLUGIN. Note: Enabling this feature is something of a judgment…
Read More

Ubuntu 18.04 Apache2 with PHP

Linux, Uncategorised
Introduction When you first create a new Ubuntu 18.04 server, there are a few configuration steps that you should take early on as part of the basic setup. This will increase the security and usability of your server and will give you a solid foundation for subsequent actions. Step 1 — Setting Up a Basic Firewall Ubuntu 18.04 servers can use the UFW firewall to make sure only connections to certain services are allowed. We can set up a basic firewall very easily using this application. Different applications can register their profiles with UFW upon installation. These profiles allow UFW to manage these applications by name. OpenSSH, the service allowing us to connect to our server now, has a profile registered with UFW. You can see this by typing: ufw…
Read More

Latest Virtual Box Guest Additions Script

Linux, Uncategorised
Ok, so I got sick of looking up the details when was building a new server ... so I did it once and wrote a new script for the guest: !/bin/bash sudo apt install -y linux-headers-$(uname -r) build-essential dkms mkdir -p /media/cdrom mount /dev/cdrom /media/cdrom cd /media/cdrom ./VBoxLinuxAdditions.run cd ~ umount /dev/cdrom
Read More

VirtualBox admin using phpvirtualbox (2017)

IT Tips
Following on from my previous guide VirtualBox admin using phpVirtualBox, Smart Guide Pty Ltd have taken over support and released a new version :) This guide explains how you can run administer VirtualBox 5.2 on a headless Ubuntu server. Normally you use the VirtualBox GUI to manage your virtual machines, but a server does not have a desktop environment. 1. Preliminary: - Install your server environment (I chose Ubuntu) - Install VirtualBox 5.2 (VirtualBox 5.2 on Ubuntu 17.10) 2 Start VirtualBox Web Services Create the file /etc/default/virtualbox and put the line VBOXWEB_USER=vbox in it (so that the VirtualBox SOAP API which is called vboxwebsrv runs as the user vbox): echo '# virtualbox defaults file' | sudo tee /etc/default/virtualbox echo 'VBOXWEB_USER=vbox' | sudo tee -a /etc/default/virtualbox Next create the system startup…
Read More

VirtualBox 5.2 headless on Ubuntu 17.10

IT Tips
Following on from my previous guide VirtualBox Headless on Ubuntu 16.04 I have now updated this for Ubuntu 17.10 as I got a new server :) This guide explains how you can run virtual machines with VirtualBox 5.2 on a headless Ubuntu 17.10 server. Normally you use the VirtualBox GUI to manage your virtual machines, but a server does not have a desktop environment. Fortunately, VirtualBox comes with a tool called VBoxHeadless that allows you to connect to the virtual machines over a remote desktop connection, so there's no need for the VirtualBox GUI. 1 Preliminary Note I have tested this on a freshly installed Ubuntu 17.10 server (host system) where I'm logged in as a normal user. The only option chosen during the install was SSHD Server. After initial…
Read More