# Unmanaged VPS Beginner: Setting up OS/Nginx/PHP/etc **URL:** \ **Category:** NGINX\ **Created:** [September 30, 2010, 1:20am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/unmanaged-vps-beginner-setting-up-os-nginx-php-etc/195782 "2010-09-30T01:20:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 1:20am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/unmanaged-vps-beginner-setting-up-os-nginx-php-etc/195782/1 "2010-09-30T01:20:43Z")
I decided to go with an unmanaged VPS but I don’t understand the basics so I’m a little lost… right now my panel looks like this [http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/8550/screenshot05c.jpg](http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/8550/screenshot05c.jpg) and I did install Debian 5 and Nginx using the “Reinstall OS” feature inside the VPS Panel but I’m not sure if I have the latest version of Debian 5 or Nginx. I haven’t had too much luck in the Nginx forum or in the IRC channel so I’m asking here My Questions are: 1. How do I check the versions of Debian-5 and the Nginx that are installed? If I have to upgrade them, is there anywhere I can go to find out how? 2. After I figure out if i have the latest versions for number 1, how do I install PHP / MySQL / phpMyAdmin? 3. How do I add other sites without a control panel? I don’t expect 1 person to answer everythin… I just need help… its been 2 days now and I haven’t beena ble to figure anythin out so any help at all is appreciated Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 1:27am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/unmanaged-vps-beginner-setting-up-os-nginx-php-etc/195782/2 "2010-09-30T01:27:44Z")
On Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 4:19 PM, [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > 1. How do I check the versions of Debian-5 and the Nginx that are installed? > If I have to upgrade them, is there anywhere I can go to find out how? nginx -v > 1. After I figure out if i have the latest versions for number 1, how do I > install PHP / MySQL / phpMyAdmin? Use php-fpm. It may already be installed - ps aux |grep php-fpm. If it isn’t, you need to compile php with fpm support and deploy some service scripts (see the nginx wiki), and configure nginx to use it via location directives. > 1. How do I add other sites without a control panel? By editing the nginx config files. Nginx by default is not as nicely laid out as apache for multiple sites. You will have to consult the nginx wiki and take an approach along the lines of include /usr/local/nginx/sites-enabled/\* in your main http base config, along with writing a few scripts to provision new domains. Cheers Kon ---
**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 1:40am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/unmanaged-vps-beginner-setting-up-os-nginx-php-etc/195782/3 "2010-09-30T01:40:02Z")
thx alot for the help Kon… the thing is im so new im not sure where nginx -v would actually go… im new to pretty much everything on the unmanaged side… Ive logged into root b4 and used the command line… but with an unmanaged vps im not 2 sure where i log in or any of that Thanks again ---
**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 6:20am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/unmanaged-vps-beginner-setting-up-os-nginx-php-etc/195782/4 "2010-09-30T06:20:19Z")
a friend of mine told me to try apt-get update and apt-get upgrade b4 i saw this response and i did both… seems it updated pretty much everything… cat /etc/debian\_version = 5.0.6 nginx -v = nginx/0.8.37 mysql -V = mysql Ver 14.12 Distrib 5.0.51a, for debian-linux-gnu (x86\_64) using readline 5.2 php -v doesnt seem to be returning anything so I’m guessing I dont have it installed… should I start over or does the way I upgraded not matter? I know MySQL is a requirement for some of the things ill be using… whats the difference with MariaDB? I’m not adding sites yet until I’m done with this server stuff but thanks for the info ill try that script when i get to that part How do I check to see if MySQL and PHP are on the serv? and how do i check if m ---
**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 2:11am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/unmanaged-vps-beginner-setting-up-os-nginx-php-etc/195782/5 "2010-09-30T02:11:02Z")
On 30 Set 2010 00h19 WEST, [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > My Questions are: > > 1. How do I check the versions of Debian-5 and the Nginx that are > installed? If I have to upgrade them, is there anywhere I can go > to find out how? Debian 5. Check the release. The current release number is in /etc/debian\_version cat /etc/debian\_version Alternatively, if you have the lsb-release package installed: lsb\_release -d gives you the Debian version, release and codename. The current is: 5.0.6 (lenny). For nginx, if you used the package from Lenny (quite old) you can find out which package you have installed with: dpkg -s nginx > 1. After I figure out if i have the latest versions for number 1, > how do I install PHP / MySQL / phpMyAdmin? Get the version from dotdeb is the latest 5.2.x. Or 5.3.x if go that route. > **[Instructions](https://www.dotdeb.org/instructions/)** > > Warning: Dotdeb is no longer maintained, and its packages have known security vulnerabilities that will never be fixed. Do not install them. All Dotdeb repositories will be shut down on December 31st, 2026 (see Dotdeb is shutting down on December... I suggest MariaDB instead of the standard MySQL: > **[Error - OurDelta Information and Resources | OurDelta](https://www.ourdelta.org/debian)** > > Error - OurDelta Information and Resources - OurDelta. Learn more about Error - OurDelta Information and Resources with details, resources and... I advise against installing phpmyadmin. There are exploits and holes being found every other day for it. Instead I suggest you use the console over SSH. > 1. How do I add other sites without a control panel? Create a configuration for each site (virtual host) in /etc/nginx/sites-available and enable it. Currently Debian has no script in the nginx package (any version) for emulating the a2ensite/a2dissite Apache utility. I wrote a small Bash script for that. It’s referenced in the Wiki and also you can get it from [GitHub - perusio/nginx\_ensite: A script to enable or disable a site in nginx. · GitHub](http://github.com/perusio/nginx_ensite). After enabling each host, reload nginx. The new site is up. > I don’t expect 1 person to answer everythin.. I just need help.. its > been 2 days now and I haven’t beena ble to figure anythin out so any > help at all is appreciated Check this: [http://library.linode.com/](http://library.linode.com/) Also run a firewall and secure your machine as much as possible. These guides have everything you need follow them and you’ll be clear from dangerous dark woods. — appa ---
**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 6:35am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/unmanaged-vps-beginner-setting-up-os-nginx-php-etc/195782/6 "2010-09-30T06:35:32Z")
On Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 11:18 PM, [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > How do I check to see if MySQL and PHP are on the serv? and how do i check if m > On Sep 29, 2010, at 5:05 PM, António P. P. Almeida wrote: ## I’m sorry, but this isn’t the forum for free general technical support of Debain systems. If your unmanaged hosting vendor won’t help you with this, you need to do a lot of reading, or use a _managed_ hosting provider and pay for it. RPM