The Nxeon Blog
Guides for people who run their own servers.
Straight-talking tutorials and comparisons on VPS hosting, game servers, Linux and security. No fluff, just what actually works. 346 guides from the team that runs the servers.
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How to Install ARK Mods on Your Server
A step-by-step guide to installing ARK mods on your server, covering Steam Workshop IDs for ASE, CurseForge IDs for ASA, the ActiveMods and -mods= launch args, and client auto-download.
How to Create a Non-Root Sudo User on a VPS
Working as root all the time is dangerous. Create a dedicated sudo user, give it your SSH key, and adopt least-privilege as your default way of working.
How to Scan a Linux Server for Malware (rkhunter, ClamAV)
Even hardened servers get probed. Learn to scan for rootkits and malware with rkhunter and ClamAV, read the results, and respond to a real detection.
How to Read and Manage Linux Logs with journalctl
systemd's journal holds nearly every log on a modern Linux server. Learn to filter, follow, and prune it with journalctl so you can debug fast.
How to Monitor a Linux VPS (htop, netdata and more)
You can't fix what you can't see. Learn the essential Linux monitoring tools — from quick htop checks to a full netdata dashboard with alerts.
How to Secure a MySQL Database
An exposed or default-configured database is a breach waiting to happen. Lock down MySQL/MariaDB: bind to localhost, strong users, least privilege and TLS.
How to Create a Swap File on a Linux VPS
Small VPS plans run out of RAM fast. A swap file gives the kernel breathing room and prevents the OOM killer from killing your app. Here's how to add one.
DDoS Protection Basics for a VPS
What a DDoS attack actually is, what you can mitigate at the server level, and where you genuinely need upstream protection. A realistic primer.
How to Add Two-Factor Authentication to SSH
Add a time-based one-time code on top of your SSH key for defence in depth. Set up Google Authenticator PAM without locking yourself out.
How to Install and Configure fail2ban
fail2ban watches your logs and automatically bans IPs that fail to log in too many times. Here's how to install it and write custom jails.
How to Set Up SSH Key Authentication and Disable Passwords
Stop relying on passwords. Generate an SSH key pair, install your public key on the VPS, and turn password logins off for good.
How to Harden SSH on a Linux VPS
A practical, copy-paste guide to locking down the SSH daemon on your VPS — the single most important service to secure on a public server.
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