After installing: 7 days.

Your server is running: well done! Now let’s make it solid. One topic a day, about 15 minutes. Tick as you go: your progress is saved in this browser.

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Day 1 Backups20 min
A disk failure or a bad command, and everything is gone. It is the one thing you cannot undo: we start with it.
- Check that last night’s automatic backup ran
```
systemctl list-timers sauvegarde-serveur.timer && ls -lh /opt/backups | tail -3
```
  Manual (French) →
- Send a copy SOMEWHERE OTHER than the server (external disk, another machine, online storage)Backing up your server (French) →
- Store the backup password in a password manager (without it, the backup cannot be read)Generated passwords (French) →
Day 2 Test a restore20 min
A backup you have never restored is only a hope. Try it now, calmly, rather than on the day something breaks.
- Restore a not-so-important app from the backupRestoring a backup (French) →
- Write down (on paper!) the steps and where the backups are
Day 3 Updates15 min
Most attacks target vulnerabilities that are already fixed. An up-to-date server removes almost all the risk.
- Check that automatic system updates are on
```
systemctl list-timers apt-daily-upgrade.timer
```
  Manual (French) →
- Update your apps once, to see how it goesUpdating your apps (French) →
- Subscribe to security alerts for the apps you runSecurity alerts →
Day 4 Monitoring20 min
Know that a site is down before your family tells you. And get notified on your phone.
- Monitor each app with Uptime Kuma (or a free online service)Uptime Kuma →
- Receive alerts on your phone (Discord, ntfy, email)ntfy →
- Have the server monitored from ANOTHER machine (if it goes down completely, it cannot warn you itself)Monitoring your server (French) →
Day 5 Access security15 min
Your server is constantly probed by bots: that is normal. You just need to close the right doors.
- Log in over SSH with a key, and turn off password loginSSH (French) →
- Turn on two-factor authentication in every app that offers it
- Change any default login (admin / admin…) shown at the end of the installationSecuring your VPS (French) →
Day 6 The health check10 min
A full report on your server in one command, without changing anything, with the fix for each issue.
- Run the health check and fix the serious issuesHealth check (French) →
- Check how much disk space is left
```
df -h /
```
  Freeing disk space (French) →
Day 7 The logbook10 min
In six months you will have forgotten how everything is set up. Ten minutes today will save you an evening of digging.
- Write down in a document: the host, the domain, the apps, where the backups are and their passwords
- Tell someone close where to find that document, if your data matters to them too (family photos…)
- Add a calendar reminder: health check and test restore once a month

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