As some of you may know I got my new dedicated server just over 24 hours ago.

Since then I was setting up ConfigServer Security & Firewall.
Now one of the steps that ConfigServer recommended I perform was to install mod_security for Apache.

Now this is where things started to go a little pear shaped.
I have little experience with performing functions on the command line.
I'm hoping to improve as I practice more. Thats the beauty of root access. However I'd preferably avoid mistakes If I possibly can. Nevertheless you can't learn without making mistakes.

And I have officially made my first mistake. To the point where I've requested my server provider to perform a reinstall. Basically after getting more and more muddled with the installation of mod_security, in the end I just lost track of what was happening in terms of the install process. I just had to abort as I was too muddled.

I'm going to break out laughing at myself later if I find that I could have done all this by the click of a button in WHM.
As it happens I attempted the lengthy manual installation. Which to me was the biggest pile of jargon I had come across in a long time.

So, thats my first mistake so far. Theres bound to be a few more.
But I will get there eventually. Can't expect to get it right first time.

The problem is you seem to be doing this at client expense.

I fail to see the logic in your leasing of a dedicated server when you don't have the expertise to actually configure and run the server.

With so many excellent VPS options out there today it makes no sense for someone who is inexperienced to try and go it alone with a dedicated server.

We have no clients on our dedicated server.
They are still safely on our old reseller account.
There is no way I'm opening the dedicated server until I'm ready for business.
And yes, I'm wishing to gain the experience.
It might be a while before I open the server.
Then again I learn fast. So I'd say give me a few days, maybe a week, and I will be more familiar with things.

Thanks for the advice though.
Perhaps I should have gone for a VPS.

By the way, just a quick update.
I did mess things up pretty badly.
I'm glad of one thing. At least no customers were harmed.
But my misconfiguration caused the server to crash.
I had to request my server provider to reboot and reflash the servers.
They are currently onto this and in around 6-8 hours hopefully we'll be up and running again.

I know, it sounds like I'm useless. Well this is the first time I've used root access. I'm only 19...never done this before.
I enjoy learning. And I will only open the server for business once I'm confident that I won't mess things up any more.

Judging by your other posts here your clients have already suffered.

You may be a fast learner but server management is something people spend years learning.

I know I"m sounding negative but I'm just offering advice.
You can learn these things while maintaining a client base.

A fully managed server or a fully managed VPS is really the way to go for you, in my opinion.

The added advantage to a fully managed VPS is that you can concentrate your efforts on getting new clients while learning the server basics in the background.

Just wanted to reiterate one of Blue's points. While you may be a fast learner, a dedicated server, the security and operation of such as a machine is not something anyone can learn in a few day, or a even a few weeks. Even today (15 years after setting up my first server) I still learn new things. The learning process is never over, however to operate a server with the intention of putting clients on the machine is something that you'll want to maybe do in a few months. It's not like a George Foreman grill where you can "set it and forget it".

I'm all for people learning new things, but a Managed VPS or Managed Server (at least initially) would probably be of benefit. Also, a server backup system where you can restore files etc is a MUST especially when starting out so that you don't need to revert back to a base OS install.

Again, I'm all for you learning the sever operations - but definitely your timeframe window of a few days to few weeks will need to be changed to Months and Years of learning. Still, fingers crossed for you in the new adventure of System Administration!

Server Administration is going to take you *years* not days to grasp thoroughly - I'd strongly suggest you switch to a managed server

This is a managed server.
The dedicated server is fully managed.
My server provider is sorting it all out for me.
Trying to fix what I messed up. So I'm lucky there.

However, you are all correct.
I do need to start thinking before I make decisions.
I really don't want to get rid of the dedicated server.
But I understand where you are all coming from.

Is there anywhere on this forum I can advertise for a business partner? I wouldn't mind linking up with someone who is more experienced than me.

Despite all the complications I really would like this to work out, with the dedicated server.
A VPS doesn't really appeal to me as they have things like CPU limits, and they're never as fast.

Oh and just so you know how crazy this is...I managed to lock myself out of the server.
Before I blew the whole thing up. I changed the root password. However I forgot to update the SSH key file.
I set it to require an SSH key file for security reasons you see. I am really laughing at my own carelessness.
I hope to do a better job second time round. Let's hope the server gets repaired soon. I want to try again.

A *fully managed* server and they're letting you have root access ?!?

A very strange provider you've found there, perhaps you should get them to clarify the management issue.

Yes it's fully managed and they let me have root access. You see, this is a third party provider. They have been in business for a few years, but have never become big like JustHost, etc. I read some reviews about them. Their average rating is 4.5 out of 5.

However, I have a friend who knows the owner of this company. That's where my luck came in. I was able to strike an extra special deal with these guys. So, yeah. I'm lucky in a way. Fully managed server and yet I have full control. Just what I wanted, but indeed very rare.

My friend knows me very well. He convinced them that I could be trusted.
Having said that I got a good ticking off when I messed up.
However since then it has all been rebooted and the server is now fully setup. No mistakes this time.
I have just finished configuring the firewall and server security. Will possibly be opening for business soon.
Just got a few finishing touches to go through first. Need to make sure everything is 100% perfect.