Un-Managed server, can I do it?

[KingsFan]

I'm outgrowing my semi-dedicated host and I'm looking to move to a dedicated server. It looks like RackShack has some great prices and great reviews here in this forum. The one drawback people mention is that it's completely un-managed and this leads to many servers having security issues.

How hard is it to manage the server yourself? Does rackshack announce when a security patch comes out? Why are so many servers at risk? Is it just that the owners don't install the patches or is there more to it?

I've never had anything more than a re-seller account with WHM and CPannel, but I do have extensive computer experience, a computer engineering degree and use a Unix box at work. How easy will it be for me to get up to speed with RedHat, Apache, etc.? Any comments or suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks!

[adrianchew]

I picked it up all on the side - never had formal training in Unix/Linux. Its easy enough - read the Rackshack forums and follow the How-Tos and you can hardly go wrong. There are times you have to resolve some issues when customizing, but its not bad at all.

I'm not cutting edge super tuned though - its not like I have a custom Apache compile and such... but I do have a lot of extras in place like MailScanner, Turck Mmcache, updated PHP, etc. I've worked with Ensim updates - some more painful than others, but none that blew the box totally up or didn't something that I couldn't fix later, but haven't used 3.5, just 3.1.

[aaronx88]

Hi,

I was wondering who is your host and how much are you currently paying? Some host are more lenient than others regarding resources.

There is a VPS solution that "might work" for you. It is completely managed and you dont have to worry about security and etc. Another thing is that it is one of the cheapest which might allow you to get a higher end package with what you are currently paying.

http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=81197

[jdearing]

Even the so called great tech support hosts such as Ventures Online won't install things such as Firewall or Anti-Virus on your server for you. At least not without charging you.

Heck, before I knew anybetter, VO charged me to upgrade ENSIM 3.1.15 to 3.1.17 which turned out was an easy upgrade, but at the time I didn't know any better. My point is, that was a security update and they charged a fee to update it.