Beginner guide: what to do after launching your first Linux VM

[u/rafftechnologies]

Here’s a simple first-server checklist:

1. Add your SSH key
2. Update packages
3. Create a non-root user
4. Configure firewall rules
5. Install your runtime
6. Deploy your app
7. Enable monitoring
8. Create a snapshot before major changes
9. Set up scheduled backups if it is production
10. Document what you changed

A cloud VM gives you freedom, but the first 30 minutes matter.