Production-Ready VPS & Docker Setup
Budget: $30 – $250 USD
I have a fresh Ubuntu VPS that needs to be transformed into a secure, production-grade environment. Your mission is to start from a clean slate and hand back a server that I can trust in the long run.
Security first
Because I don’t have prescriptive hardening rules, I’d like you to recommend and implement best-practice measures—firewall, SSH lockdown, automatic updates, intrusion prevention, the works—documenting every step so I can audit or reproduce it later.
Containerisation
I’ll be running specific applications inside Docker. Expect to create the necessary Dockerfiles or compose files, optimise images, and set up persistent volumes and networking so each service is isolated yet easy to maintain.
Web stack
Nginx will sit in front as a reverse proxy handling multiple domains and SSL certificates (Let’s Encrypt is fine). Clean redirects, gzip/brotli, and basic rate limiting should all be in place.
Deployment workflow
If a lightweight CI/CD pipeline (Git-based, push-to-deploy) is the simplest path to reliable updates, include it. Otherwise, show me a repeatable manual procedure I can later hook into GitHub Actions or GitLab CI.
Deliverables (acceptance criteria)
• Hardened Ubuntu VPS with documented security configuration
• Dockerised versions of my applications running smoothly
• Nginx reverse proxy with valid SSL for each domain
• Clear, version-controlled provisioning scripts or notes
• Post-handover walkthrough and rollback instructions
When you respond, please share:
1. A brief overview of similar VPS/Docker/Nginx projects you’ve completed
2. The approach or toolchain you’d use here
3. A realistic timeline from provisioning to hand-off
I’m aiming for a clean, professional build—no quick hacks—so communicate any constraints upfront and let’s get this right the first time.
Security first
Because I don’t have prescriptive hardening rules, I’d like you to recommend and implement best-practice measures—firewall, SSH lockdown, automatic updates, intrusion prevention, the works—documenting every step so I can audit or reproduce it later.
Containerisation
I’ll be running specific applications inside Docker. Expect to create the necessary Dockerfiles or compose files, optimise images, and set up persistent volumes and networking so each service is isolated yet easy to maintain.
Web stack
Nginx will sit in front as a reverse proxy handling multiple domains and SSL certificates (Let’s Encrypt is fine). Clean redirects, gzip/brotli, and basic rate limiting should all be in place.
Deployment workflow
If a lightweight CI/CD pipeline (Git-based, push-to-deploy) is the simplest path to reliable updates, include it. Otherwise, show me a repeatable manual procedure I can later hook into GitHub Actions or GitLab CI.
Deliverables (acceptance criteria)
• Hardened Ubuntu VPS with documented security configuration
• Dockerised versions of my applications running smoothly
• Nginx reverse proxy with valid SSL for each domain
• Clear, version-controlled provisioning scripts or notes
• Post-handover walkthrough and rollback instructions
When you respond, please share:
1. A brief overview of similar VPS/Docker/Nginx projects you’ve completed
2. The approach or toolchain you’d use here
3. A realistic timeline from provisioning to hand-off
I’m aiming for a clean, professional build—no quick hacks—so communicate any constraints upfront and let’s get this right the first time.