Senior Linux Server Administrator — Long-Term (Ubuntu / Plesk / Docker / PrestaShop)
Budget: $250 – $750 USD
Senior Linux Server Administrator — Long-Term (Ubuntu / Plesk / Docker / PrestaShop)
Overview
I am looking for a reliable and experienced Linux server administrator to take real ownership of live production infrastructure. The goal is long-term cooperation with one technically strong person who communicates clearly, works pragmatically, and takes responsibility for the systems they manage.
Infrastructure
• VPS 20 (Contabo) — n8n, Docker, Nextcloud, Vikunja, Uptime Kuma
• VPS 30 (Contabo) — Plesk, WordPress, Email (Postfix, Dovecot, SpamAssassin)
• VPS 30 (Contabo) — PrestaShop live shop (Nginx + Apache, Cloudflare, PHP-FPM)
• Dedicated Backup Server (Interserver) — automated backups, Google Drive, NFS
Your First Task — System Cleanup & Security Takeover
The previous administrator left the systems in a partially configured and insecure state.
Before anything else, you will:
Access Cleanup
• Remove all SSH keys, SFTP users, and credentials of the previous administrator across all servers
• Remove any email accounts or system accounts created by or forwarding to the previous administrator
• Rotate all relevant passwords (root, SSH, Plesk, SFTP, database) and confirm with documentation
Open Technical Items to Resolve
• Cloudflare: 2 domains were started but not finished — in total 8 domains have to be set up and configured
• Cloudflare: fix caching configuration that is causing instability on live websites
• OpenVPN Community Edition: full fresh installation; provide 4 .ovpn certificates — owner (full access), PrestaShop developer (restricted), Member Area developer (restricted), yourself (temporary — revoked on project completion)
• SSH: restrict access on all servers — must not remain open to Anywhere (0.0.0.0/0)
• Cron jobs: fix broken cron on backup server (/home/en8en/backup missing); notifications only on failure, not on success
• SFTP: screenshot per server confirming active users — only PrestaShop developer and Membo developer
• Email server: written proposal for migration from MX Guarddog to Rspamd (open source), including user experience impact, then implementation
• PrestaShop server: complete remaining optimizations (e.g. TTFB currently 4.4 seconds)
• Backup monitoring: notifications only on failure — applies to all servers
Ongoing Responsibilities
• Manage Ubuntu production servers, Plesk environments, WordPress and PrestaShop setups
• Keep systems updated, patched, and secure; manage domains, DNS, SSL, and email configurations
• Manage developer access (SSH / SFTP); diagnose issues independently using logs and monitoring
• Understand backup systems and restore procedures; work carefully on live systems without downtime
What Matters To Me
• Reliability — do what you say, confirm only what is actually done
• Proactive mindset — identify and communicate problems before they become incidents
• Propose solutions, align with me before acting, then execute cleanly
• No delegation — you must be the person doing the work; no third-party access without explicit written permission
• Long-term cooperation — I am not looking for a one-time fix
Working Model
• Fixed price for Task 1 (system cleanup + all open technical items)
• Ongoing work after Task 1: freelance / hourly — estimated 5–10 hours per month
• All larger tasks discussed and agreed before execution
• Updates submitted as Word documents with screenshots as proof of completion
Please Include In Your Application
• Short summary of relevant experience and similar infrastructure managed
• General availability and typical response times
• Confirmation that you are the person doing all the work
• Your fixed-price offer and estimated hours for Task 1
• Your hourly rate for ongoing work after Task 1
Overview
I am looking for a reliable and experienced Linux server administrator to take real ownership of live production infrastructure. The goal is long-term cooperation with one technically strong person who communicates clearly, works pragmatically, and takes responsibility for the systems they manage.
Infrastructure
• VPS 20 (Contabo) — n8n, Docker, Nextcloud, Vikunja, Uptime Kuma
• VPS 30 (Contabo) — Plesk, WordPress, Email (Postfix, Dovecot, SpamAssassin)
• VPS 30 (Contabo) — PrestaShop live shop (Nginx + Apache, Cloudflare, PHP-FPM)
• Dedicated Backup Server (Interserver) — automated backups, Google Drive, NFS
Your First Task — System Cleanup & Security Takeover
The previous administrator left the systems in a partially configured and insecure state.
Before anything else, you will:
Access Cleanup
• Remove all SSH keys, SFTP users, and credentials of the previous administrator across all servers
• Remove any email accounts or system accounts created by or forwarding to the previous administrator
• Rotate all relevant passwords (root, SSH, Plesk, SFTP, database) and confirm with documentation
Open Technical Items to Resolve
• Cloudflare: 2 domains were started but not finished — in total 8 domains have to be set up and configured
• Cloudflare: fix caching configuration that is causing instability on live websites
• OpenVPN Community Edition: full fresh installation; provide 4 .ovpn certificates — owner (full access), PrestaShop developer (restricted), Member Area developer (restricted), yourself (temporary — revoked on project completion)
• SSH: restrict access on all servers — must not remain open to Anywhere (0.0.0.0/0)
• Cron jobs: fix broken cron on backup server (/home/en8en/backup missing); notifications only on failure, not on success
• SFTP: screenshot per server confirming active users — only PrestaShop developer and Membo developer
• Email server: written proposal for migration from MX Guarddog to Rspamd (open source), including user experience impact, then implementation
• PrestaShop server: complete remaining optimizations (e.g. TTFB currently 4.4 seconds)
• Backup monitoring: notifications only on failure — applies to all servers
Ongoing Responsibilities
• Manage Ubuntu production servers, Plesk environments, WordPress and PrestaShop setups
• Keep systems updated, patched, and secure; manage domains, DNS, SSL, and email configurations
• Manage developer access (SSH / SFTP); diagnose issues independently using logs and monitoring
• Understand backup systems and restore procedures; work carefully on live systems without downtime
What Matters To Me
• Reliability — do what you say, confirm only what is actually done
• Proactive mindset — identify and communicate problems before they become incidents
• Propose solutions, align with me before acting, then execute cleanly
• No delegation — you must be the person doing the work; no third-party access without explicit written permission
• Long-term cooperation — I am not looking for a one-time fix
Working Model
• Fixed price for Task 1 (system cleanup + all open technical items)
• Ongoing work after Task 1: freelance / hourly — estimated 5–10 hours per month
• All larger tasks discussed and agreed before execution
• Updates submitted as Word documents with screenshots as proof of completion
Please Include In Your Application
• Short summary of relevant experience and similar infrastructure managed
• General availability and typical response times
• Confirmation that you are the person doing all the work
• Your fixed-price offer and estimated hours for Task 1
• Your hourly rate for ongoing work after Task 1