After installing BFD on your dedicated server, you’ll want to configure and enable it out of test mode to get started protecting your server.

1. Edit the configuration file, which should be /usr/local/bfd/conf.bfd

2. Now we want to enable “brute force hack attempt alerts”. So first find ALERT_USR=“0” and change that to ALERT_USR=“1” which is ensuring that yes, you want alerts when there is a brute force hacking attempt.

3. Where you want to send those alerts comes next! Find EMAIL_USR=“root” and change that to EMAIL_USR=“emailaddresshere”

4. Ctrl+X then Y

5. But wait…if you are disallowing everyone from accessing your SSH, doesn’t that mean you can’t get in either? Yep, so let’s prevent that. pico –w /usr/local/bfd/ignore.hosts and add your own IP(s). Ctrl+X then Y.

Now you can run BFD by entering /usr/local/sbin/bfd –s

There are also ways to customize the configurations, but as these vary there’s no standard editing to describe! So you’re all set! Your dedicated web server is now ready to alert you to any brute force hacking attempts.

Lately, we have been talking a lot about dedicated server security. It is a huge issue for most webmasters, because security on any internet sphere is never absolute. There will always be hackers and spammers looking to bring your machine down, so the more you do to fight them, the better your chances are that you will deter them from further attacks.

First, find yourself a reliable dedicated server host that you can call or email for technical support. Second, install APF firewall on your dedicated server to manage your level of server protection. Third, you’ll want to implement security features like installing BFD to check for brute force hack attempts.

Installing BFD is the first step of this two part tutorial. Make sure you already have APF firewall installed or this won’t work!

1. Login to the root and cd root/downloads (AKA: wherever you store your files).

2. Use the SSH command of wget as follows:
wget http://www.rfxnetworks.com/downloads/bfd-current.tar.gz

3. Use the SSH command of tar as follows:
tar –xvzf bfd-current.tar.gz

4. Use the SSH command of cd as follows:
cd bfd-0.7

5. Run the ./install.sh file. Once this is complete, you’ll receive the following message that alerts to you a proper installation:

.: BFD installed
Install path: /usr/local/bfd
Config path: /usr/local/bfd/conf.bfd
Executable path: /usr/local/sbin/bfd

The next step of Enabling BFD to enable blocking of brute force attacks will be covered in an additional tutorial.

This is how you would delete an account using Web Host Manager (WHM) on your dedicated hosting account or server. This way you can get rid of any accounts you may not wish to have, or you are no longer using.

The first thing you would need to do is login to WHM. From the front page, click on “Account Functions” and then click “Terminate an Account”. Now, you are on the Terminate an Account page:

Locate the account you wish to delete.

You can also select the account by clicking on its associated user name. To delete the account, hit the “Terminate” button. Having done so, you have now successfully deleted the account in question from your WHM install for your dedicated hosting plan.

BFD stands for Brute Force Detection and is an SSH script you can use to parse applicable logs to check for authentication failure. Basically, BFD adds another layer of security to your dedicated server, ensuring that you will be aware of any brute force attacks that try to take down your machine.

BFD works in conjunction with APF Firewall and is very straightforward in its installation and configuration, like most Linux server tools.

You can download BFD at http://www.rfxnetworks.com/bfd.php. It is one of the most popular Linux server downloads in the world, so you know it’s a great tool for all your server hosting needs!

Every dedicated server hosting client will experience some kind of user-initiated attack. It’s simply all too common for you to think it’ll never happen to you, so the best thing to do is be prepared.

To start, choose a reliable dedicated web host to handle your server. Second, install APF on your dedicated server to prevent and stall most of the attacker that will try to hammer it. And thirdly, you should learn how to ban a specific IP Address from reaching your server. This last little trick can be a lifesaver, and can actually be setup in as little as 4 simple steps! Once you’ve verified the IP you want to block:

1. Login to your server to the root.

2. With APF Firewall installed, you simply need to enter apf –d <ip>

3. By default, rebooting resets all your IP bans, but that’s why we recommend APF for your dedicated server firewall protection – with APF, there is an easy workaround. Simply open the deny hosts file. Scroll to the bottom and paste in the IP address you want to ban. Ctrl+X then Y will help you save so you can exit and keep these settings for default.

4. Now, just restart your APF and you’re set!

Long Term Agreements or LTAs are a major part of making dedicated server hosting affordable for the long-term customer. Web hosts like LTAs because it assures them that the customer will be staying (and paying!) for a sure, documented period of time. Customers like LTAs because they can normally negotiate a cheaper price and pay per month, while reaping the benefits of the longer billing cycles.

While you should be sure to read the fine print for any web hosting LTA, LTAs can be an incredible resource for new server customers to receive advanced discounts and freebies.

For example, Lunarpages Dedicated Hosting offers LTA contracts that give you freebies like extra RAM, free months of hosting, and even price incentives depending on your commitment. This makes committing to a 12 or 24 month contract ideal for website developers, small businesses, and large corporations!

With the US economy the way it is, any chance of saving a couple bucks becomes a huge incentive to buy now. Buying a dedicated server is no different. So here are 5 tips to save you money on dedicated server hosting.

1. Shop Around.

You know how when you’re buying gas you search for the absolute lowest price, even if that means waiting until gas has gone down or until your tank is running near empty?

Buying a dedicated web hosting account should be no difference. Make a list of the providers you like and shop around for the best deal for the features you need. Keep in mind, any good web hosting provider should be able to cut you a deal if you give them specifics of must-have features and budget.

2. Evaluate Billing Cycles Vs Budget

Set an absolute top dollar you can afford and do not waver in your quest to meet this budget, because money is the key issue in today’s economy. Then, evaluate the possible payment options that your chosen dedicated host provides.

For example, let’s say you set a budget of $1000 every year for web hosting. Paying monthly for your dedicated server costs $99 each month – plus, there will likely be some kind of setup fee, so let’s add $100 to that. So yearly, with this monthly billing cycle, you will be over budget by $288 (99pm x 12m + 130setup)! So consider the longer billing cycles if they save you money or add extra features that are must haves for you, such as more RAM or free months hosting.

3. Negotiate

Call the dedicated hosting provider up and ask them questions! Tell them your budget and make them work around you. After all, they will want your business and will likely negotiate with you if your demands are reasonable.

4. Ask About Long-Term-Agreements

Also known as LTAs, long term agreements are contracts you sign with your dedicated web host, promising you will be a customer for X amount of months, usually 1 year or more. In exchange for your signature to their terms, the web host will only bill you monthly but offer discounts and benefits of longer contracts. Lunarpages Dedicated Hosting is especially famous for providing affordable LTAs for specific customer needs.

5. Dedicated Hosting Coupons!

Simply put, use a coupon! The easiest and most effective way to save money instantly.

Backing up from cPanel for your dedicated hosting account is really easy.

The first step in the process would be to login to your cPanel account. Once you are on the front page, then find and click the icon marked “Backup”. This will take you to the cPanel Backup screen.

The full backups are backups of your entire web site and everything in it except for MySQL databases. To generate a full back, click on the link at the top of the page that reads, “Generate/Download a Full Backup”.

To do a normal backup generation, just select from the Backup Destination drop down menu, “Home Directory”. Next, put in your e-mail address in the second box and skip over the remote settings. Click on the button that reads, “Generate Backup” and you should be e-mailed once the backup is ready to download. When it is, you can come back and get it. To download your backup, login to cPanel and click on “Backup”. From there, under full backups click on the text link the reads, “Download a home directory backup”.

To backup your MySQL databases, login to cPanel. Once you are on the front page, then find and click the icon marked “Backup”. This will take you to the cPanel Backup screen.

Near the bottom of this page, you should see a section titled, “Download a MySQL Database Backup” with your databases listed under it. Click on your database name, and then save the backup to your own computer.

Now you can do this for each cPanel account you have under your dedicated hosting server to update all of your personal backups.

Building your website using WordPress, Joomla, b2evolution, ExpressEngine, or any of the other amazing Content Management Systems or tools out there can take the trouble out of designing your dedicated server’s website. WordPress, for example, is one of the best resources available for websites, blogging, and even business web hosting. Many businesses are catching on that not only does WordPress look nice but it’s also easy to understand, even for a technological newbie, and it works hand in hand with Google and the SEO search engines.

With that said, here are some WordPress design resources to help you get started on your dedicated server site.

Free WordPress Themes

If you are looking for quality free WordPress themes, this link from Lunarpages Web Hosting Blog is sure to do the trick. These contests have accumulated hundreds of free WP themes for you to choose from and customize to your server’s unique website look.

Free Webmaster Tools

Need to learn a bit more about SEO and keyword analysis before you are done with your WordPress website? Well check out these amazing free webmaster tools from Lunarpages, which can not only help you research keywords and check out competitor data but submit your website to the search engines as well. This is a very, very useful site to have handy.

300 Tools for Running WordPress Blogs

This is by far the biggest resource for free WordPress tools you will ever find. Check this out for helpful URLs to plugins, comment assistance, removing NOFOLLOW tags for SEO, and more.

Your business is very important to you, and the image you portray on the internet for that business should be just as vital. When you purchase a dedicated server from a reliable hosting company, you should automatically get a domain name. If you haven’t already created one, here are some tips for creating the perfect domain name:

* Shorter is better! (Name.com instead of ThisIsMyName.com)
* Keep it simple
* Hyphenless trumps hyphenated (firstlast.com instead of first-middle-last.com)
* Catchy is key (Google sounds so much better than SearchEngine1)
* Words that are easily misspelled can spell doom
* Go easy on the web 2.0 slang

These tips will help you when choosing the perfect domain name for your dedicated web hosting account.