<center>https://steemitimages.com/0x0/http://m.memegen.com/4z8t3l.jpg</center>

## VPS ##
What's a VPS (Virtual Private Server) and why do you want one?

* Development & Testing
* Privacy
* Freedom

<center>https://steemitimages.com/0x0/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B8eAzjfCIAA9xdk.jpg</center>

## Selection ##
There are MANY to choose from but, I went with [ChunkHost](https://chunkhost.com)

They offer basic VPS services with easy sign-up & multiple payment options.
<center>(One of which being BTC)</center>
<center>*Note: If you prefer the option to pay in SBD, check out @privex*</center>

Their most modest offer comes in @ $60USD a Year. For $5/month, users receive:
* 1GB RAM
* 20GB SSD storage
* 1 CPU cores
* 2TB Transfer/month

<center>https://steemitimages.com/0x0/http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/c3/c391f82952a79dfa6c39a304e8dec2df42e213233dfc3ec17e7cb91851d680bd.jpg</center>
Sign up couldn't be more simple …

1.  Enter:
    1. Email
    1. Password
1. Click the "Sign-Up" button
![10.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmWjY3cQ66yNZ7vkXad9gNZiyNkVbzD2Zt1dHR6EmMy2fo/10.png)
1. Click the "Add Chunk" button
![11.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmWgACLMKnWWBdQ2fjVFcnWPk1TWXGAbi2wuXwQudshWPJ/11.png)
1. Enter hostname
1. Select OS
1. Click the "Create your new chunk" button
![12.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmQkEKN4x2XJD3HW5TTYLY8QaKXRsd1N6nyngxADd2CeBt/12.png)
1. Select Bitcoin
1. Make Payment
1. Click the "Okay, I sent the Bitcoins!" button
![13.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmY1XKr7ifBA6NYJBDy57DuM8c7fF9i9jQyaFWoMoHnB59/13.png)
1. Wait for Approval

<center>https://steemitimages.com/0x0/http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/0f/0febcfb17c78b2edfdaa058a111dd2fc16883c761759b27e1588d2e1666f88cb.jpg</center>
I pretty much hate 3rd party offers on steemit but, I'll leave this here as an option if some kind folks out there would like to help fund my Steemit development efforts ... 

<center>*(No official project ties but, I plan on making regular contributions toward the project)*</center>

<center>If you use this referral code:</center>
<center>https://chunkhost.com/r/48109</center>

<center>**I'll send you 2 SBD!**</center>
<center>*(If this post gains in popularity significantly, I will likely increase the rewards accordingly)*</center>

To redeem the offer, find me in chat and we'll walk through a quick verification process!

## Login ##
Using ssh ([putty](https://the.earth.li/~sgtatham/putty/latest/w32/putty.exe) is handy if using Windows)
    `$ ssh root@yourIP`

## First Steps ##
* Setup Non-Privledged User
    `sudo adduser username; sudo usermod -aG sudo username`

* Enable Unattended Security Updates
    `sudo apt-get install -y unattended-upgrades apt-listchanges`
    `sudo rm /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/20auto-upgrades`
    `l1="APT::Periodic::Update-Package-Lists \"1\";"`
    `l2="APT::Periodic::Unattended-Upgrade \"1\";"`
    `echo $l1 | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/20auto-upgrades`
    `echo $l2 | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/20auto-upgrades`

* Scheduled Daily Updates
   `echo '30 00 * * * root (apt-get update && apt-get -y upgrade) > /dev/null' | sudo tee -a /etc/crontab`

* Weekly Reboot
   `echo '01 00 * * 0 root (apt-get update && apt-get -y upgrade) > /dev/null  /sbin/shutdown -r ' | sudo tee -a /etc/crontab`

<center>__*Do the best job hardening your time/money allow!*__</center>
<center>https://steemitimages.com/0x0/https://goingvirurl.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/virurl_native_advertising_nerd.jpg?w=750</center>

## Next Steps? ##
* Steemit's Easiest Personal VPN Setup Guide
* Steemit's Easiest Witness Setup Guide
* Steemit's Easiest Peerplays Witness Guide

<center>All questions, comments, corrections, love and hate are welcome!</center>
<center>If you found this helpful, follow @cayce</center>