Table of Contents
Update your server
Once you prepared your server, there are some steps you have to make first. The Debian server is built by the VPS provider using an image of a Debian 12 server (see https://wiki.myfed.space/dokuwiki/activate_your_virtual_private_server_your_linux_box). But that image has been created a while back. Before using it, you must make sure the server is up to date.
Using Putty
After you followed the steps in https://wiki.myfed.space/dokuwiki/get_putty you can run Putty.
In this frame you can enter the IP address you got from your provider. If you enter a nice name in Saved Sessions and then press Save, you don't have to enter the ip address every time again. All default settings, like Connection type SSH and Port 22 are just fine.
Now press Open and your linux console will open.
If this is the first time, you will get a warning that Putty doesn't know or trust this server. Just press Accept and the Console will be shown.
And here is your login prompt
Updating Debian
As explained before, before using the system make sure it is updated. The default installation may lack important security updates, so first update.
At the login prompt enter the login name, root
Remember, after installing Yunohost, you will use another login name!
The the console asks you to enter the password. That is the password that your VPS provider gave you! Enter this password and press enter.
This may be tricky, you don't see the characters your inputted. This is where the handy mouse trick mighht help: Use the left mouse button to select the password in the VPS provider's dashboard. Then in the Putty screen press the middle mouse button when the password prompt is shown. And then press enter.
Your linux screen is shown. Don't be afraid, it is just some white text and a prompt showing root> And that is waiting for your input.
In the following instructions don't enter the quotes of [] chars…
type: “apt update” [enter]
btw: apt is the name of the Debian update service
The system will now show lots of lines that are of no importance to you. When the root> prompt shows again type: “apt upgrade” [enter] More lines appear and then a question is shown if you want to update something, just pres “y” and perhaps [return].
Now the system will start updating lots of resources. That can take quite a while, like 5 minutes or so.
When the root> prompt is shown again, the system is up-to-date and pretty secure. ALmost ready for Yunohost. We still need to install a few relevant tools:
type: apt install curl ca-certificates mc [enter] (curl is a administrative file transfer tool, ca-certificates manages public certificates, mc is midnight commander, a handy console tool). During this installation another Y/n question is asked, just press Y.
In a few moments all is installed and the system is ready. Time to celebrate, you just installed a fully functioning top notch internet server.