TOPIC / TAG
Notes in configuration
9 articles
Add a Swap File to a Small VPS
Check memory first, create a swap file that survives reboots, set vm.swappiness with a sysctl drop-in, and remove it cleanly if you change your mind.
systemctl cat and Drop-In Overrides
Inspect the complete systemd unit and make a small local override without editing vendor files.
Use docker compose config Before Deploying
Render the Compose model before deployment to catch interpolation, merge, profile, and path surprises.
SSH Config Aliases for a Small Fleet
Replace long SSH commands with readable host aliases while keeping usernames, ports, keys, and jump hosts explicit.
Nginx Location Matching in the Order That Matters
Predict which Nginx location block will handle a request by learning how exact, prefix, and regex matches are chosen.
RDB, AOF, Both, or Neither: Redis Persistence on a Small Server
Decide whether a small Redis needs RDB snapshots, an append-only file, both, or no persistence, check that saves are really happening, and prove a restore with a throwaway instance.
PostgreSQL Memory Settings on a Small VPS
Check and size sharedbuffers, effectivecachesize, workmem, maintenanceworkmem, and maxconnections on a small server, apply them with the right reload or restart, and confirm the effect.
Test Nginx Configuration Before Reloading
Use Nginx's configuration test, inspect included files, and reload without replacing healthy workers with a broken configuration.
Redis maxmemory and Eviction on a Small Server
Set a Redis memory limit, choose an eviction policy that matches what the keys are for, and use INFO to tell whether Redis is evicting keys or refusing writes.