Concepts

Understand how things work under the hood.

Concept

Coolify vs Dokploy: Which Self-Hosted PaaS for Your VPS?

A security-aware comparison of Coolify and Dokploy with real resource numbers, licensing analysis, and a decision framework based on your VPS size and use case.

11 min readRead
Concept

Self-Host Apps on a VPS: Architecture, RAM Usage, and What to Deploy First

A decision guide for self-hosting apps on a VPS with Docker. Includes real memory footprint data for 10+ apps, stacking combos for 4GB and 8GB plans, and a framework for choosing your first app.

12 min readRead
Concept

Traefik vs Caddy vs Nginx: Docker Reverse Proxy Compared

Three working Docker Compose stacks for Traefik, Caddy, and Nginx as reverse proxies on a VPS. Same backend, real benchmarks, and a decision framework to pick the right one.

11 min readRead
Concept

Docker Networking on a VPS: Bridge, Host, and Macvlan Explained

How Docker bridge, host, and macvlan networks work on a single VPS. Covers custom bridge DNS resolution, port publishing, IPv6 configuration, and network isolation with Docker Compose.

12 min readRead
Concept

n8n vs Zapier vs Make: Cost, Privacy and GDPR Compared

Real cost analysis comparing n8n, Zapier, and Make. Per-execution vs per-task pricing math, self-hosting costs on a European VPS, and a practical GDPR compliance breakdown for each platform.

15 min readRead
Concept

Docker in Production on a VPS: What Breaks and How to Fix It

Docker works on your laptop. On a public VPS, it bypasses firewalls, fills disks with logs, runs everything as root, and has no update strategy. Here are the 8 problems you need to solve.

11 min readRead
Concept

AIOps on a VPS: AI-Driven Server Management with Open-Source Tools

Map the full AIOps stack for VPS operators: open-source observability, local LLM log analysis, self-healing automation, and CI/CD intelligence. All running on a single server.

16 min readRead
Concept

BGP Communities Explained: Standard, Large, and Extended

How BGP standard, large, and extended communities work in practice. Covers traffic engineering, blackholing, selective announcement, and graceful shutdown with config examples in BIRD2 and FRR.

15 min readRead
Concept

Linux VPS Security: Threats, Layers, and Hardening Guide

A structured guide to Linux VPS security organized by defense layers, not a random tips list. Covers threat models, SSH hardening, firewalls, Fail2Ban, user permissions, automatic updates, and VPN access on Debian 12 and Ubuntu 24.04.

15 min readRead
Concept

Self-Host Workflow Automation on a VPS with n8n

Run unlimited workflow automations on your own VPS instead of paying per task. This guide covers what workflow automation means in practice, why self-hosting saves money and protects your data, and how n8n compares to Zapier, Make, and other open-source tools.

13 min readRead
Concept

BGP Route Filtering: Prefix Lists, AS-Path Filters, Bogon Rejection, and GTSM

A practical reference for hardening BGP sessions on Linux with layered filters. Covers prefix-lists, bogon rejection, AS-path filtering, max-prefix limits, and GTSM in both BIRD2 and FRR syntax with verification steps.

15 min readRead
Concept

Self-Host AI Agents on a VPS

A practical guide to running AI agents like Claude Code, OpenClaw, and Hermes on your own VPS. Covers agent types, infrastructure sizing, communication protocols, security, and cost.

14 min readRead
Concept

How to Register an ASN with RIPE NCC

A practical guide to obtaining an Autonomous System Number through RIPE NCC. Covers LIR sponsorship vs direct membership, required documents, and post-assignment steps.

13 min readRead
Concept

Nginx Config File Structure Explained

A complete walkthrough of how Nginx configuration files are organized on disk, how contexts nest inside each other, how include directives pull in files, and how directive inheritance actually works.

9 min readRead
Concept

BGP and Bring Your Own IP on a VPS: The Complete Guide

Map the full BYOIP journey from ASN registration to monitored BGP deployment. Covers every building block: ASN, IP allocation, RPKI, routing daemons, route filtering, and advanced use cases like anycast and multi-homing.

15 min readRead
Concept

Nginx Administration on a VPS

A structured map of Nginx administration for VPS owners. Covers what Nginx does, when to use it, and links to every tutorial you need to run it in production.

10 min readRead
Concept

AI Agent Protocols Explained: MCP, A2A, and ANP

A developer-focused comparison of the three protocols that matter for AI agent builders: MCP for tool access, A2A for agent collaboration, and ANP for cross-network discovery. Includes a side-by-side table, layered architecture breakdown, and a decision guide.

14 min readRead
Concept

What is a VPS? Virtual Private Servers Explained

Understand what a VPS is, how it works, and when you should use one.

1 min readRead