UNIX for Web Hosting

Due to their stability, security, and efficiency, many web servers run on UNIX-based operating systems such as Linux. Mastering basic tools and protocols used in UNIX environments is essential for web administrators and developers.

Popular UNIX Web Hosting Tools

Apache & Nginx: Powerful and widely-used web servers.
SSH (Secure Shell): Secure command-line access to remote servers.
FTP & SFTP: Used to upload/download files between local machines and remote UNIX servers.

File Permissions & Security

UNIX uses a permissions system to control access to files and directories. Permissions include:

r – read
w – write
x – execute

Permissions are set for three user types: owner, group, and others.

Example: chmod 755 index.html — gives full permissions to the owner, and read/execute to group and others.

Use ls -l to view permissions. Modify ownership with chown.

SFTP & FTP Use

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and SFTP (Secure FTP) are tools for uploading/downloading files between machines. SFTP is encrypted and recommended for secure transfers.

Example: Using SFTP from Terminal

sftp username@yourserver.com
                cd /var/www/html
                put index.html
                get logs.txt
                exit

Example: FTP Command-Line

ftp yourserver.com
                Username: youruser
                Password: ••••••
                cd /public_html
                put image.png
                bye

Graphical clients like FileZilla can also simplify the process of SFTP and FTP file transfers.

SSH & Remote Access

SSH (Secure Shell) is used to log into a remote server securely and perform terminal-based tasks.

Example: ssh user@yourserver.com

Once logged in, you can deploy websites, manage files, and even run services directly from your UNIX shell.

SSH keys can be set up to enhance security and avoid entering your password each time.