Optimized configuration for WordOps running on Ubuntu server

Server Stack

• Ubuntu 16.04/18.04 LTS
• Nginx 1.17.x / 1.16.x
• PHP-FPM 7.2/7.3
• MariaDB 10.3
• REDIS 5.0
• Memcached
• Fail2ban
• Netdata
• UFW

Info

As EasyEngine v3 will no longer receive any updates, configurations available in this repository are being updated for WordOps (EEv3 fork).

We are currently contributing to WordOps project and several parts of this repository are already included in WordOps.

All previous configurations are still available in the branch easyengine-v3.

• Initial configuration

  • System update and packages cleanup
  • Install useful packages
  • Clone the repository
  • Updating the repository
  • Tweak Kernel & Increase open files limits
  • disable transparent hugepage for redis

• WordOps Setup

  • Install MariaDB 10.3
  • MySQL Tuning
  • Increase MariaDB open files limits
  • Setup cronjob to optimize your MySQL databases and repair them if needed

• Install WordOps

  • enable wo bash_completion
  • Install Nginx, php7.2, and configure WO backend
  • Set your email instead of [email protected]
  • Install Composer - Fix phpmyadmin install issue
  • Allow shell for www-data for SFTP usage
  • Set the proper alternative for /usr/bin/php

• NGINX Configuration

  • Additional Nginx configuration (/etc/nginx/conf.d)
  • Compile last Nginx mainline release with nginx-ee
  • Custom configurations
  • Nginx optimized configurations
  • Increase Nginx open files limits

• Security

  • Harden SSH Security
  • UFW
  • Custom jails for fail2ban
  • Secure Memcached server

• Optional

  • proftpd

    • Install proftpd
    • Adding FTP users

  • ee-acme-sh

  • netdata

  • cht.sh (cheat)

  • nanorc - Improved Nano Syntax Highlighting Files

  • Add WP-CLI & bash-completion for user www-data

• Cleanup previous EasyEngine v3

  • Removing previous php versions

Configuration files with comments available by following the link source

Initial configuration

System update and packages cleanup

apt-get update && apt-get dist-upgrade -y && apt-get autoremove --purge -y && apt-get clean

Install useful packages

sudo apt-get install haveged curl git unzip zip fail2ban htop nload nmon ntp gnupg gnupg2 wget pigz tree ccze mycli -y

Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/VirtuBox/ubuntu-nginx-web-server.git $HOME/ubuntu-nginx-web-server

Updating the repository

git -C $HOME/ubuntu-nginx-web-server pull origin master

Tweak Kernel & Increase open files limits

Included by default in WordOps - this may not be needed anymore

source sysctl.conf - limits.conf source

cp $HOME/ubuntu-nginx-web-server/etc/sysctl.d/60-ubuntu-nginx-web-server.conf /etc/sysctl.d/60-ubuntu-nginx-web-server.conf

Ubuntu 16.04 LTS do not support the new tcp congestion control algorithm bbr, we will use htcp instead.

# On ubuntu 18.04 LTS
modprobe tcp_bbr && echo 'tcp_bbr' >> /etc/modules-load.d/bbr.conf
echo -e '\nnet.ipv4.tcp_congestion_control = bbr\nnet.ipv4.tcp_notsent_lowat = 16384' >> /etc/sysctl.d/60-ubuntu-nginx-web-server.conf

# On ubuntu 16.04 LTS
modprobe tcp_htcp && echo 'tcp_htcp' >> /etc/modules-load.d/htcp.conf
echo 'net.ipv4.tcp_congestion_control = htcp' >> /etc/sysctl.d/60-ubuntu-nginx-web-server.conf

Then to apply the configuration :

sysctl -e -p /etc/sysctl.d/60-ubuntu-nginx-web-server.conf

Increase openfiles limits

sudo bash -c 'echo -e "*         hard    nofile      500000\n*         soft    nofile      500000\nroot      hard    nofile      500000\nroot      soft    nofile      500000\n"  >> /etc/security/limits.conf'

disable transparent hugepage for redis

echo never > /sys/kernel/mm/transparent_hugepage/enabled

WordOps Setup

Install MariaDB 10.3

Included by default in WordOps - this may not be needed anymore

Instructions available in VirtuBox Knowledgebase

bash <(wget -qO - https://downloads.mariadb.com/MariaDB/mariadb_repo_setup) --mariadb-server-version=10.3 --skip-maxscale -y
sudo apt update && sudo apt install mariadb-server -y

Secure MariaDB after install by running the command :

mysql_secure_installation

MySQL Tuning

You can download my example of my.cnf, optimized for VPS with 4GB RAM. my.cnf source

cp -f $HOME/ubuntu-nginx-web-server/etc/mysql/my.cnf /etc/mysql/my.cnf

It include modification of innodb_log_file_size variable, so you need to use the following commands to apply the new configuration :

sudo service mysql stop

sudo mv /var/lib/mysql/ib_logfile0 /var/lib/mysql/ib_logfile0.bak
sudo mv /var/lib/mysql/ib_logfile1 /var/lib/mysql/ib_logfile1.bak

sudo service mysql start

Increase MariaDB open files limits

echo -e '[Service]\nLimitNOFILE=500000' > /etc/systemd/system/mariadb.service.d/limits.conf

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl restart mariadb

Setup cronjob to optimize your MySQL databases and repair them if needed

Open the crontab editor

sudo crontab -e

Then add the following cronjob

@weekly /usr/bin/mysqlcheck -Aos --auto-repair > /dev/null 2>&1

Install WordOps

# noninteractive install - you can replace $USER with your username & [email protected]$HOSTNAME by your email
sudo bash -c 'echo -e "[user]\n\tname = $USER\n\temail = [email protected]$HOSTNAME" > $HOME/.gitconfig'

wget -qO wo wops.cc && sudo bash wo

enable wo bash_completion

source /etc/bash_completion.d/wo_auto.rc

Install Nginx, php7.2, php7.3, and configure WO backend

wo stack install
wo stack install --php73

Set your email instead of [email protected]

echo 'root: [email protected]' >> /etc/aliases
newaliases

Install Composer - Fix phpmyadmin install issue

Included by default in WordOps - this may not be needed anymore

cd ~/ ||exit
curl -sS https://getcomposer.org/installer | php
mv composer.phar /usr/bin/composer

chown www-data:www-data /var/www
sudo -u www-data -H composer update -d /var/www/22222/htdocs/db/pma/

Allow shell for www-data for SFTP usage

usermod -s /bin/bash www-data

Install PHP

This section has been removed because WordOps already install PHP 7.2 & PHP 7.3 by default

Set the proper alternative for /usr/bin/php

If you want to choose which version of php to use with the command php, you can use the command update-alternatives

# php5.6
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/php php /usr/bin/php5.6 80

# php7.0
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/php php /usr/bin/php7.0 80

# php7.1
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/php php /usr/bin/php7.1 80

# php7.2
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/php php /usr/bin/php7.2 80

# php7.3
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/php php /usr/bin/php7.3 80

Then you can check php version with command php -v

NGINX Configuration

Additional Nginx configuration (/etc/nginx/conf.d)

Included by default in WordOps - this may not be needed anymore

• stub_status configuration on 127.0.0.1:80 : stub_status.conf
• restore visitor real IP under Cloudflare : cloudflare.conf

# copy all common nginx configurations
cp -rf $HOME/ubuntu-nginx-web-server/etc/nginx/conf.d/* /etc/nginx/conf.d/

# commit change with git
[ ! -d /etc/nginx/.git ] && { git -C /etc/nginx init; } git -C /etc/nginx/ add . && git -C /etc/nginx/ commit -m "update conf.d configurations"

Compile the latest Nginx release with nginx-ee

bash <(wget -O - virtubox.net/nginx-ee || curl -sL virtubox.net/nginx-ee)

Custom configurations

Nginx optimized configurations

Choose one of them

# TLSv1.2 TLSv1.3 only (recommended)
cp -f $HOME/ubuntu-nginx-web-server/etc/nginx/nginx.conf /etc/nginx/nginx.conf

# TLSv1.2 only
cp -f $HOME/ubuntu-nginx-web-server/etc/nginx/nginx.conf /etc/nginx/nginx-tlsv12.conf

# commit change with git
[ ! -d /etc/nginx/.git ] && { git -C /etc/nginx init; } git -C /etc/nginx/ add . && git -C /etc/nginx/ commit -m "update nginx.conf"

Nginx configuration for netdata

Included by default in WordOps - this may not be needed anymore

# add nginx reverse-proxy for netdata on https://yourserver.hostname:22222/netdata/
cp -f $HOME/ubuntu-nginx-web-server/etc/nginx/sites-available/22222 /etc/nginx/sites-available/22222

# commit change with git
[ ! -d /etc/nginx/.git ] && { git -C /etc/nginx init; } git -C /etc/nginx/ add . && git -C /etc/nginx/ commit -m "update 22222 configuration"

Increase Nginx open files limits

sudo mkdir -p /etc/systemd/system/nginx.service.d
echo -e '[Service]\nLimitNOFILE=500000' > /etc/systemd/system/nginx.service.d/limits.conf

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl restart nginx.service

Security

Harden SSH Security

WARNING : SSH Configuration with root login allowed using SSH keys only source

cp -f $HOME/ubuntu-nginx-web-server/etc/ssh/sshd_config /etc/ssh/sshd_config

UFW

Instructions available in VirtuBox Knowledgebase

# enable ufw log - allow outgoing - deny incoming
ufw logging low
ufw default allow outgoing
ufw default deny incoming

# allow incoming traffic on SSH port
CURRENT_SSH_PORT=$(grep "Port" /etc/ssh/sshd_config | awk -F " " '{print $2}')
ufw allow $CURRENT_SSH_PORT

# DNS - HTTP/S - FTP - NTP - RSYNC - DHCP - EE Backend
ufw allow 53
ufw allow http
ufw allow https
ufw allow 21
ufw allow 123
ufw allow 68
ufw allow 546
ufw allow 873
ufw allow 22222


# enable UFW
echo "y" | ufw enable

Custom jails for fail2ban

• wordpress bruteforce
• ssh
• recidive (after 3 bans)
• backend http auth
• nginx bad bots

cp -rf $HOME/ubuntu-nginx-web-server/etc/fail2ban/filter.d/* /etc/fail2ban/filter.d/
cp -rf $HOME/ubuntu-nginx-web-server/etc/fail2ban/jail.d/* /etc/fail2ban/jail.d/

fail2ban-client reload

Secure Memcached server

echo '-U 0' >> /etc/memcached.conf
sudo systemctl restart memcached

If you do not use memcached, you can safely stop it and disable it :

sudo systemctl stop memcached
sudo systemctl disable memcached.service

Optional

proftpd

Install proftpd

apt-get install proftpd -y

secure proftpd and enable passive ports

sed -i 's/# DefaultRoot/DefaultRoot/' /etc/proftpd/proftpd.conf
sed -i 's/# RequireValidShell/RequireValidShell/' /etc/proftpd/proftpd.conf
sed -i 's/# PassivePorts                  49152 65534/PassivePorts                  49000 50000/' /etc/proftpd/proftpd.conf

restart proftpd

sudo service proftpd restart

Allow FTP ports with UFW

# ftp active port
sudo ufw allow 21

# ftp passive ports
sudo ufw allow 49000:50000/tcp

Enable fail2ban proftpd jail

echo -e '\n[proftpd]\nenabled = true\n' >> /etc/fail2ban/jail.d/custom.conf

fail2ban-client reload

Adding FTP users

# create user without shell access in group www-data
adduser --home /var/www/yourdomain.tld/ --shell /bin/false --ingroup www-data youruser

# allow group read/write on website folder
chmod -R g+rw /var/www/yourdomain.tld

ee-acme-sh

Included by default in WordOps - this may not be needed anymore

Github repository - Script to setup letsencrypt certificates using acme.sh on EasyEngine servers

• subdomain support
• ivp6 support
• wildcards certificates support

wget-qO install-ee-acme.sh https://raw.githubusercontent.com/VirtuBox/ee-acme-sh/master/install.sh
chmod +x install-ee-acme.sh
./install-ee-acme.sh

# enable acme.sh & ee-acme-sh
source .bashrc

netdata

Included by default in WordOps - this may not be needed anymore

Github repository

# save 40-60% of netdata memory
echo 1 >/sys/kernel/mm/ksm/run
echo 1000 >/sys/kernel/mm/ksm/sleep_millisecs

# install netdata
bash <(curl -Ss https://my-netdata.io/kickstart.sh) all --dont-wait

# increase open files limits for netdata
sudo mkdir -p /etc/systemd/system/netdata.service.d
echo -e '[Service]\nLimitNOFILE=500000' > /etc/systemd/system/netdata.service.d/limits.conf

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl restart netdata.service

# disable email notifications
sudo sed -i 's/SEND_EMAIL="YES"/SEND_EMAIL="NO"/' /usr/lib/netdata/conf.d/health_alarm_notify.conf
service netdata restart

cht.sh (cheat)

Github repository

curl https://cht.sh/:cht.sh > /usr/bin/cht.sh
chmod +x /usr/bin/cht.sh


echo "alias cheat='cht.sh'" >> $HOME/.bashrc
source $HOME/.bashrc

usage : cheat <command>

[email protected]:~ cheat cat
# cat

# Print and concatenate files.

# Print the contents of a file to the standard output:
  cat file

# Concatenate several files into the target file:
  cat file1 file2 > target_file

# Append several files into the target file:
  cat file1 file2 >> target_file

# Number all output lines:
  cat -n file

nanorc - Improved Nano Syntax Highlighting Files

Github repository

wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/scopatz/nanorc/master/install.sh -qO- | sh

Add WP-CLI & bash-completion for user www-data

Included by default in WordOps - this may not be needed anymore

# download wp-cli bash_completion
wget -qO /etc/bash_completion.d/wp-completion.bash https://raw.githubusercontent.com/wp-cli/wp-cli/master/utils/wp-completion.bash

# change /var/www owner
chown www-data:www-data /var/www

# download .profile & .bashrc for www-data
cp -f $HOME/ubuntu-nginx-web-server/var/www/.* /var/www/

# set owner
chown www-data:www-data /var/www/{.profile,.bashrc}

Cleanup previous EasyEngine v3

Included by default in WordOps - this may not be needed anymore

EasyEngine migration to WordOps is now handled by the install script. The only step to finish the migration is to remove previous php versions if you don't need them anymore.

Removing previous php versions

# php5.6
apt-get -y autoremove php5.6-fpm php5.6-common --purge

# php7.0
apt-get -y autoremove php7.0-fpm php7.0-common --purge

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