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Solo Server Stack

One server, zero dependencies on big cloud

The complete blueprint for running production SaaS on a single dedicated server. Not theory — this is the exact stack behind a 15-app platform serving real users, running on one $80/month OVH box with zero cloud dependencies.

// at a glance

▸ 45+ pages covering every layer of a production server
▸ Based on a real stack serving 15 apps on a single machine
▸ Includes actual config files, not just concepts
▸ Written for builders who'd rather own their infra than rent it

// who this is for

Developers and indie hackers who want to self-host their own infrastructure instead of paying for AWS, Vercel, or Railway. You should be comfortable with a Linux terminal.

// table of contents

Choosing Hardware

Dedicated vs VPS, provider comparison, spec sizing for real workloads

OS Install & Hardening

Ubuntu server setup, SSH lockdown, firewall rules, unattended upgrades

User & Permission Model

Service accounts, www-data, sudoers, and the principle of least privilege

PostgreSQL

Install, config tuning, per-app databases, connection pooling, and backup integration

Reverse Proxy

Node.js proxy with SNI routing, multi-domain TLS, rate limiting — no nginx required

SSL & Let's Encrypt

Certbot automation, wildcard certs, renewal hooks, and certificate monitoring

Self-Hosted Email

Mailcow stack, SPF/DKIM/DMARC, deliverability testing, and transactional email

Systemd Services

Writing service files, security hardening directives, log management, and auto-restart

Deployment Pipeline

Git-based deploys, zero-downtime restarts, rollback strategy, and health checks

Monitoring & Alerting

Health endpoints, uptime checks, disk/memory alerts, and a lightweight dashboard

Object Storage

Self-hosted MinIO for file uploads, pre-signed URLs, and S3-compatible API

Scaling the Solo Stack

When one server isn't enough — migration paths, read replicas, and CDN offloading