If you have a MySQL database working behind the scenes on your web site or app then creating and storing backup’s of that database can be vitally important to the operation of your business operations. A MySQL or MariaDB database uses the mysqldump command to create backups. The mysqldump command outputs a file that contains SQL statements that can be used to rebuild your database, with all of its data. Which could come in handy in the event of an unrecoverable crash or even to just move the database to a new server.

Ubuntu offers a live patching utility that allows kernel patches to be installed without requiring a system restart to be applied. Read more about online patching in this post about patching. That said, in many cases other services or processes on your system may need to be restarted after an upgrade. Finding services that need to be restarted in Ubuntu Install debian-goodies sudo apt update sudo apt install debian-goodies Now just run

Change the Default Text Editor in Ubuntu So I’m a huge advocate of Ubuntu. It has long term support releases, more packages than you would ever need, free online unattended patching, and you always have an in-place upgrade path to the next LTS version. What more could you ask for? I’d like to ask that nano lose its privileged status as the default text editor! When making changes to sudoers, passwd, or group files you should really be using the built-in tools visudo, vipw, and vigr.

NOTE: While this may still work the information is out of date. Please see the instructions found here eff.org for more up-to-date instructions. Free SSL Certificate with Let’s Encrypt If you have ever installed an SSL certificate you know that it can be a tedious process. Let’s Encrypt makes this easy. Just call the letsencrypt command from the terminal and point it at your domain. Securing your website with a valid ssl certificate from a recognized and trusted vendor shows your website visitors that information transmitted between your site and their browser is encrypted.

Patching is arguably the single most important thing you can do to keep your systems secure. It’s also tedious, boring work that ends with everyone’s least favorite activity…. rebooting some indispensable, far too important for downtime server. Often meaning that patching takes a back seat to convenience, but no more! Starting with Ubuntu 16.04, and continuing on to the latest LTS Ubuntu 18.04 you can now update the kernel on a live system without a reboot.

What is a rsa key? RSA keys are a public key encryption method that keeps a private key on the host computer, and a public key on other machines. The public key is generated by a mathematical algorithm that can only be de-crypted with the private key. As long as the private key is kept confidential use of the keys is secure.Why use rsa keys? rsa keys are secure The keys are secure because they can be encrypted on a users computer protecting the key from falling into the wrong hands, like a password printed on a sticky note and place on your desk.