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Prerequisites

Before setting up your BMLT server, ensure you have the necessary resources and access in place.

Cloud Server Requirements​

Minimum System Specifications​

  • OS: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (recommended)
  • RAM: 2GB minimum, 4GB+ recommended for production
  • CPU: 1 vCPU minimum, 2vCPUs recommended
  • **Storage (SSD) **: 30GB minimum, 60GB recommended
  • Network: Public IP address

Supported Cloud Providers​

This guide works with any Ubuntu cloud server, including:

  • Digital Ocean (Droplets)
  • Amazon Web Services (EC2)
  • Google Cloud Platform (Compute Engine)
  • Microsoft Azure (Virtual Machines)
  • Linode (Linodes)
  • Vultr (Cloud Compute)

Access Requirements​

SSH Access​

You'll need SSH access to your server:

Domain Name​

A domain name is required for:

  • SSL certificate installation
  • Professional appearance
  • Email functionality (if using YAP)

Domain Setup Checklist:

  • Domain purchased and accessible
  • DNS A record pointing to server IP
  • DNS propagation completed (can take 24-48 hours)

Recommended Providers

Required Information​

Before starting, gather the following information:

Server Access​

  • Server IP Address: _____._____._____.____
  • SSH Username: Usually ubuntu for Ubuntu servers
  • SSH Key Location: Path to your private key file

Domain Configuration (if applicable)​

  • Domain Name: your-domain.com

Service Configuration​

  • BMLT Admin Email: For BMLT administrator account
  • BMLT Admin Password: Choose a strong password
  • Time Zone: Your local timezone for meeting displays

Local Tools Setup​

SSH Client​

macOS/Linux: SSH is pre-installed. Test with:

ssh -V

Windows:

  • Use built-in SSH client (Windows 10/11)
  • Or install PuTTY from putty.org

Text Editor (Optional)​

For editing configuration files locally:

  • Visual Studio Code with SSH extensions
  • Sublime Text
  • Vim or Nano (command line editors)

Security Considerations​

SSH Key Best Practices​

  • Use RSA 4096-bit or Ed25519 keys
  • Never share private keys
  • Use different keys for different servers

Password Requirements​

Plan strong passwords for:

  • Server user account (if not using keys)
  • MySQL root user
  • BMLT admin account
  • Database users (bmlt, yap)

Strong Password Characteristics:

  • At least 12 characters
  • Mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, symbols
  • Unique for each service
  • Consider using a password manager

Network Requirements​

Firewall Ports​

Your cloud provider should allow these ports:

  • Port 22: SSH access
  • Port 80: HTTP (web traffic)
  • Port 443: HTTPS (secure web traffic)

Outbound Internet Access​

Your server needs internet access for:

  • Package updates and installation
  • SSL certificate renewal
  • BMLT/YAP downloads
  • External API calls (Google Maps, Twilio if using YAP)

Knowledge Prerequisites​

Basic Linux Skills​

You should be comfortable with:

  • Connecting to servers via SSH
  • Running commands in terminal
  • Basic file operations (ls, cd, cp, mv)
  • Text editing with nano, vi, or emacs
  • Understanding file permissions

Helpful But Not Required​

  • Apache web server concepts
  • MySQL database basics
  • DNS and domain management
  • SSL certificate concepts

Pre-Installation Checklist​

Before proceeding to server setup:

  • Cloud server created and accessible
  • SSH access confirmed
  • Domain DNS configured (if using)
  • Strong passwords planned
  • Backup contact information ready
  • Time zone determined
  • This guide bookmarked for reference

Support and Documentation​

Keep these resources handy:

tip

If this is your first time managing a Linux server, consider practicing these commands on a test server first.

warning

Always backup important data before making system changes. Cloud providers typically offer snapshot features for easy server backups.

Next Steps​

Once you have all prerequisites in place, proceed to Server Setup to begin installing the LAMP stack.