Know your server before changing it

Inspect the distribution, kernel, memory, and disk without changing the system.

Why this way

A few read-only commands give you context for every next decision. Check the host and available resources before following any installation recipe.

When to use

After your first SSH login, before installing packages or changing configuration.

Prerequisites

A Linux shell

Steps

Identify the host and distribution

Read-only

hostname
cat /etc/os-release
uname -r

Expect: Confirm the hostname, distribution, version, and running kernel.

Check memory and free disk space

Read-only

free -h
df -h /

Expect: Check available memory and disk space before choosing services.

What it changes

Read-only. No packages installed or configuration changed.

Next on the first-day path

Essential check 2 / 3The SSH port that actually winsFind every Port line under sshd_config and sshd_config.d before you reload ssh.

{
  "slug": "vps-preflight",
  "risk": "safe",
  "tags": [
    "linux",
    "vps",
    "system",
    "disk"
  ],
  "updated": "2026-10-30",
  "pathIndex": 1,
  "why": "A few read-only commands give you context for every next decision. Check the host and available resources before following any installation recipe.",
  "steps": [
    {
      "command": "hostname\ncat /etc/os-release\nuname -r",
      "risk": "safe"
    },
    {
      "command": "free -h\ndf -h /",
      "risk": "safe"
    }
  ]
}