Getting Started with Ubuntu 24.04 LTS on Your VPS

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat) is the newest long-term support release with 10 years of support (until April 2034). Features latest software versions, improved performance, and modern tooling. The recommended choice for new VPS deployments.

About Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

• Release date: April 2024
• LTS support until: April 2034 (10 years!)
• Kernel: Linux 6.8+
• Best for: New deployments, cutting-edge features

Key Features

• Latest Python 3.12, Node.js LTS, PHP 8.3+
• Improved performance and reduced resource usage
• Enhanced security features and hardening
• Better container and Kubernetes support
• 10 years of security updates

Connect via SSH

ssh root@your-vps-ip

# With SSH key (recommended)
ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa root@your-vps-ip

Update System

# Update and upgrade
apt update && apt upgrade -y && apt autoremove -y

# Install automatic security updates
apt install unattended-upgrades
dpkg-reconfigure -plow unattended-upgrades

Firewall Setup

# Install and enable UFW
apt install ufw -y
ufw default deny incoming
ufw default allow outgoing

# Allow SSH (critical!)
ufw allow 22/tcp

# Allow HTTP/HTTPS
ufw allow 80/tcp
ufw allow 443/tcp

# Enable firewall
ufw enable

# Check status
ufw status

Install Essential Tools

# Development tools
apt install -y git curl wget build-essential

# System utilities
apt install -y htop tmux vim nano zip unzip

# Modern runtimes
apt install -y python3 python3-pip nodejs npm

# Web servers (choose one)
apt install -y nginx     # OR
apt install -y apache2   # OR

Network Configuration

# Check IP configuration
ip addr show

# Check DNS settings
cat /etc/resolv.conf

# Network interfaces (uses netplan)
cat /etc/netplan/01-netcfg.yaml

# Apply network changes if needed
netplan apply

Next Steps

1. Set up SSH key-based authentication
2. Disable root password login
3. Install a control panel (aaPanel, CloudPanel)
4. Set up monitoring and log rotation
5. Configure automated backups
6. Deploy your application

Related: Ubuntu 22.04 | OS comparison | VPS setup | Linux security

Related articles