How do you set up your servers? You probably just know how to, like it is an instinct. But is it the absolute best way to do it? Are you leaving holes in your security, or forgetting to add users that desperately need access? This pack gives sysadmins Apache, Ubuntu, proxy, FTP, Samba, and Windows setup checklists they can run and adapt.
Or, look at it another way: if you are the only one who knows your server setup methods, how are you going to train your team? Processes are a solid basis for your business expansion because the question of how to do a task is answered automatically, clearly, and consistently every time.
“If you don’t have a good backup or if you don’t have good documentation and the customer calls you because of a disaster in the middle of the night, you’re in [trouble] right there. It’s not a place where I ever want to find myself.”, Jonathan Broyles, senior systems engineer at CisCom Solutions
Undocumented systems are a risk. So are half-documented systems, old runbooks, and process libraries nobody trusts. Good process documentation gives the team a shared source of truth for how the server was built, why choices were made, and what must be checked before the server goes into service.
Process Street helps teams turn that documentation into auditable workflows. Build or start from a template, assign owners, capture evidence, automate handoffs, and track completion from one Compliance Operations Platform. Docs and Ops work together with built-in AI so procedures are not just stored, they are followed.
Start with the checklist that matches the server you are setting up:
- Linux Apache Server Setup Checklist
- Linux Samba File Server Setup Checklist
- Linux FTP Server Setup Checklist
- Ubuntu Server Setup Checklist
- Linux Proxy Server Setup Checklist
- Windows Apache Server Setup Checklist
Linux Apache Server Setup Checklist
Apache is still one of the major web server options tracked by current web technology surveys, but the setup work should not depend on old market-share numbers. The important question is whether the server is configured consistently: packages installed, ports opened deliberately, a local test page verified, ownership documented, and the handoff recorded.
This checklist walks through a simple Linux Apache server setup for serving HTML content locally. It is a practical starting point for a repeatable server build, and you can extend it with your own hardening, monitoring, and backup requirements.
Click here to get the Linux Apache server setup checklist.
Linux Samba File Server Setup Checklist
Where there are Windows machines in an office, Linux often is not far away. Samba solves the file-sharing problem between operating systems by letting you create shared folders that users can access with the permissions you define.
Use this checklist to set up a shared folder, configure SMB access, apply least-privilege permissions, and test that the right people can reach the right files. The checklist keeps the access decisions visible instead of buried in one administrator’s terminal history.
Click here to access the Linux Samba file server setup checklist.
Linux FTP Server Setup Checklist
FTP can still appear in legacy environments, but it should be treated carefully. Use secure alternatives such as SFTP or FTPS where possible, avoid anonymous access unless there is a documented business reason, and make permissions, logging, and transfer tests part of the setup record.
This checklist focuses on using vsftpd on Linux to configure controlled file-transfer access, test upload and download behavior, and verify that the permissions match the intended use case before anyone depends on the server.
Click here to access the Linux FTP server setup checklist.
Ubuntu Server Setup Checklist
This process walks through a new Ubuntu server setup from scratch. It goes beyond an Apache-only setup by covering the wider build path: OS preparation, SSH access, package updates, MySQL, DNS, firewall rules, and readiness checks before launch.
Use it when you need a clean repeatable path for turning a fresh Ubuntu machine into a web server. Add your own backup validation, monitoring, alerting, and access-control steps so the checklist matches your production standard.
Click here to access the Ubuntu server setup checklist.
Linux Proxy Server Setup Checklist
Proxy servers and proxy chaining belong in controlled, authorized testing environments. The goal is not to hide activity. The goal is to validate routing behavior, document approvals, capture evidence, and make sure security testing happens inside clear boundaries.
This checklist shows how to set up a Linux machine with a proxy server using ProxyChains, then verify common tools such as nmap, wget, and ssh through the configured route. Add written approval, logging review, and evidence capture before using this in any real environment.
Click here to access the Linux proxy server setup checklist.
Windows Apache Server Setup Checklist
Linux is the default choice for many Apache deployments, but Windows still appears in real environments because of internal standards, application constraints, or available administration skills. If you run Apache on Windows, treat it like any other controlled server build.
This checklist covers Apache installation on Windows, configuration review, service status, firewall rules, and a local test. For current Windows Server environments, validate the setup against Microsoft’s latest Windows Server guidance before rollout.
Click here to access the Windows Apache server setup checklist.
Even more IT processes
Server setup is only one part of IT operations. The same documentation discipline applies to security reviews, MSP handoffs, web maintenance, and troubleshooting. If the work is repeated, risky, or easy to forget, it belongs in a process.
- 8 IT Security Processes to Protect and Manage Company Data
- 7 Documented Processes for IT, MSPs and System Administrators
- Web Maintenance: A Process-Driven Guide with 4 Handy Checklists
- 12 IT Processes to Solve Your Computer Woes
Create a free Process Street account to run these server setup checklists, adapt them to your own environment, and keep a record every time a critical setup step is completed.