About me

Who am I?

I'm a tech enthusiast, my current focus includes pursuing certifications like CompTIA ITF+, A+ and also to broaden my technical skills. I have a strong interest in server management and aspire to become a Network Engineer or Administrator. My next project is to build a DNS server and possibly a VPN server for personal use, allowing me to explore the intricacies of network infrastructure.

This site and the server it's hosted on are part of my hands-on learning experience. By managing and configuring everything myself, I'm gaining practical skills and deepening my understanding of server management and network infrastructure.

  • Getting comfortable with GNU/Linux and using the Bash shell as much as possible.
  • Setting up and managing my own web and email server.
  • Build a solid foundation of technical skills in server configuration and management.
  • Write and edit HTML and CSS to customize my site.

Email-Login @pilch.dev

My mail server is configured with Postfix for sending and receiving emails, and Dovecot to manage email retrieval through RainLoop, my webmail client. The setup is secured with Spamassassin for spam filtering, OpenDKIM for email validation, and fail2ban to enhance security. Try it out!

Webmail Client

Tools

What do I use

Debian Logo

Debian 12

I use headless Debian 12 on my VPS, a common server choice that minimizes resource usage, keeping costs low.

Vultr Logo

Vultr VPS

My VPS features an AMD EPYC vCPU, 1GB RAM, 25GB NVMe SSD storage, and 2TB bandwidth, all for $6/month or $0.009/hour.

Nginx Logo

Nginx 1.22.1

NGINX is a high-performance web server on my Debian 12 setup. It's known for its stability, rich feature set, and low resource consumption, making it ideal for serving web content efficiently.

More Tools

What else do i use?

I registered my .dev domain through Porkbun, one of the registrars recommended by Google.

The .dev TLD is a secure namespace, meaning all .dev domains must use SSL. For SSL certificate management, I utilize Certbot, a tool from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Certbot automates the process of obtaining and renewing SSL certificates from Let's Encrypt, ensuring my website remains secure without manual intervention. The certificates are automatically renewed by Certbot on a regular basis, and Nginx is reloaded seamlessly to apply the updated certificates, maintaining uptime and security.

For the website itself, I used a free template from BootstrapMade. I downloaded the template files and customized them to fit my needs using Visual Studio Code. This setup allowed me to quickly get a professional-looking website up and running while learning more about web development and server management.

When it comes to editing configuration files in the shell, I stick with nano—it’s straightforward and gets the job done. I haven’t yet ventured into more advanced editors like Vim. For coding, especially with HTML and CSS, I primarily use Visual Studio Code. It’s user-friendly and supports a range of extensions that make web development smoother.

Looking ahead, I’m interested in expanding my language skills, particularly in C and Rust. C is fundamental and widely used, while Rust has been gaining a lot of attention for its focus on safety and performance.

My main workstation is a medium-powered laptop running Linux Mint. I recently made the switch from Windows, and I’ve quickly fallen in love with the simplicity and efficiency of GNU/Linux. Linux Mint has been a great starting point—it's user-friendly and allows me to get my work done without diving too deep into the complexities of the operating system.

While I’m enjoying the experience, I’m also eager to gain more control over my hardware. As I build my GNU/Linux knowledge, I plan to switch to a more advanced distro that offers greater customization and power. But for now, Linux Mint strikes the perfect balance between ease of use and functionality.

Contact

Address

Josef-Zimmermann-Straße 24, 50389 Wesseling

Call Me

+0176 64014915

Email Me

michael@pilch.dev