Tutorial on editing config files on a vps/dedi

[Hypertext]

OK so I posted this to somebody asking for help, and now I'm posting it here, as it might help somebody.

This is for editing a php.ini file, but can be used for pretty much any file.

Various distributions might not contain some preinstalled stuff like vi/vim, so beware if it doesn't work, it might be because of that or you have a strange distro.

This is ALL CLI.

my-awesome-server is your server name, and the $ sign denotes a bash prompt.
your-local-pc is your desktop pc at home.
host-or-ip.com is either an ip like 57.34.75.13 or a domain like example.com
username is your ssh username, i advise you not to login as root for security reasons

your-local-pc $ ssh [email protected]
Please enter the password for [email protected]:
#enter your password and hit enter - in *nix (linux etc), you never see characters like stars for passwords, it's just blank
Thankyou for logging in
### MOTD###

my-awesome-server-name $ cd /etc/
# change directory to /etc/
my-awesome-server-name $ vim php.ini
# vim is an editor, some even use it as an ide, vi is vim's predecessor
# in debian and other os' you can use a "fuzzy search" for instance if you type ph and then <tab> 
# it will type as much as it can before it comes to a tree, aka
# it'll come to php.ini and php.d for me, so for me it stops at 'php.'
# and then gives you a windows sounding runtime error, then you'll need to type the next letter and hit enter
my-awesome-server $ <i>
# typing <i> turns vi(m) into insert mode so you can edit, it's all cli so no mouse! :)
#navigate using arrow buttons to an option in your php.ini navigate right and delete the current value
#replace with a new value
my-awesome-server $ <esc>
# hitting escape puts vi(m) into action mode
my-awesome-server $ <:>
 # the colon issues a save/exit among other commands i don't know.. im guessing anyway
#the two I know are w and q, w is save, q is quit, wq is save and quit, adding ! is an override.
my-awesome-server $ <wq>
my-awesome-server $ <enter>
# this will save and quit out of your current file
# to restart apache (needed for some changes that are cached.. i think :P)
my-awesome-server $ apachectl graceful
# graceful notes apache to let all file transfers finish before it restarts
# other subcommands such as stop, start, and restart may screw something up as it doesn't let some things finish
# and apache might go wierd about process IDs

[Plux]

Say someone who has no idea with PHP, has to edit it,
and read this, I bet the first thing they'd say is:

"What the **** is a bash prompt"

[Protege]

So your saying "all" servers have PHP on - I just loled hard man, failure - again.

[Hypertext]

A bash prompt is an acronym for a shell prompt, specifically Bourne Again Shell, the original was Bourne Shell, but it was remade, open source.

@Plux: Why the **** do you need to know PHP to know what a bash prompt is?

@Protege:

I never said that, just stop starting a ******* argument and get some friends dude.

Point out where I said that?

Fail.

[Plux]

A bash prompt is an acronym for a shell prompt, specifically Bourne Again Shell, the original was Bourne Shell, but it was remade, open source.

@Plux: Why the **** do you need to know PHP to know what a bash prompt is?

@Protege:

I never said that, just stop starting a ******* argument and get some friends dude.

Point out where I said that?

Fail.

If someone had no idea whatever it's for then.
Tutorials are meant to explain whats things are etc.

& I'm pretty sure an acronym is something like: BT - British Telecoms

[Source]

I prefer using nano anyday.

[Dentafrice]

I prefer using nano anyday.

I was just about to say that.

yum install nano

OK so I posted this to somebody asking for help, and now I'm posting it here, as it might help somebody.

This is for editing a php.ini file, but can be used for pretty much any file.

Various distributions might not contain some preinstalled stuff like vi/vim, so beware if it doesn't work, it might be because of that or you have a strange distro.

This is ALL CLI.

my-awesome-server is your server name, and the $ sign denotes a bash prompt.
your-local-pc is your desktop pc at home.
host-or-ip.com is either an ip like 57.34.75.13 or a domain like example.com
username is your ssh username, i advise you not to login as root for security reasons

your-local-pc $ ssh [email protected]
Please enter the password for [email protected]:
#enter your password and hit enter - in *nix (linux etc), you never see characters like stars for passwords, it's just blank
Thankyou for logging in
### MOTD###

my-awesome-server-name $ cd /etc/
# change directory to /etc/
my-awesome-server-name $ vim php.ini
# vim is an editor, some even use it as an ide, vi is vim's predecessor
# in debian and other os' you can use a "fuzzy search" for instance if you type ph and then <tab> 
# it will type as much as it can before it comes to a tree, aka
# it'll come to php.ini and php.d for me, so for me it stops at 'php.'
# and then gives you a windows sounding runtime error, then you'll need to type the next letter and hit enter
my-awesome-server $ <i>
# typing <i> turns vi(m) into insert mode so you can edit, it's all cli so no mouse! :)
#navigate using arrow buttons to an option in your php.ini navigate right and delete the current value
#replace with a new value
my-awesome-server $ <esc>
# hitting escape puts vi(m) into action mode
my-awesome-server $ <:>
 # the colon issues a save/exit among other commands i don't know.. im guessing anyway
#the two I know are w and q, w is save, q is quit, wq is save and quit, adding ! is an override.
my-awesome-server $ <wq>
my-awesome-server $ <enter>
# this will save and quit out of your current file
# to restart apache (needed for some changes that are cached.. i think :P)
my-awesome-server $ apachectl graceful
# graceful notes apache to let all file transfers finish before it restarts
# other subcommands such as stop, start, and restart may screw something up as it doesn't let some things finish
# and apache might go wierd about process IDs

Why use vi, or vim? Gross.

Plus just use service httpd restart or service apache restart, you don't need to use apachectl.

Easier just to use PuTTY.

[Protege]

Tutorial on editing config files on a vps/dedi

Didnt mention PHP in that.

& I dont need HabboxForum friends, cause man - Im a CEO of MainlyBS Entertainment PLC, you should be hired as a joker for this new comedy show.

[Hypertext]

I prefer Nano, but it's more likely to have Vi(m) installed than Nano

A Shell prompt is an ACRONYM for a BASH prompt.

Jeez.

[Dentafrice]

LOOL!

Shell is not an acronym for anything. Bash is a shell...

SSH - Hence Secure SHELL.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourne-Again_shell

That really made me laugh, you thought Shell was part of bash. hah.