[perry]

First thing to do is to check if the IP address the provider given to you is blacklisted or not. This is important because you would have big problems running websites in the VPS if the IP address was already blacklisted, probably due to the bad behavior of the previous user. This should be the first thing to do because if it happens, you should open a ticket to the provider immediately and ask for a clean IP first, before you actually start to install anything in the VPS.

The second thing to do is to check if the actual VPS spec matches with what the provider stated. Don't laugh. I had a few times I found mismatch in VPS spec. For example, a provider stated that the VPS had IPv6 addresses but it actually did not have it. Another example is a provider stated that the VPS had single-core CPU but it actually had dual-core. Of course it was not something I would complain about it, but it does not make sense if users do not check VPS spec the first time they login their VPS.

The third thing to do is the secure the VPS, such as changing the password, changing the SSH port, disabling root login etc. These are all common ways to protect the VPS from possible unauthorized access.

Only after all the above 3 things are done, I will then start to install other software I want to use in the VPS.

well you got alot of detail.
im just searching for things i might miss.
i am looking to make a bit of configureing fun..
keep giving up :/.