Need to host email, ERPNext and a basic business website - VPS, OS & APPs advice?

[bkm]

I have done some of what you are attempting for several clients. I intentionally set things up to be minimal hands on support. Here is what I have done in the past year that seems to work. (Everything I do now is on Ubuntu 18.04)

• For website and email, I have been purchasing a low end KVM type vps server with 2gb of memory and 1 or 2 CPU. I then use “Mail-In-A-Box” to setup the email server. It is a open source mail server that has a very easy installation and configuration package. It also allows for a simple brochure type website to co-exist. You can read more about this at:
  https://mailinabox.email/

• For the ERPNext server I use a separate KVM type vps server. In your case you could probably get by with a 2gb server unless you are going to be moving large number of items between warehouses or to customers. If you intend to do manufacturing or other functions that require a higher traffic platform, then consider doubling the size of your base server. ERPNext also has some even more robust website abilities than the simple one on MAIB.

• If you are not comfortable with the website options, then consider getting yourself a shared server type web hosting account where you can setup your own sites and sites for others as well in the future. I think I paid $99 a year for an account that I have currently hosting about 25 websites.

Please be aware that Both ERPNext and Mail-In-A-Box do not play well with other packages sharing the same server. This is why I always use 2 servers at a minimum.

There is however an added benefit to this arrangement. You can setup the excess space on the mail server to be an off site repository for the copies of the data backups from the ERPNext server.

However, if you really want something bit less vulnerable to failures, you amy want to consider adding at least one additional server to the mix and use the information from this thread to create an easy to manage backup system:

[Tutorial] Step by Step Guide to the Poor Man's Backup System (v2) much improved

Recently I was talking with some other users about the missing elements in my first backup tutorial and how that might be resolved. So, here it is. This version of the Poor Man’s Backup system is presented here only to let you know it exists. Since the forums take away my ability to edit the text after a few weeks, these tutorials become stale if I cannot update them to current. So you will now find my [Tutorials] will start appearing on GitHub at this location: BKM’s ERPNext Guides This way I…

Regardless of how you wish to move forward, the best approach is going to be multiple (semi-) dedicated servers. The customizations required to try to get multiple important servers to co-exist on the same single VPS is not worth the constant headache of keeping it tweaks and running after you eventually get it online. I am sure there are some hardcore systems people here on the forum that will disagree, but the last point you made was that you were NOT necessarily the super tech savvy type. So, this is my recommendation.

As far as control panels, you should probably take this opportunity to get practiced at using the ssh command line. You will find it is generally easier as you spend time with it. The control panels serve the casual user fairly well, but to actually run a server that you want to put into a production environment, I would recommend getting more familiar with the command line. It only seems scary at the beginning, but the more you learn the better you will understand how to quickly fix many of the issues you will bump into over time. The contral panel becomes a crutch in the beginning and a stumbling block over time.

Of course, as always - Your mileage may vary…

Hope this helps.

BKM