Comparison
Coxios vs the terminal
Everything Coxios does, you can do by typing commands. The question is how long it takes, and what happens when a command goes wrong.
Setting up a fresh VPS
| Coxios | By hand | |
|---|---|---|
| Skills required | None: follow the wizard | SSH, Linux, sudo, ufw, fail2ban, Docker, proxy |
| Time to a secured server | A few minutes | An hour to a day depending on experience |
| Dedicated user instead of root | To create and configure | |
| Key-only login | Key created and installed for you | Key to generate, copy, then test |
| Firewall and fail2ban | Rules to write without locking yourself out | |
| Automatic security updates | To configure | |
| Risk of locking yourself out | Access checked before password login is turned off | Real if a step is done out of order |
| Deploy an app with HTTPS | GitHub repo, one click | Dockerfile, proxy and certificate to write |
| Roll back to the previous version | If you planned for it | |
| Record of what was done | SSH activity log | Your shell history, if kept |
| Price | Free for 1 server | Free, paid in time |
What Coxios saves you from
Locking yourself out
Turning off password login before testing your key, or closing the SSH port in the firewall: the classic mistake. Coxios checks access before every risky step.
Commands copied without understanding them
Tutorials never quite match your server. Coxios detects your distribution, firewall and proxy, and adapts the commands.
Gaps that linger
Fail2ban never installed, updates never turned on: Coxios runs a security audit and shows you what is missing.
You stay in control
Coxios doesn't lock your server in. It uses standard Linux tools (ufw or firewalld, fail2ban, Docker, Caddy), set up the way you would have done it yourself. If you ever want to switch to the terminal, everything is where you'd expect.
Every step is shown before it runs, and the Terminal button opens a ready-to-use SSH session whenever you need one.
Which one should you pick?
Stick with the terminal if…
- you manage servers every day and have your own scripts
- you need a very specific setup
- you want to learn Linux administration in depth
Pick Coxios if…
- you want a safe server without becoming a sysadmin
- you'd rather spend your time on your product
- you've been afraid of locking yourself out before
- you want to see the state of your servers at a glance
Frequently asked questions
Does Coxios stop me from using the terminal?
No. Your server stays a standard Linux box, you can connect whenever you want, and Coxios even opens the session for you.
What happens if a step fails?
Coxios stops, explains the error in plain words and lets you retry. It never cuts your access until it has checked the new one works.
My VPS asks for a sudo password, does it work?
Yes. Coxios asks for the password when needed, without assuming your account has unlimited rights.