VPS or dedicated

server-prep runs the same way on a cloud VPS, a dedicated server and a laptop or desktop used as a server. Four details change.

At a glance

	VPS	Dedicated or on-premise	Laptop or desktop
Network	Keep the provider's config. Answer keep in server-preconfig.sh.	Save the address so it survives reboots: --static-ip current on Debian, or a DHCP reservation on the router.	Same as dedicated. On Ubuntu, set a DHCP reservation: netplan is left as it is.
Console if SSH breaks	The provider's web console or rescue mode.	IPMI, iDRAC, iLO, KVM, rescue mode, or a screen and keyboard.	The screen and keyboard.
Power	Handled by the provider.	In the BIOS, set Restore on AC Power Loss to Power On.	Same as dedicated. server-prep.sh also ignores the lid and turns off sleep.
Reaching it	A public IP: open 80/443 (EXPOSE_WEB=yes) or use a tunnel.	Often behind NAT: Tailscale for SSH and the panel, a Cloudflare Tunnel for apps.	Same as dedicated.

VPS

• Do not change the network: the provider manages it with cloud-init or netplan.
• Most providers give you root with a password or a key at first. server-preconfig.sh creates your admin user with sudo.
• With EXPOSE_WEB=yes, ports 80 and 443 are open to everyone, and the panel's proxy answers on them.

Dedicated or on-premise server

• Check the console before you start. It is your only way back if SSH locks you out.
• A fixed address matters here. Prefer a DHCP reservation on the router. Use --static-ip current only on Debian (ifupdown), and only from the console: a mistake cuts SSH and Tailscale together.
• Set the BIOS to power on after a power cut, so the server comes back without help.
• Run the reboot test from Start here before you deploy anything.

Laptop or desktop used as a server

• The laptop step ignores the lid, masks sleep and suspend, and can boot without the desktop (HEADLESS=yes).
• Expect a few extra WARN lines in the audit: a desktop runs more services than a server.
• Self-hosted GitHub runners on the same machine? Cap their memory with extras/github-runners/limit-runners-memory.sh.

See the setup console to compare the commands for each machine type.