I'm tired of working with command. That's why I usually install a control panel to help me with basic functions and deal with command such as VestaCP, CentOs WebPanel, etc.
I have strategy to deal with this boring command , I write them all on text file , i wrote every steps I don on the command line , so I don't need to search for them again . I can write it to your ,
First step after updating the system etc .
is to install Nginx and edit
nginx.conf file to add your domain to it (other uses /sites-available ) folder but i don't care I use single file to add all my domains to it , their is nginx top block (you only need to change nginx user name to www-data) and under it http block (which mean the whole http protocol connection ) you may need to add some stuff under it , and the comes server block {} that one you need to add your self (just copy the server example block ) and editit basic staff (like domain name and php-fpm setting ) ,
and you don;t need fro DNS server you can uses your register and it default NS just add custom A name point it to your server IP address . restart your nginx server and you'll see your server running .
next install php-fpm 'i recommend latest version ~7.3' with all it extension specially php7.3-sqlite3 start it ,
you can access to server files using sftp using WinSCP- (if you didn't want to install ftp server) to navigate and upload files , but you'll have to re change file ownership back to the server user 'www-data' example
here or use ftp serer like vsftpd "just beware of permissions and security "
that' it your server will runs fine and fast with way less resources an memory and you didn't have to deal with these bloated panels softwares .
but you'll have to do a lot of work since it's just empty server with OS only and no support
