Hello everyone,
I'm new to the forums...just signed up today

I program in Java, and so I'll be looking to sign up with a web host provider that will support my Java Server Pages and run Tomcat server. I also want to mention that I'm a self taught Java programmer and I'm looking to run a business and be self employed. So just about everything relating to web host providers and the servers is very new to me.

I'm an established member on a Java oriented forum, and recently I asked about security issues. Mainly I want to protect my .class files from the people running/maintaining the server, and one answer I received was "You need to acquire a proper understanding of a web server and its configuration. Your problem can be solved via correct configuration of the server."

My questions in relation to that statement are --
1) When I sign up for a VPS, what sort of control do I have?
2) Will I really be able to specify some sort of security or protection for my .class files? and how?
3) Where can I learn how to configure the server?

In some of my research I've come across SSH. Is that a shell command utility or something? Do I have to be concerned about learning about SSH?

I guess I didn't realize that there would be so much more to learn before signing up with a provider. Your help is greatly appreciated I'm sure I'll have some more question pop in mind as the day goes on.

-JavaDziner
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