Hi,
this is the first time on a VPS,
since I use linux since redhat5 I think that I will try CentOS as primary distro...

Do you know if the VPS 360 give us LAMP preinstalled?
If no is there a step by step guide on how to configure (and secure) LAMP?
May I use YUM to update my LAMP/Iptables/distro?
I need to transfer my existing domain from my shared host to linode VPS, do you know if linode may help me transferring my domain?
Do you know it they will manage domain name? Can they renew my domain name?

You've been usign Linux for 12 years (since release of RedHat 5), and you don't know how to upgrade your distro or install LAMP?!

- No, LAMP is usually not installed
- Yes, there are guides, search Google
- Yes, you can use YUM
- No, they will not help you move your domains
- No, they will not renew your domains for you

Read the website, it specifically states that this is an unmanaged service.

yes I'm not able to upgrade my distro or LAMP because I never used a VPS. So I don't know if a yum dist upgrade may cause some problem or something else...

is there the remote possibility that I lost my machine for some mistakes?
a non bootable kernel, missconfigured iptables, network problem...

is there a way to fully backup, and restore the previous backup from a kernel panic for example?

OK. To answer yoru questions:

- Obviosuly, if you misconfigure your server (e.g. block yourself out using iptables or by disabling the netwrok interfaces) then you won't be to use it over the internet
- But, Linode offers LISH - which is basically your console, and this can be accessed even if you are locked out
- You don't need to worry about a non-bootable kernel, as most people opt to let Linode manage the kernel. In fact, by default there is no kernel installed in your VPS
- Linode's backup solution is currently in Beta (for servers in the Newark data centre)

mmm...
sometimes with yum dist upgrade or yum update something goes wrong and a good backup can be useful...
if no backup options is available, is this a good service?

You can do your own backups - a simple tar.gz will do. Personally, I backup my linode every night.

I used my Linode for about two years without any backup whatsoever (it was just a development server) - and I didn't encounter any problems.

If you get a VPS in the Newark data centre then you can take part in the backup beta for free.

ok,
what I need to install to have a good VPS?

LAMP,
I need also POP/SMTP with antispam...
what I need to use for email?

What are the domain name server I need to use in my registrar?
I need to install a dns server?

Search Google fro guides on setting up LAMP/SMTP/POP/SMTP/FTP etc.

You don't need to setup a DNS server, you can use Linode's. Simply add yoru domaisn through the online DNS Manager and point to linodes name servers.

For stuff like that, you can also shut down your Linode, clone the disk images (renting some extra disk space if required), then start it back up and do the upgrade... if things go poorly, a revert is easy-breezy. If things go well, nuke the images and return the disk space. -rt

you told me that linode doesn't offer backup tool,
how can I clone the disk images?

This page explains it all pretty well I think.

Shut down your Linode, click on the disk image you want to clone, click "Duplicate Image", and if you have space available, a copy of the disk image will be made. Once you're set, boot your Linode.

This is not a "real" routine backup tool, because the duplicate image will be on the same physical hardware as the original, it cannot be (cleanly) done live, and it's a manual process. However, it's extremely useful for maintenance -- since all the data is already on the host, reverting is a snap.

guys you are really kind,
I like linode also for this good community...

Linode's service is amazing in my opinion, and one of the best, but what really makes it great is the community.

Every time I have ever needed assistance with something someone has always managed to assist in the community or point me in the right place. There have been one or two times I've even seen Caker or one of the other staff get involved.

Great people and I would never get rid of my linode.