Need a helpful/managed VPS to help transition from shared hosting

I am looking for a VPS that can help me transition out of a shared hosting environment.

My main OS is Ubuntu, although I am still new to the linux world. I spend most of my day programming PHP applications using a git over SSH workflow.

I want PHP, SSH, git, MySQL/PostgreSQL and Apache to work well. Someday after I figure out server management I'll move on to http://nginx.org/ or something.

I don't really understand 1) linux firewalls, 2) mail servers, or 3) proper daily package/lib update flow. I need a host that can help with these so I don't get hit with a security hole. (I monitor apache access logs so I think I can take it from there.)

I want to know if there is a sub $50/m VPS that can help me learn (or do for me) these three main things I need to run a server. I can't leave my shared hosts (plural shows my need!) until I am sure my sites will be safe despite my incompetence.

To clarify again, I need the most helpful, supportive, walk-me-through, check-up-on-me, be-there-when-I-need you VPS I can get. Learning isn't a problem when there is someone to turn too. ;)

From serverfault Xeoncross

• Slicehost and Linode are two services that I've seen a lot of good reports about. Both have reasonable rates, and are easy to get started with.

  However, before you spend a single penny, I highly recommend that you download either VirtualBox or VMWare Player, and start learning on your own PC. Conceptually, a VM running on your PC & a VM running on somebody else's machine are the same.

  The VPS services will have some things automated for you, but as far as the "system management" aspects go, you'll still be the one doing the work. So learn it on a local VM, when you're ready, set up a VPS with your chosen provider, and then apply your skills/knowledge there.

  Xeoncross : Well, I already run linux and use it everyday on my own PC - so I'm not sure how running one on a VM would help me. However, I haven't had to setup email (gmail), a firewall yet (Ubuntu auto-does this I think), and my updates are handled by the gnome desktop app. Also, I am not running any web services to let people know I'd be open to attacks. So I still don't know how these three would be handled on a real server. Or even if I need to worry about them - maybe the hosting company would configure the firewall for me...

  Joe Internet : OK, so setting up a VM let's you _safely_ learn all of the things that you _don't_ know how to do in a hands-on manner. If you screw it up, just start over (or fix it). A VPS is just that - a virtual private server that you are responsible for the management of, unless you hire somebody to manage it for you. I don't know of any VPS providers that offer managed hosting; you'll need to google for that. But even at that, it's in your best interest to learn the fundamentals of how to manage your own network. And don't think otherwise - having a VPS is the same as having a network.

  Xeoncross : Thats true, I guess I don't want to test the limits of the box I'm on because *I have to use it*. However, I still don't know what remains for me to learn to manage a server (other than what I listed) so even if I get those three down I'm unsure if that will be enough to consider my box safe enough to deploy into the real world. That is why I need a very helpful host that can check/support these three because I don't know exactly what I'm doing.

  The Journeyman geek : A VPS is essentially a VM someone else is running for you. The advantage with trying out things with a VM is, you do it, you document it, and you carry out what you need. with all the things you ask about, there's decent docs. ubuntu uses UFW by default http://www.ubuntugeek.com/ufw-uncomplicated-firewall-for-ubuntu-hardy.html should get you started. Start with all ports closed, then open what you need for the mail server http://flurdy.com/docs/postfix/ is the best docs i have seen. the last part... just let ubuntu handle it- there's automatic security updates as an option

  Xeoncross : +1 yes, but again I would like to find a host that will be *very supportive* in this process. There must be one out there...

  Joe Internet : @Xeoncross - If nobody suggests to you a good managed VPS provider, you'll either need to google around for recommendations, or perhaps find a different forum to ask on. I'm not telling you to leave serverfault. I just want to point out that you're asking this question to a community of professional (and aspiring to be) system & network administrators who are used to doing things for themselves. This is why you'll keep getting the same or similar answers, and if it looks like you're not willing to even try the things suggested, people will be hesitant to answer. It's the way people here roll.

  Xeoncross : Actually, I will be trying all the things listed here. I am the one that has upvoted all these great ideas. However, the problem isn't that I don't think I can do this - it's needing a bullet-proof fallback when I mess something up and must have it working again ASAP. I have faith in my abilities to manage a server - but that faith is nothing more than faith. I just wanted to know if anyone had a Super-Ultra-Rescue-do-the-laundry VPS out there. Even if I never use their support it's nice to know it's there. ;)
  From Joe Internet

• Slicehost has a good community with a number of well written articles to get you started (e.g. getting various configurations of LAMP running, firewalling and ssh tutorials). Past that though, you're on your own. If you require a high degree of help, you might want to look at managed hosting.

  It helps tremendously to have a VM running a configuration as similar to your VPS as possible. Your VM can then be a platform for you to mess around with and test configs before pushing it onto your production server.

  At the end of the day, the responsibility of managing the VPS is on you. You'll be the one monitoring the log files, doing patch management, etc. It may sound intimidating, but having switched from a shared environment to a VPS only just a couple months ago myself, it has been a tremendous learning experience.

  From mythokia

• +1 Linode. They've got unbelievable (less than an hour) support response, and my sites are blazing fast.

  From saltcod