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I've been using screen sharing to help guide my parents into the digital age. It is wonderful to be able to virtually look over their shoulders and show them how they can use their email, etc. I was using LogMeIn to help them, but now their home network has grown to include a small backup server, a Vonage router, and wireless networking I wanted better access to, occasionally give these devices a virtual kick in the pants. So I set up a VPN server.

Sometime in August I wrote a php script that uses Imagick to dynamically resize and style images on the fly (which I'll publish later, once I get around to getting an interface into alpha state).

I needed a script to install php, supporting scripts, and Imagick. So I borrowed on the Dreamhost Wiki script PHP 5.3 + Xdebug + APC install script, updated the components and added what is needed to support Imagick.

If you are like me you've found there is a dearth of clear instructions how to do this. I did it. Works Great!

Here are my step by step instructions:

NOTE: I'm assuming you have a Dreamhost account, are familiar with their control panel, and are just a little command line savvy...

1. Set up a Dreamhost user with ssh access

Funny how I used to make such a fuss over the fact that Japanese students clean their own schools.

Then I moved to Japan and started teaching and cleaning with them. I was first shocked to find out they are only given about 10-15 minutes to clean, then I found out, which should have been obvious from the hallways, they don't usually clean.