Specifically, a dedicated server running Debian 12.
After a monthly sudo apt upgrade? (Is a monthly upgrade even necessary?)
Never? (unless there is a security update?)
Edit: I may be missing kernel upgrades. Those are probably good... I can't remember if I installed a LTS kernel. I imagine it would be unsecure to post an exact kernel version, however.
are you able to move production traffic onto a different webserver?
Like a load balanced situation? Unfortunately, no. The app supports only a single server setup.
Not necessarily load balanced I suppose but say spinning up a new server and switching over using dns or something could work too. Then you keep both running while the first one drains. If thats not possible idk probably put up a notice on your site and do it at like 2am on a weekday
I could do that, but the server reboots faster than DNS records can update.
The high availability dilemma. Hardly ever need that hot spare. If 0 downtime isn't a requirement w/e
Sure but its less disruptive
Less dread that it won't come back online.