Please note this document is being worked on.
What is fabric? It's a tool written in Python that allows you to remote into one or more server and perform activities on that server over SSH.
What do I use it for? To deploy stuff to servers. I especially like to get very cheap virtual private servers on which I install Debian stable and then run stuff on them. I generally install python 2.6.5, even though the version of Python on Debian Stable is 2.5.2
Now, not all VPS are created equal. Some have Apache running by default on a debian stable install. Makes you wonder what else is there running in the background. This is why I personally like a stock, straight-from-the-ISO install.
I also don't install anything beyond the base system except Nano because it's a serviceable editor.
As an aside, see http://www.lowendbox.com/blog/wordpress-cheap-vps-lowendscript/ for a good resource on how to configure low-ram debian microVPS's.
I am using http://123systems.net for cheap vps. And http://www.rapidvps.com/ too. And rackspacecloud.com. And maybe one or two more...
Last edited August 3, 2010