diff --git a/server-side/step1_as_root.sh b/server-side/step1_as_root.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6cb24f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server-side/step1_as_root.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+#!/bin/bash -eu
+
+# Ensure the script runs with root privileges
+if [ "$EUID" -ne 0 ]; then
+    echo "Please run this script as root"
+    exit 1
+fi
+####################
+sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
+# Install curl & git for later:
+sudo apt install curl git -y
+############################################################################
+#                                                                          #
+# setup a Linux user                          #
+#                                                                          #
+############################################################################
+read -p "Enter a linux username to make: " LINUX_USERNAME
+export LINUX_USERNAME=$LINUX_USERNAME
+read -p "Enter a password for $LINUX_USERNAME: " LINUX_PASSWORD
+export LINUX_PASSWORD=$LINUX_PASSWORD
+# setup:
+useradd $LINUX_USERNAME
+mkdir /home/$LINUX_USERNAME
+chown $LINUX_USERNAME:$LINUX_USERNAME /home/$LINUX_USERNAME -R
+# activate linux shell for the user:
+look_for="/home/$LINUX_USERNAME:/bin/sh"
+change_to="/home/$LINUX_USERNAME:/bin/bash"
+sudo sed -i "s|$look_for|$change_to|g" /etc/passwd
+# Change the password
+echo "$LINUX_USERNAME:$LINUX_PASSWORD" | chpasswd
+# Verify the change
+if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
+    echo "Password set successfully for user $LINUX_USERNAME."
+else
+    echo "Failed to set password for user $LINUX_USERNAME."
+fi
+# Make a sudo user:
+usermod -aG sudo $LINUX_USERNAME
+############################################################################
+#                                                                          #
+# DNS, undo google. undo cloudflare                          #
+#                                                                          #
+############################################################################
+sudo sed -i 's/1.1.1.1/9.9.9.9/g' /etc/network/if-up.d/custom-resolv
+sudo sed -i 's/8.8.8.8/9.9.9.10/g' /etc/network/if-up.d/custom-resolv
+sudo sed -i 's/1.1.1.1/9.9.9.9/g' /etc/netplan/50-cloud-init.yaml
+sudo sed -i 's/8.8.8.8/9.9.9.10/g' /etc/netplan/50-cloud-init.yaml
+sudo sed -i 's/1.1.1.1/9.9.9.9/g' /etc/resolv.conf
+sudo sed -i 's/8.8.8.8/9.9.9.10/g' /etc/resolv.conf
+sudo sudo apt install dnsutils -y
+dig
+read -p "do you see google or cloudflare in the above DNS servers? (yes/no): " REPLY_ON_GOOGLE_CLOUDFLARE
+# Check the user's answer
+if [[ "$REPLY_ON_GOOGLE_CLOUDFLARE" == "yes" ]]; then
+    echo "This means you need to reboot for it to take effect.  Rebooting now"
+    reboot
+elif [[ "$REPLY_ON_GOOGLE_CLOUDFLARE" == "no" ]]; then
+    echo "ok great. you don't need to reboot"
+    # switch to the user:
+    su $LINUX_USERNAME
+else
+    echo "Please answer with 'yes' or 'no'."
+fi