There are many server scenarios possible. Therefore, it's simply impossible to give you any guidance or provide you with a tutorial of how to set up a VPS that would be specific enough for your situation. I can only suggest that you try to find a suitable guide/instruction by doing a Google search. Doesn't your webhoster provide support? Ask them first. I would expect a hosting plan contains at least a pre-configured VPS with the typical services (LAMP stack) already working. If you have not much experience in server administration you might choose a webhoster that offers the necessary support. This is unlikely to be the cheapest host but that's how it is.
Installing Elgg is the step following the setup of the VPS, i.e. as long as your VPS is not fully working and fulfils the requirements of Elgg there's no point of installing Elgg.
Thank You iionly!
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