diff --git a/create-a-container/server.js b/create-a-container/server.js
index 5b97cc62..ad37bf78 100644
--- a/create-a-container/server.js
+++ b/create-a-container/server.js
@@ -1,29 +1,47 @@
+require('dotenv').config();
+
 const express = require('express');
 const bodyParser = require('body-parser');
 const session = require('express-session');
 const { spawn, exec } = require('child_process');
 const path = require('path');
 const crypto = require('crypto');
-const fs = require('fs'); // Added fs module
+const fs = require('fs');
+const rateLimit = require('express-rate-limit'); // <-- ADDED
 
 const app = express();
+app.use(express.json());
+
+app.set('trust proxy', 1);
 
-// A simple in-memory object to store job status and output
 const jobs = {};
 
 // --- Middleware Setup ---
-app.use(bodyParser.urlencoded({ extended: true }));
-app.use(express.json());
-app.use(express.static('public'));
+if (!process.env.SESSION_SECRET) {
+  throw new Error("SESSION_SECRET is not set in environment!");
+}
+
 app.use(session({
-    secret: 'A7d#9Lm!qW2z%Xf8@Rj3&bK6^Yp$0Nc',
-    resave: false,
-    saveUninitialized: true,
-    cookie: { secure: false } // Set to true if using HTTPS
+  secret: process.env.SESSION_SECRET,
+  resave: false,
+  saveUninitialized: true,
+  cookie: { secure: true }
 }));
 
+app.use(express.static('public'));
+
+// --- Rate Limiter for Login ---
+const loginLimiter = rateLimit({
+  windowMs: 15 * 60 * 1000, // 15 minutes
+  max: 5, // limit each IP to 5 requests per windowMs
+  message: { error: "Too many login attempts. Please try again later." }
+});
+
 // --- Route Handlers ---
 
+const PORT = 3000;
+app.listen(PORT, () => console.log(`Server running on http://localhost:${PORT}`));
+
 // Serves the main container creation form, protected by login
 app.get('/form.html', (req, res) => {
     if (!req.session.user) {
@@ -32,17 +50,30 @@ app.get('/form.html', (req, res) => {
     res.sendFile(path.join(__dirname, 'views', 'form.html'));
 });
 
-// Handles user login
-app.post('/login', (req, res) => {
+// Handles user login with rate limiting
+app.post('/login', loginLimiter, (req, res) => {
     const { username, password } = req.body;
 
-    exec(`node /root/bin/js/runner.js authenticateUser ${username} ${password}`, (err, stdout) => {
-        if (err) {
-            console.error("Login script execution error:", err);
+    const runner = spawn('node', ['/root/bin/js/runner.js', 'authenticateUser', username, password]);
+    
+    let stdoutData = '';
+    let stderrData = '';
+
+    runner.stdout.on('data', (data) => {
+        stdoutData += data.toString();
+    });
+
+    runner.stderr.on('data', (data) => {
+        stderrData += data.toString();
+    });
+
+    runner.on('close', (code) => {
+        if (code !== 0) {
+            console.error("Login script execution error:", stderrData);
             return res.status(500).json({ error: "Server error during authentication." });
         }
 
-        if (stdout.trim() === 'true') {
+        if (stdoutData.trim() === 'true') {
             req.session.user = username;
             req.session.proxmoxUsername = username;
             req.session.proxmoxPassword = password;
@@ -53,15 +84,12 @@ app.post('/login', (req, res) => {
     });
 });
 
-// ✨ UPDATED: API endpoint to get user's containers
+// API endpoint to get user's containers
 app.get('/api/my-containers', (req, res) => {
     if (!req.session.user) {
         return res.status(401).json({ error: "Unauthorized" });
     }
-    // The username in port_map.json doesn't have the @pve suffix
     const username = req.session.user.split('@')[0];
-
-    // Command to read the remote JSON file
     const command = "ssh root@10.15.20.69 'cat /etc/nginx/port_map.json'";
 
     exec(command, (err, stdout, stderr) => {
@@ -72,7 +100,6 @@ app.get('/api/my-containers', (req, res) => {
         try {
             const portMap = JSON.parse(stdout);
             const userContainers = Object.entries(portMap)
-                // This check now ensures 'details' exists and has a 'user' property before comparing
                 .filter(([_, details]) => details && details.user === username)
                 .map(([name, details]) => ({ name, ...details }));
                 
@@ -155,8 +182,4 @@ app.get('/api/stream/:jobId', (req, res) => {
         clearInterval(intervalId);
         res.end();
     });
-});
-
-// --- Server Initialization ---
-const PORT = 3000;
-app.listen(PORT, () => console.log(`Server running on http://localhost:${PORT}`));
\ No newline at end of file
+});
\ No newline at end of file