Virtual server providers

[mtbc]

My server hosting provider's retiring the framework I'm currently using so I get to install onto new servers somewhere. I don't need value-added services, I just need to be able to install onto cheap virtual servers from my chosen image (currently NetBSD), get network and console access, and have my server instances provide services from static IPs. Time to look around for options, simple and UK- or US-based would be ideal.

Comments

[mellowtigger]

I use DreamHost (no relation to Dreamwidth that I know of), but I'm not sure where they're based. This page says, "We won't limit you in your choice of OS or software."
https://www.dreamhost.com/cloud/

[crazyscot]

I recently used Hetzner as a build server on a project. A big beefy server (16 core, 128GB) in Finland for EUR 104 a month (that's not their only offering, they have much more modest servers too).

The downside I found was that network connectivity, whilst unmetered and 1Gbit, was weird and fluctuating at least from my point of view over a long piece of string (and that led to me writing qcp).

Another issue for you would be that they don't seem to have an easy install script for anything BSD. https://docs.hetzner.com/robot/dedicated-server/operating-systems/installing-custom-images

[emperor]

They've just had one of their main cables cut, too, which presumably won't help...

[mindstalk]

I've liked Linode as a server, but you'd have to provide your own BSD image, and I think their backup service only works with Linux guests. Also gmail will hate your email.

[mtbc]

Useful details, indeed I rather like being able to usefully e-mail people!

[mindstalk]

It's possible, but first mails to a gmail will often go to spam. I assume that's because I'm on an linode IP at all, vs. something about my server, but I dunno. After contacting people out of band and them un-spamming me it usually goes through, but it is a pain point. Haven't had it with any other destination, I think.

It's possible this would apply to other virtual providers. If it's easy for you to send email, it's easy for spammers...

[mtbc]

I had SPF and DKIM set up before I tried and I checked none of my IPs were on any blacklists, and got received at Google first time. I'd imagine the same might work elsewhere so long as nobody had blacklisted Linode's subnets as being dynamic IPs or such.

[emperor]

There's Mythic Beasts (small firm, based in Cambridge), who have reasonable reputation (I use them for some domains, and they provide hosting for usenet.org.uk) https://www.mythic-beasts.com/servers/virtual [they'll let you run *BSD but note they have less experience with it]

[mtbc]

Ah, I hazily recall they may have provided hosting for Worldcon. Or not.