Dedicated hosting with easy backups.
March 12, 2010 9:34 PM Subscribe
I need a nudge on affordable/reliable web hosting for a dedicated server that will run Java (via Tomcat) and MySQL with a control panel for multiple domains and EASY backup.
Our old server is being decommissioned and ideally I would like to NOT have to setup much along the lines of backup scripts and other tedium that came with setting up the last server. I have researched this a bit but would like a real-world recommendation that isn't just a spec list.
Since we last setup a server I know there have been many advances with virtualization products and I am not sure what to look for when getting a new server. Ideally I want the backup/recovery procedure to be as easy as reinstalling a snapshot that was saved off-site the previous night.
We will host multiple domains that will need management via something like PLESK.
Is this possible? If so, what do you recommend? If not, what is your best alternative solution? I'll also take recommendations on whether to switch to a Microsoft OS or stay with Linux.
I am familiar with VMWare but only from using Fusion on a Mac and like the snapshot feature for when Windows gets messed up.
Our old server is being decommissioned and ideally I would like to NOT have to setup much along the lines of backup scripts and other tedium that came with setting up the last server. I have researched this a bit but would like a real-world recommendation that isn't just a spec list.
Since we last setup a server I know there have been many advances with virtualization products and I am not sure what to look for when getting a new server. Ideally I want the backup/recovery procedure to be as easy as reinstalling a snapshot that was saved off-site the previous night.
We will host multiple domains that will need management via something like PLESK.
Is this possible? If so, what do you recommend? If not, what is your best alternative solution? I'll also take recommendations on whether to switch to a Microsoft OS or stay with Linux.
I am familiar with VMWare but only from using Fusion on a Mac and like the snapshot feature for when Windows gets messed up.
I've had good luck so far with Slicehost. Haven't been with them long though.
With them you get a virtual chunk of hardware and you can install any os you like and handle everything yourself. Might be too hands on, but the other normal webhosts are so restrictive a lot of the time.
posted by meta87 at 11:50 PM on March 12, 2010
With them you get a virtual chunk of hardware and you can install any os you like and handle everything yourself. Might be too hands on, but the other normal webhosts are so restrictive a lot of the time.
posted by meta87 at 11:50 PM on March 12, 2010
Best answer: Specifically EC2 with Elastic block Store, lets you take as many snapshots as you want, although you have to pay 10¢/gig/month to store them. You can recover from your snapshots and start new instances with them, or mount previous versions, etc. I'm pretty sure you can even take snapshots while the system is running, accessing the disk, the whole deal.
The other thing with EC2 is that it's on demand, and something like 8 cents/hr for a cheap instance. So you can jump right in and play around, try setting things up and seeing how it works for just a few dollars, possibly even less then a dollar. There are no up front fees at all. No commitment whatsoever.
Technically the hardware is shared, but performance isn't an issue. You can scale up to servers with 8 cores and 68gb of memory, and scale all the way down to single-core 1.7gb machines which only cost 8 cents an hour (or 3/4 on the spot market)
posted by delmoi at 11:53 PM on March 12, 2010
The other thing with EC2 is that it's on demand, and something like 8 cents/hr for a cheap instance. So you can jump right in and play around, try setting things up and seeing how it works for just a few dollars, possibly even less then a dollar. There are no up front fees at all. No commitment whatsoever.
Technically the hardware is shared, but performance isn't an issue. You can scale up to servers with 8 cores and 68gb of memory, and scale all the way down to single-core 1.7gb machines which only cost 8 cents an hour (or 3/4 on the spot market)
posted by delmoi at 11:53 PM on March 12, 2010
I've been using Rackspace Cloud lately as a cheaper alternative to EC2. They are temporarily offering free backup service. Don't expect the same kind of insane uptime and unbelievable bandwidth as EC2; Rackspace is maybe 1% of the size.
posted by miyabo at 9:33 AM on March 13, 2010
posted by miyabo at 9:33 AM on March 13, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by delmoi at 11:43 PM on March 12, 2010