Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Running a Web Hosting Business : What makes a good VPS node?

[Bret - dediShack]

Hi guys,
I'm thinking of offering unmanaged VPS servers in Europe as I see a shortage of quality / decent spec servers for the size in Europe right now (I may be wrong, I'm still researching). What things would make a good VPS node? What things should I take into consideration when it comes to running Virtual Private Servers?

Thanks a lot, your input is greatly welcomed

Bret Weber

[j2m2]

1. Make sure you have decent hardware
2. Bandwidth must not suck
3. Gotta know how to secure your servers
4. Don't create ridiculous packages that you cannot live up to
5. Do put servers in US as that just is jumping into an overcrowded market.

[GCM]

• Be competitive, but don't compete with the bigger hosts.

• Have a RAID array

• Don't overload servers

All the best,

[ITTelligent]

GCM stated it all there, also depends on your target audience, how many VPS's you want to fit etc.

Thanks

[Bret - dediShack]

I'm thinking of putting 2 250GB HDD in RAID for the node and 8GB RAM coupled with a Q6600 processor. I'm just going to read a few more things and see what happens

[UH-Bobby]

Usually, for the nodes, memory is where it counts. The processor and other stuff matters, but memory and IO speeds are where it counts. The faster the hard drives you can get, the better. I know reliability needs to be sprinkled in somewhere, but usually for VPS Nodes, IO is a bottleneck. If you think about it, it does make sense. You've got several VPS's that are going to have the same IO stuff as a normal dedicated server for each one, and so, speed definitely counts.

[Jay Suds]

2 250GB HDD drives in RAID1 will not do the trick. Consider getting 8-16 drives in a RAID10, and best to use SAS15K drives.

[GCM]

You will want to do a raid 5 or a raid 10. Later on you may want to upgrade from 8gb of ram to 16gb. The VPS accounts will run quicker. Don't overload the servers. It will end up in slower preformance, redundancy, and quality in your service.

All the best,

[Bret - dediShack]

I think instead of upgrading to a bigger server. I will simply buy another machine so I can spread over 2. Can you guys tell me. If I have a machine with 8GB RAM. Would I be able to run say. 7 VPS with 1GB RAM and 1 with 512? Leaving the other 512 for the main bit. Sorry, still havn't researched totally on the HyperVM / Virtualisation side of it and what's possible. Are there any virtualisation systems that allow reseller accounts? As that would be something we'd be interested in doing.
Thanks

[Hastings]

Quality is quality.

At least 4 cores, at least 8GB ram, and raid is an absolute must due to high I/O. Past that, don't overload the servers, make sure you have a good datacenter and a good network, and the rest is up to you! As for re-selling VPSs, that's not a half bad idea, however to my knowledge there's no system set up at the time that does it automatically. Many companies do offer discounts to individuals that re-sell the VPSs to their clients, as their easily brandable and the guy re-selling 'em can easily block out your company name - Or do you mean like a reseller as in selling a reseller with WHM access to make individual shared accounts? If that's the case than it's very do-able, as a VPS is full root, thus a full root control panel, in which most have the ability to create resellers.

Err... did that even make sense? Anyway, best of luck.

[layer0]

Originally Posted by Jay Suds

2 250GB HDD drives in RAID1 will not do the trick. Consider getting 8-16 drives in a RAID10, and best to use SAS15K drives.

Best advice in this thread.

[UH-Bobby]

Originally Posted by layer0

Best advice in this thread.

I second that. VPS nodes need higher than normal IO's, so raid 1 can't do it. I'd even go so far as to say that I wouldn't use Raid 5. Raid 1+0 (Also known as RAID 10) would be the best performance, with a level of drive failure protection.