Virtual machine host provider recommendations

[Bill McGonigle]

> install a new
> system, and transfer to there.  That is the quickest and easiest path,

when you say 'new' do you mean 'current' as well?  Be prepared for
config and module changes between major versions of every blasted package.

> and we do not have a lot of time.  Our deadline is JUL 31, roughly two
> weeks from now.

any nobody goes on summer vacation.  Vendor noted. >:|

> I'd like to hear people's experiences, good and bad, with service
> providers.  

I just re-upped with Servarica for another year and added a 2.5GB node.
 They've been hosting a machine with outsideip.net on it with no
problems since I started.

https://servarica.com/

Also I have a $0.99/mo 256MB VPS at Atlantic.net and their control panel
is better.  My overseas ones are not very good and expensive, and not
practical for this use.  I echo the sentiments that DigitalOcean nicely
sponsors many F/OSS podcasts.

> Who is good?  Who is bad?  What to look for, or avoid?

gotta have:

* Xen or KVM.  XenPV is faster and more secure.  KVM gets you remote VNC
with most vendors.  OpenVZ is fine right up until you try to do
something that OpenVZ can't do that normal linux can (/dev/ is
"special").  OpenVPN, for instance.
* remote reboot
* remote reimage
* reverse DNS settings
* enough transfer
* compatible ToS

Should have:
* good SLA
* good reputation
* good oversell spec
* redundant data/power/storage
* SSD cache for drives (e.g. SAN) - all spinning-rust or all SAN is slow
when loaded.
* plenty of transfer
* good RTT to customer base
* good support
* set your own reverse DNS (that actually works ... )
* PayPal

Nice to have:
* no oversell
* cheap
* unlimited transfer
* bitcoin
* all-SSD
* ToS with nerd-speak and clear, permissive terms.

> - No need for "CPanel" or other hand-holding software, and prolly better
> if we don't have it

that's always extra anyway, at least on affordable hosting packages.

> Suggestions welcome, but we don't have time for "you can put the server
> in my basement" or other detours.

Is putting it in Steve's basement as an interim strategy actually worse
than doing an OS migration, as far as time goes?  Update DNS and have a
breather?

-Bill

-- 
Bill McGonigle, Owner
BFC Computing, LLC
http://bfccomputing.com/
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