cheap co-lo in Phx area?

[David Schwartz]

Thanks, I’ll check some of the places on that list.

The main issue is the Win VPS vendors provide no support for anything. When you get a Linux host, it’s all configured and ready to go. I configure a default index.php file in my skel folder and as soon as the domain's DNS propagates, I can get it to come up when I go to the domain. With Windows Server OS, there isn’t even a server installed, let alone configured! This was kind of a shock to me.

I was a bit stunned how long it took to get my Win VPS configured to work. I still don’t have a security cert for access coming into the hosting port (so there’s no https for my service), mainly because they don’t offer FreeSSL and said I have to buy one of their overpriced certs. What good is having “root access” if you can’t install your own security certs?

I guess I’m spoiled b/c over the years I’ve worked at a dozen or more places that all had IT Depts that handled that stuff for Windows. Back in the 90’s, Windows was simple enough that I understood it, but today it’s a horrible rat’s nest of crap and it’s just not something I care about. The place hosting my VPS now won’t touch it and I don’t know where to go to get help with that stuff. I don’t need a “fully managed” service; I just expected things like this to be handled already or as simple as they are on a Linux box.

They do offer a “fully manged” option starting around $150/mo. I just don’t need that; what I need is a basic server configured right out of the gate. I had my own little Linux server for 8 years or so plugged into a colo place here in town (GetNet) until it was far cheaper to just get a cPanel reseller account, which is what I’ve been doing every since.

I thought that if I were to get a small Windows box then I can hand it to someone and have them set it up, I can load my software onto it, then plug it into something and I’d be off and running.

There are some great deals on fanless Windows “mini-PCs” on Amazon this week for under $200 that are about the size of a cell phone and twice as thick that have way more power than my current VPS. A lot of VPS options start out at 1GB of RAM, which works fine with Linux, but I’ve found that Windows is slower than crap with anything less that 4GB.

Are there any outfits that just offer basic Windows IT Support by the hour / task / month? I don’t need much, but I don’t know where to turn. I had a couple of people I’d call for help periodically, and they both died of COVID (they believed the VAX was going to kill them). 

-David Schwartz




> On Nov 20, 2023, at 12:19 PM, George Toft via PLUG-discuss <plug-discuss at lists.phxlinux.org> wrote:
> 
> Wouldn't a Virtual Private Server (VPS) meet your needs?  Lots to be had for a few dollars/month.
> 
> https://www.hostingadvice.com/how-to/best-hosting-with-root-access/
> 
> BTW - I use Hostinger (#5 on the list) for web hosting (not VPS) and I'm happy with them.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> George Toft
> 
> On 11/20/2023 5:13 AM, David Schwartz via PLUG-discuss wrote:
>> I’ve got a Windows VPS server somewhere but prices are rather high for a decently fast box, so I’m thinking of getting a little NUC box. It would be fine for dev purposes, but I’d like to be able to access it outside of my home LAN.
>> 
>> However, I’m using T-Mobile Home Internet, and it blocks all incoming ports, so I’d need to set up another box (I think?) that runs ngenx or something else to support reverse proxies.
>> 
>> It would be a whole lot easier to just plug it into a co-lo rack, but the only things I’ve found are well over $100/mo.
>> 
>> Is there anything cheap around the Phx area that startups can use for basic dev work? (This has to be Windows for now.)
>> 
>> -David Schwartz
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ---------------------------------------------------
>> PLUG-discuss mailing list: PLUG-discuss at lists.phxlinux.org
>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings:
>> https://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss
> ---------------------------------------------------
> PLUG-discuss mailing list: PLUG-discuss at lists.phxlinux.org
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings:
> https://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.phxlinux.org/pipermail/plug-discuss/attachments/20231120/1f64804a/attachment.htm>