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Ubuntu cloud µservers - Beta testers wanted! FREE!
I'm developing a new platform of cloud µservers (micro-servers) based on Ubuntu 14.04 (new!) or Alpine Linux, both with s6 init and it's the time for real user testing.
After the Alpha test, some of you have told me that don't feel comfortable with Alpine Linux, therefore I decided to provide an Ubuntu base image. I've also performed some improvements on the platform.
Final specs for those cloud µservers are still not decided, but for Beta µservers the current ones are the following:
- 2 vCPUs
- ¼ physical core CPU allowance
- 320MB total system memory allowance
- 2GB SSD disk
- Unmetered bandwidth
- 1 shared IPv4
- 100 NAT ports
- vKVM through SSH
Tentative pricing:
0.024€ setup feeFREE during testing.0.001€/hFREE during testing.Add-ons from 0.0001€/hN/A during testing.- such as 0.0001€/h per 20% CPU power increment.
- such as 0.0001€/h per extra GB of SSD disk.
Just send me a PM and I will send you cloud µserver IP, credentials, vKVM SSH port, and assigned NAT ports. Given user will have sudo
capabilities.
This testing phase is expected to run for several months, so don't hesitate to use your cloud µserver for running real things.
Current platform nodes run on top of Scaleway C2l if you are interested in knowing.
Some conditions:
- Only LET users registered before 01/01/2016 00:00 are eligible.
- After a few days you will have to answer three questions (takes less than 2 minutes) about the service in order to continue using the cloud µserver until next testing phase. Otherwise your cloud µserver will be destroyed and redeployed for the next one in the waiting list.
- SMTP is blocked. Don't even try to ask for enabling it for you.
- Automatic monitoring of what you run in there will be performed. I won't spy you nor inspect file contents, but don't do weird things.
- TOR not allowed nor any other deepnet thing. See bulletpoint above.
s6 init system examples: https://notehub.org/ame84
Comments
BTW, Alpha testers can request to have their Alpine Linux µserver migrated to the new version of the platform or request a new Ubuntu one. Please specify.
Wasn't there already a post for this earlier?
That was the Alpha test post. I couldn't edit OP any more, so I've had to open a new one for Beta test. A lot has changed in the transition, not just the base image options.
Some tips:
sed -i 's/\\h/userver/g' ~/.bashrc
and reconnect.sudo kill 1
(not recommended)OMG that's amazing! I'd like Ubuntu 14.04 one please. I couldn't figure out Alpine Linux at all Thanks!
-Jamie M.
I still don't understand what s6 is? does it make them different from a vps?
Thanks to @neps bug report, I've fixed SFTP server in Ubuntu, which was not working properly.
It's a different init system. System services are managed by s6, not by systemd, upstart nor SysVinit. µservers are different in the sense that you only have what you need running on your µserver, rather than a full bloated OS.
There are little chances that there's something you are used to do in a VPS that can't be done in a µserver.
All µservers have been upgraded with 100% CPU power increment. This add-on would cost 0.0005€/h (tentative price).
Are this still open for request? Would love to test!
It's not a virtualization?
Server Tests:
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT USING DOCKER FOR VPN OR ANY SECURITY RELATED SOFTWARE:
Some users my find the price temptative, but you should be really careful if you want to use Docker to run a VPN. Docker wasn't built to run containers as virtual machines nor to have multiple untrusted guests. Running containers as not ephemeral objects can have unexpected consequences and Docker Engine resources security policies are enforced by software. Never trust your keys or secrets to a service like that
I would be far more comfortable if @albertdb started to use LXD and it's amazing hardware security API and speed, but as a testing service it works great in general.
Disk
IOPS are ok but throughput is BAD. Not just the throughput is bad but disk latency is AWFUL. OK, AUFS isn't the fastest thing in the universe but we sure have a high margin for improvement. ZFS storage with mirroring can give us a better disk performance. But if we keep in mind that those micro servers are Docker containers, the additional software layer on top of the filesystem has impacts on performance.
For the general use (low traffic website, zeronet node, etc) it should be OK.
ioping
dd
CPU
Fairly OK for the CPU quota informed on the post and the CPU used by the host.
RAM
Yes, you can push your 320MB and use all your RAM quota. I don't know, of course, if the server will ever be oversold to hell in the future...
how do i see actual ram usage? free returns 2GB
No way until @albertdb write a script for that. What you can do is write a script yourself that calculates used RAM based on a top or ps exit. Not reliable, but it's a start.
Definitely. Even plain LXC (or systemd-nspawn) with good restrictions set in place would be more suitable for these µservers than Docker IMO...