Cloud Server - does this exist?
 

I have a small server at home that hosts a few VMs that I fire up infrequently. It currently spends most of its time switched off.

So, I've been looking moving the VMs to a cloud provider, but I'm struggling to find a product that will do what I want.

Most providers offer "pay as you go" pricing for servers, but the server is deleted when you switch it off.

What I want is :-

• The VM is persistent (they are around 60GB Linux servers)
• I only get charged when it's switched on (maybe a couple of hours a month)
• I can upload my current VMs (VMWare) with minimal fuss

Does this type of product exist?

Thanks!

I can only speak to AWS. As long as you don’t delete the instance (“terminate”) it can stick around indefinitely in a shut down state.

If you are using ephemeral storage for it (not the default, I don’t think ) then the storage will be deleted when you turn it off. But a standard block storage device should be fine.

Thanks. The problem with AWS is that it's not fully 'pay-as-you-go'. I previously tried AWS, but was getting charged around $30 a month (for the 60GB storage).

I think most cloud providers will have some sort of charge just for the server to exist, whether or not it's running.

However, depending on what you're doing, a dedicated VM might suit for a lower cost than AWS/Azure/etc.
Many of the suppliers have compelling sales from time to time, and nothing says you have to keep the server on/running, but that doesn't help with the cost.

This is one I've used ( I'm not affiliated) https://oplink.net/virtual-private-servers/

Godaddy and most of the other big hosting providers will also have similar plans.

I doubt anyone will allow you to upload an existing VM image (think security).

https://www.hetzner.com/cloud

try this?

not entirely sure about vmware migration. maybe check with other sites like lowendtalk.com


I just keep a couple of cheap lowend boxes around 24/7 (from $10-20/year for ssd-backed, to $30/year for 0.5-1TB hdd-RAID-? storage boxes)

As you are consuming resources (even powered off), you will get billed for it, but some of the more affordable sites you might look at.... Linode, vultr or digital ocean... One of them might fit you better...

Thanks... that looks quite reasonable. I can live with €10 per month :)

I can actually just rebuild my server if I can't upload the VM. I'll have a play around.

Thanks.

just note that you're not paying AWS level of service
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/new...-compensation/

(and even AWS can encounter data loss)
https://www.virtualizationhowto.com/...s-are-crucial/

backups & redundancy

Just for completeness, I eventually fired up a Centos8 box from the above, and rebuilt my server. It only took a couple of days, and it's only around €10 a month for the size I needed.

Thanks!