Windows VPS Unmanaged with PLESK

starscream · 18th March 2008

I currently have a Reseller account at 34sp.com but feel my £15 a month would be better spent on a VPS. I am useless at administering Linux so I need windows if I go unmanaged. The main reason I got the reseller account was to save money and to experiment with more freedom in webhosting land. (not as a business just personal)

It will host up to 10 sites but the main idea behind wanting unmanaged is the freedom to install and research other things such as shoutcast servers, gaming servers, exchange/mdaemon/zimbra server etc etc.

I don't want to be confined to PLESK for everything but I do like PLESK or a PLESK-like alternative.

As you can see I'm not a hosting company or even design many websites but I do want flexibility as the VPS could be used for a whole host of things.

Currently I pay £15 pm for a reseller account and £5pm for hosted exchange.

I am willing to pay up to £25 pm for a solution of this time as long as I can install a decent email server that provides push mail. If not then £20 pm.

I just can't seem to find anything after weeks of search in the UK. US hosting companies seem to offer the above (obviously minus special software such as the email software I mentioned) for £20 per month. But I would prefer UK for reasons discussed in other threads.

Some level of support would be handy and all prices inclusive of VAT.

I know it is a long shot but all I am asking is for the USA prices in the UK! ha!

A quick low down of what I am trying to get for £20 per month!

10gb Space
> 100gb bandwidth
PLESK 30 licence
Ability to run a very small gaming server/shout cast server/other small experimental server program.
Windows 2003
Unmanaged or part managed.
Backup/restore would be nice.

If I was prepared to spend over £35 I would be thinking down the lines of a dedicated server but this is not a business of mine, more of a hobby with a few important sites hosted for others.

The ability to host my own push email/calendar/tasks would save me £5 elsewhere and could be added to this.

Sorry if I rambled on a bit! VPS is new to me.

I just want a server to call my own! ha!

osde8info · 31st March 2008

you could try webfusion.co.uk

CrystalVPS · 31st March 2008

from webfusion for what he wants it starts at £30 a month for a VPS with a 30 domain license...

I highly doubt he'll get what he wants without resorting to a hosting provider who uses illegal versions of Windows (and Plesk, if that's been hacked but I don't know if it has or not) and I don't suggest that as they're likely to leave you in a sticky situation when their servers get cut for none payment

Cranky · 31st March 2008

For a Plesk Windows VPS you are going to be in need of 256-384MB memory minimum for it to run anywhere near stable. I would say you need to increase your budget a bit to find a decent provider who can meet your requirements for this.

A better solution for you may be a fully managed Plesk for Linux VPS. These require less memory (from 128MB), and are typically managed for a small additional cost by your provider. You will get full admin Plesk access with most providers, and don't have the headache of managing the security and stability of the server on a day-to-day basis. Some providers may even install and manage shoutcast for you, and Plesk for Linux integrates with some gameservers (though only for a few games, and I'm not sure how good the integration is). There's many providers can offer this.

starscream · 1st April 2008

I've increased my budget to £30. I thought I had found the ideal one with the VPS Plus from serverchoice.com. I have been recommended by a friend to use them.

I wan't a Windows VPS with RDP access so I can run my own windows software on it too.

If I can get a Windows VPS with Plesk, 10Gig space and a half decent spec I would pay £30 inc VAT a month for it. Do you think this is impossible?

I only build websites as a site business, nothing serious. Is there a way I can recover the VAT or do I need a full business plan etc etc etc to be able to do that?

Thanks

midnightsoftwar · 1st April 2008

For Plesk, i think your best bet would be to look at Layershift (see Crankys post above). They work very closely with the Plesk panel, and are likely to be able to offer some of the best prices for it.

starscream · 1st April 2008

Unfortunately it looks like they don't offer Windows VPS.

I presume running a virtual windows machine on a linux VPS would be bad practise due to licencing costs and performance.

I really am not Linux competant enough to install my own software on a Linux VPS. I'm a big fan of point and click config.

midnightsoftwar · 1st April 2008

They do - just with the US hosting (rather than UK) - the link is on the left side of their site.

starscream · 1st April 2008

Ah I see, some sweet pricing there but is it UK based? I don't understand why Windows VPS is offered in the US but not in the UK at Layershift?

Also, I noticed that some companies seem to offer a managed server WITH RDP access. IE, with PLESK and everything set up and paid for but you have the option of using RDP to install other software. I've seen these with free backups too.

However, Layershift and most other companies seem to offer one or the other. Either PLESK and fully managed with backups or Unmanaged and you have to buy PLESK youself and do your own backups.

Cranky · 1st April 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by starscream

Unfortunately it looks like they don't offer Windows VPS.

I presume running a virtual windows machine on a linux VPS would be bad practise due to licencing costs and performance.

I really am not Linux competant enough to install my own software on a Linux VPS. I'm a big fan of point and click config.

To clarify, our site needs updating, but WinVPS's are available in the UK too.

You cannot run a Windows VM on a Linux VPS (ok, so technically it's sort of possible, but don't try it as it will be a waste of resources).

You have two logical options here:

- Choose a managed Linux VPS provider who can assist you by managing your VPS for you so you only need to handle "point and click" stuff via the control panel. Your provider will then handle security, configuration, updates, service tweaking, troubleshooting, etc. for you.

- Choose an unmanaged Windows VPS. You will be responsible for security, updates, configuration, troubleshooting, etc. Windows is much more resource hungry, if you need Windows for stuff like ASP.NET or MSSQL (the latter being a resource hog) then you need Windows. If it's just to make things "point and click" I'd suggest using a Managed Linux VPS as it will be better value for you.

I hope this helps.

starscream · 2nd April 2008

Well it was to be able to install windows based software using RDP. I wouldn't just be using it as a simple web host. I wanted to experiment with email hosting, game hosting, funambol hosting etc etc.

I would however like the PLESK managed web hosting as well. Eventually I probably would just want a fully managed linux solution like I have at the moment but this is my requirements for now.