Windows, Dongles, and Managed Servers

vord · 31st July 2008

If I wanted to run a DOS based application on the web that required a USB dongle would I definately need a dedicated server? It sounds like an obvious question but I wanted to make sure there's no way around with VPS and nice helpful providers.

For another 10 points, I'm a little baffled by the hosting providers that offer a server for £49 then a firewall at another £15, and management for £70. I've always gone for managed servers for fear of what might happen if I didn't. What does the management do? I'm assuming it looks after software updates and security (when combined with the firewall). Am I right?

Carefully worded there to save people time. Are we looking at yes, yes or something infinately more complicated?. And are there good resources you can point me to to find out?

BurtyB · 31st July 2008

To do it with or without your going to need a helpful provider that goes the extra mile. I'm not sure of the status of USB pass-through in Xen (I've never had it working in vmware either) but you could also probably do it via PCI pass-through and to be honest I don't think I'd want either around my Xen boxes.

Overall I think you would be best off looking at a dedicated server (although then finding a provider who will let you plug in your own hardware might not be easy) - or colo your own box with the USB dongle already in it.

Management comes at different levels, I know some places that say managed but don't manage the actual day to day updates/changes to the server and only look at it if it goes wrong etc. so you'd need to check with each provider.

You could try posting in the requests section for and someone might say yes to your requirements.

ChrisB.

vaserv · 31st July 2008

Expierence says VMWare *might* do it but as BurtyB said just go for a dedicated as it will save a lot of hassle in the long run for both providers. Drop some providers a email they might be able to accommodate you, or go the colo route

vord · 1st August 2008

Thanks for the very helpful posts there. I'd not considered the effect of compartmenting the system into a VPS on the operation of a USB. Still reading up, but It does seem possible on a dedicated.

I'll probably bite the bullet and go for a dedicated server. I might post later in the requests section. Need to research a little more to work out what I really want (already asked the wrong question in there but still very relevant replies). Getting there with your help.

JamesSykes · 1st August 2008

No chance. Any provider that allows you to connect up a USB device to their live shared servers is a complete retard.

USB passthrough works with VMware, I've done it, but that's not really the point

Server management can mean alot of things. With some providers it's more of an insurance policy should you break your own server, in that they will come along and fix it for you. They might include patches and so forth but that stuff is automated anyway so work it out? Other providers take it a bit more seriously and will manage the entire process for you, whether thats adding an FTP account, making changes to your web server and so forth.

Dhosting · 1st August 2008

We have two types of managed service "fully" means we take care of all tasks including external monitoring, performance graphing etc. "semi" we take care of OS patching, general security but we don't handle application installs / configs.

othellotech · 2nd August 2008

Managed can mean different things, depending on the supplier - best to check with a few once you've got a shortlist.

And yes, you'll need a dedicated server - I'd be *very* wary of anyone offering you a shared or vps environment willing to connect something by USB, along with the potential that the environmnet they use might not allow it anyway.