Need help on specing new server

[Shai]

I've got some questions.

My current set-up:

• Cloudron v7.5.2 (Ubuntu 20.04.2 LTS) on dedicated server with 12GB memory and 100GB of disk space. I'm currently using 65GB of disk. I can't upgrade Cloudron because my server doesn't have AVX; 7.6.1 requires AVX support. (My current web host --small excellent company-- sold to an owner who has ghosted the customers. No support of any kind. I fear every day my server will stop running; so I've got some urgency.)
• 15 apps: 6 Drupal, 4 Wordpress, Nextcloud, yourls, urls, Sogo Mail, Surfer (none of the sites have a lot of traffic) All the apps are up-to-date

I'm planning to move to Linode (Akamai).
I'm considering these two plans for the moment:

1. Dedicated CPU, 8 GB Ram $72/mo 4cpus 160 GB storage
2. High Memory Plan 24 GB Ram $70/mo 2cpus 20 GB + 100GB attached volume

I've had terrible experience with shared CPUs in the past. I know the technology is better now (I've been on a dedicated CPU for 10 years) but I'm still very hesitant even thought there isn't a ton of traffic on the sites I host.

I'd really appreciate any advice y'all could give.

[robi]

While shared systems do get over-provisioned, you can always ask for your VPS to be moved to another less busy system.

In my experience the shared CPUs are not the issue these days, the shared Disk IO is. Also if you get a high RAM box, most apps can just run from memory, and those machines are generous with the number of vCPUs they give you too.

Your spec is fairly pricey, so you might consider other providers that people here like, such as Hetzner and SSDnodes.

If you still want a dedicated system, perhaps others can chime in with what they have good experience with, if not check the forums that specialize in those and hopefully have a deal for you.

You might also inquire with folks who run a rack in a datacenter and have extra U space available for you or a nice slice of an underused system.

[firmansi]

Thanks for sharing your current setup and the urgency you're facing — I can definitely relate to that stress.

Based on my experience, when choosing a new host and plan for Cloudron, it's not just about the number of CPUs or total RAM. There are a couple of key points worth considering:

1. CPU Architecture Matters

Since you're stuck on Cloudron v7.5.2 due to lack of AVX support, make sure the Linode node you end up on has CPUs that support modern instruction sets. Even if you're not upgrading right away, it’s good to future-proof your setup. You might want to reach out to Linode support beforehand to confirm their available CPU models in your chosen region.

2. Storage Type is Critical

Pay attention to whether the storage is SSD-backed or not. Cloudron runs multiple apps (like Drupal, WordPress, Nextcloud, etc.), and performance will be noticeably better with fast disk I/O. Also, consider using block storage or separate volumes for certain apps.

3. Separate Storage for Heavy Apps (Like Nextcloud)

With 15 apps running, including Nextcloud (which can be storage-intensive), it's a good idea to isolate some of them onto separate storage mounts. In Cloudron, you can configure this by mounting different directories for specific apps (e.g., /home/yellowtent/appsdata or its data directory). This helps with:

• Performance monitoring
• Backup management
• Preventing one app from filling up the entire disk

4. Plan Comparison: Dedicated CPU vs High Memory

Given your background with dedicated CPUs and sensitivity to shared environments, I’d lean toward the Dedicated CPU plan ($72/mo). It gives you more predictable performance, especially with multiple apps running simultaneously. The extra storage also gives you breathing room for backups and future growth.

Lastly, before migrating, I'd recommend doing a full backup of your current server (if possible), even if it's just a snapshot. That way, you have a fallback option while transitioning.

Hope this helps

[jdaviescoates]

@Shai said in Need help on specing new server:

Dedicated CPU, 8 GB Ram $72/mo 4cpus 160 GB storage
High Memory Plan 24 GB Ram $70/mo 2cpus 20 GB + 100GB attached volume

That's seems very pricey for what you're getting IMHO.

I've got one of these dedicated servers from Hetzner - loads more power for a lot less money:
https://www.hetzner.com/dedicated-rootserver/ax41-nvme

[d19dotca]

Dedicated servers from OVH are well priced too, worth it in my opinion but it likely depends greatly by region. I’m in Canada and there’s only so many local options, with OVH servers being the cheapest by far but still very powerful. I’d only recommend OVH if you’re a pretty decent sysadmin though because their support is not the quickest.