Forem: Hitesh Jethva

Top 5 Best TeamSpeak Server Hosting Providers for 2026

Hitesh Jethva — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 06:07:59 +0000

If you manage a gaming community, host competitive matches, or simply want lag-free voice communication, finding the right TeamSpeak 3 host is critical. Poor latency and dropped connections don't just ruin the vibe, they cost matches and annoy your users. To help you avoid that, we tested and reviewed the best TeamSpeak server hosting providers in 2026, focusing on real-world performance, server stability, ease of use, and customer support.

Each vendor was reviewed for performance, user-friendliness, and overall value, helping you make a confident decision based on your specific voice communication needs.

Best TeamSpeak Server Hosting Provider Compared

Tired of laggy voice chats? Discover the best TeamSpeak 3 hosting providers for crystal-clear communication and reliable performance.

1. GravelHost - Best for Low-Latency Performance

Best For: Esports teams, tournament organizers, and streamers.

Pricing: From $3.00/month with unlimited slot options

Why it stands out: GravelHost delivers excellent voice quality thanks to high-end Ryzen 9 CPUs and NVMe SSDs. Their North American servers average just 35ms latency, great for competitive setups.

GravelHost is one of the leading TeamSpeak server hosting that has been in the market for a long term. It delivers low-latency TeamSpeak hosting with an average ping of 35ms in North America and 40ms in Europe. Their servers run on Ryzen 9 5900X CPUs with NVMe SSD storage, ensuring lag-free performance. Plus, a 72-hour money-back guarantee gives you peace of mind.

In addition to other countries, GravelHost maintains servers in 8 locations worldwide. It is a great option for it provides high-quality services, affordable pricing, and a maximum slot limit per account.

GravelHost's Key Features

Ryzen 9 5900X CPUs for superior performance.
NVMe SSD storage for fast voice packet processing.
DDoS Protection for uninterrupted gaming sessions*.*
24/7 Discord Support for instant help.
Instant Setup – get started in under 5 minutes.

Unique Buying Proposition

Unlimited TeamSpeak slots and 99.98% uptime with elite CPU/SSD performance.

Feature-in-Focus

Ultra-Low Latency Servers Average 35ms ping in the US and 40ms in Europe, making it ideal for competitive environments.

2. G-Portal - Best for User-Friendly Scaling

Best For: Mid-size to large gaming communities.

Pricing: From £2.47 per month, scalable to 1,000 slots

Why it stands out: G-Portal offers an intuitive dashboard and is an official TeamSpeak partner. You can scale up to 1,000 slots easily, without technical knowledge.

G-Portal offers a hassle-free TeamSpeak server hosting experience ideal for communities that scale fast or span across multiple continents. Backed by official TeamSpeak certification and equipped with an intuitive control panel, G-Portal is perfect for users who want flexibility without sacrificing performance or security.

G-Portal Key Features

Official TeamSpeak 3 hosting partner
Global presence in 14+ locations
Web-based admin dashboard
DDoS protection and backup options
Instant setup

Unique Buying Proposition

Their intuitive control panel and real-time usage dashboard allow admins to scale servers quickly with no technical complexity.

Feature-in-Focus

G-Portal Web Interface Streamlines user management, permissions, and upgrades—great for less technical admins.

3. Zap-Hosting - Best Budget-Friendly Option

Best For: Casual communities or budget-focused teams.

Pricing: From €1.90 per month

Why it stands out: Zap Hosting is one of the most affordable hosts. It offers basic voice hosting with a 7-day free trial and features like automatic scaling.

Zap Hosting is a trusted host for TeamSpeak servers that offers easy management and DDoS protection. It offers budget-friendly TeamSpeak hosting with a 7-day free trial. Their servers support 1-Click Setup, DDoS Protection, and global data centers.

Zap Hosting's Key Features

Intel Xeon Processors for stable performance.
1-Click Backup & Restore.
DDoS Protection with real-time mitigation.
Multiple Global Locations (US, EU, Asia, Australia).
VoiceBot for auto-communication.

Unique Buying Proposition

Combines affordability with automation features like server scaling and backup.

Feature-in-Focus

VoiceBot Auto-Responder Enables predefined messages for busy admins—perfect for managing chat load during events.

4. HostHavoc - Best for Support & Reliability

Best For: Business use, pro streamers, and high-uptime needs.

Why it stands out: HostHavoc delivers one of the best uptimes in the business (99.99%) and top-notch ticket support. Their admin dashboard is streamlined and secure.

Pricing: From $4.00/month, 72-hour refund guarantee

Unlike other hosting providers, Host Havoc delivers 99.99% uptime with low-latency data centers in North America and Europe. They offer a 72-hour refund policy and 24/7 ticket support.

Additionally, it offers DDoS Protection, file transfer, and good storage space. Users can easily set up HostHavoc in minutes without any hassle. Another best feature of HostHavoc is it offers ticket-based support.

HostHavoc's Key Features

High-performance Xeon CPUs.
Instant Server Setup (within minutes).
Refined Control Panel for easy management.
DDoS Protection & Security Features.
Global Network Coverage.

Unique Buying Proposition

Industry-leading uptime and support make this a set-it-and-forget-it solution for serious users.

Feature-in-Focus

Real-Time Monitoring Tools Admins can monitor server health and usage metrics to prevent overload.

5. GameServers - Best for Large Guilds & Studios

Best For: Long-standing gaming communities, clans, and developers.

Why it stands out: GameServers has been around since 2004 and hosts in over 36 data centers. It’s trusted by game publishers and dev teams for its reliability.

Pricing: From $3.36/month, 5-day refund policy

GameServers has hosted over 500,000 servers since 2004. It’s the preferred TeamSpeak host for large gaming studios due to its reliability and low-latency network (38ms US, 48ms EU).

GameServers is the host of choice for large gaming developers when they want to host services because of its reputation. It is known to deliver excellent performance and enables real-time communication with team members. You can find various customization options in the control panel and excellent features like ClanPay.

Gameserver's Key Features

Dedicated Control Panel for server management.
Instant Setup – Go live in 60 seconds.
ClanPay Feature (for group payments).
36 Data Centers Worldwide.
200+ Supported Mods.

Unique Buying Proposition

Battle-tested for scale. Trusted by large publishers and gaming orgs since 2004.

Feature-in-Focus

ClanPay Billing allows community-driven payments—great for donations and shared admin costs.

Key Considerations Before Choosing the Best TeamSpeak Host

Performance: Look for NVMe SSDs, Ryzen/Intel Xeon CPUs, and low latency (<40ms).
Uptime SLA: Minimum 99.9% uptime for uninterrupted communication.
Security: Essential features include DDoS protection and user permissions.
Global Reach: The more data centers available, the better your ping and reliability.
Ease of Use: Look for providers offering 1-click setup and simple admin dashboards.
Support: 24/7 support via ticket or Discord can save you when things go wrong.

Our Methodology for Choosing the Best TeamSpeak Hosts

We evaluated each provider based on:

Server uptime and latency tests
Control panel usability
DDoS and encryption features
Real user reviews on Reddit, Trustpilot
Customer support responsiveness (ticket/live chat)

Why Trust Us

Our reviews are written by tech professionals with backgrounds in server administration, Game developer, and IT consulting. We test each provider from the perspective of both technical admins and casual users. We do not accept paid placements in our rankings.

Final Verdict: How to Choose the Best TeamSpeak Server Hosting?

GravelHost – Best for raw performance and low latency.
G-Portal – Great for ease-of-use and large communities.
Zap Hosting – Best value for casual teams.
HostHavoc – Ideal for business-grade reliability.
GameServers – Proven for scale and professional users.

✅ Choose based on what matters most: latency, support, or simplicity.

📣 Want help setting up your TeamSpeak server? Let us know and we’ll walk you through it!

We Analyzed 300+ Reddit Threads - 7 Game Server Hosts Gamers Recommend Most (2026)

Hitesh Jethva — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 04:50:50 +0000

Running a game server is easy until performance problems start appearing. Lag spikes, server crashes, and high latency can quickly ruin multiplayer experiences. Many gamers search Reddit before choosing a hosting provider because community discussions often reveal issues that marketing pages never mention.

To understand which hosting providers gamers actually trust, we reviewed hundreds of Reddit discussions across communities like r/admincraft, r/MinecraftServer, r/FiveM, r/playrust, and r/ARK. These threads included real feedback from server owners running everything from small Minecraft servers to large modded communities.

The result is a shortlist of hosting providers that appear repeatedly in Reddit recommendations. While opinions vary depending on game type and player count, these providers consistently show up in discussions about reliability, performance, and ease of management.

Below are seven game server hosting providers Reddit users mention most often when discussing stable game infrastructure.

1. Apex Hosting

Most Recommended for Minecraft Servers

Apex Hosting appears frequently in Reddit discussions among Minecraft server administrators. Many server owners mention it as a reliable option for communities that need consistent uptime and easy server management.

The platform offers a control panel designed specifically for game servers, which simplifies mod installation and server configuration.

Key features often mentioned in Reddit threads include:

NVMe storage for faster world loading
One-click modpack installation
Global server locations
DDoS protection

Many community members say Apex Hosting works well for small to mid-sized Minecraft communities. However, some Reddit users mention that pricing can be higher compared to budget hosts.

2. Shockbyte

Budget-Friendly Game Server Hosting

Shockbyte appears in many Reddit threads where gamers ask for affordable hosting solutions. The provider focuses heavily on Minecraft servers but also supports other games.

Many new server owners choose Shockbyte because of its simple pricing structure and quick deployment process.

Frequently mentioned features include:

Instant server setup
Mod and plugin support
Low starting price plans
Custom control panel

While some Reddit users report mixed experiences with performance, Shockbyte still appears frequently in discussions about entry-level hosting.

3. GravelHost

Affordable Hosting for FiveM and Multiplayer Servers

GravelHost appears regularly in discussions about FiveM server hosting. Some users recommend it for roleplay servers because of its pricing and server setup options.

Many discussions mention that it is easier for beginners to deploy game servers using preconfigured panels.

Features often mentioned in community discussions include:

FiveM optimized hosting
Game-specific control panels
Automated setup tools
Multiple data center locations

Reddit opinions are mixed, but GravelHost still appears frequently when users ask for affordable FiveM hosting providers.

4. BisectHosting

Popular Choice for Modded Minecraft Servers

BisectHosting frequently appears in Reddit conversations about running large modpacks. Server admins often choose it when hosting modded environments such as Feed The Beast or custom mod collections.

Many Reddit discussions highlight that modded Minecraft servers require strong hardware and stable resource allocation.

Features commonly discussed by users include:

Dedicated RAM allocation
Automatic backups
Modpack installer support
Global server network

Reddit users often recommend BisectHosting when running complex modded environments with many players.

5. Zap-Hosting

Known for FiveM and GTA RP Servers

Zap-Hosting is widely discussed in Reddit communities related to GTA roleplay servers. The company offers specialized hosting packages designed specifically for FiveM.

Many roleplay communities use Zap-Hosting because of its built-in support for GTA server environments.

Features include:

Preconfigured FiveM environments
Instant server deployment
Game-specific server templates
Multiple global locations

Some Reddit discussions criticize pricing and support response times, but the provider still appears frequently in GTA RP server hosting recommendations.

6. ScalaCube

Low-Cost Hosting for Beginners

ScalaCube appears often in Reddit discussions when gamers ask for extremely low-cost hosting solutions.

It offers entry-level hosting plans designed for smaller communities or testing environments.

Common features mentioned by users include:

Free server options for small communities
One-click mod installation
Basic server management tools

While it may not be suitable for large player communities, ScalaCube often appears in threads about affordable server hosting.

7. Nodecraft

Best for Multi-Game Server Hosting

Nodecraft stands out in Reddit threads because of its unique ability to host multiple games using the same server plan.

Server owners can switch between games such as:

Minecraft
Valheim
ARK
Rust
Terraria

This flexibility attracts gamers who run different communities throughout the year.

Reddit users often highlight Nodecraft’s “Save & Swap” feature, which allows server owners to change games without purchasing a new hosting plan.

What Reddit Users Say Matters Most for Game Hosting

Across hundreds of Reddit comments, gamers consistently highlight the same factors when choosing hosting providers.

CPU Performance

Game servers rely heavily on CPU performance. Many Reddit users recommend hosts that use modern Ryzen processors because they deliver stronger single-thread performance.

Server Location

Hosting servers close to players helps reduce latency. Many server admins recommend choosing providers with multiple global data centers.

Mod Support

Games like Minecraft rely heavily on mods and plugins. Hosting providers that support easy mod installation receive better feedback from server admins.

Control Panel Usability

Many gamers prefer hosting platforms that include simple dashboards for managing servers, restarting instances, and installing mods.

Final Thoughts

Reddit discussions provide valuable insights into how hosting providers perform in real-world gaming environments. While individual experiences vary depending on server size and configuration, several providers consistently appear in community recommendations.

Platforms such as Apex Hosting, BisectHosting, Shockbyte, and Nodecraft show up frequently in Minecraft server discussions. Meanwhile, GravelHost and Zap-Hosting appear regularly in communities focused on FiveM and GTA roleplay servers.

Before choosing a hosting provider, it is helpful to review community feedback and understand the type of server environment you plan to run. Player count, mod usage, and game type all influence the infrastructure required to keep servers stable.

By analyzing real user experiences from Reddit discussions, server owners can make more informed decisions when selecting game hosting platforms.

We Tested the Best FiveM Server Hosting Providers - 5 That Stand Out in 2026

Hitesh Jethva — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 13:33:13 +0000

FiveM has grown into one of the most active modding platforms in the GTA ecosystem. Thousands of communities run roleplay servers with custom scripts, vehicle packs, economy systems, and large maps. These servers require stable hosting. If the server struggles under load, players experience lag, delayed actions, or sudden crashes.

Hosting quality affects how smoothly a FiveM RP server runs. CPU performance, storage speed, and network stability all influence the experience players see in-game.

To see which providers perform well in real conditions, we tested several FiveM hosting platforms using a simulated RP environment. The test included heavy scripts, custom vehicles, and map assets. We monitored performance while simulating large numbers of players connecting to the server.

After running multiple tests, five providers stood out in 2026:

Each provider handled FiveM workloads differently. Some delivered excellent performance during high player activity, while others worked better for smaller communities.

This guide explains how the testing worked and which hosting platforms performed best.

How We Tested FiveM Server Hosting Providers

Testing game server hosting requires more than launching a server and connecting a few players. FiveM servers often run complex scripts that consume CPU and memory resources. To simulate real conditions, we created a script-heavy roleplay environment and monitored several performance metrics.

Server Configuration Used in Testing

Each hosting provider was tested with a similar configuration so the results would be easier to compare.

The test servers used:

8–12 GB RAM
NVMe storage
latest FiveM FXServer version
common RP frameworks such as ESX and QBCore
custom vehicles and map assets

This setup mirrors what many roleplay communities use today.

Load Testing Scenario

To simulate real gameplay activity, we created a test environment with increasing player loads.

The server environment included:

simulated player connections
economy scripts and inventory systems
vehicle scripts and police systems
map streaming assets

The test gradually increased player counts to see how the server handled rising activity.

Metrics We Measured

During testing we monitored several important metrics.

These included:

server tick stability
CPU usage under load
player latency
map loading speed
server restart time

These measurements provide a clear picture of how each hosting platform handles FiveM workloads.

What We Learned After Running Multiple FiveM Servers

Testing revealed several patterns across different hosting providers.

First, CPU performance plays a major role in FiveM server stability. Servers with stronger processors maintained stable tick rates during heavy gameplay activity. Lower-powered servers showed slower script execution during peak load.

Second, NVMe storage made a noticeable difference. Servers using NVMe drives loaded map resources and scripts faster than servers using slower storage.

Third, network stability influenced the player experience. When network performance fluctuated, players experienced delayed actions and increased latency.

We also noticed that some providers handled moderate player counts well but struggled when the simulated server reached larger RP community sizes.

After reviewing all test results, five hosting platforms stood out for their consistent performance.

Best FiveM Server Hosting Providers in 2026 (Test Results)

The following providers delivered stable performance during the testing process. Each one supports different types of FiveM communities depending on server size and workload.

1. GravelHost - Strong Performance for Large RP Servers

GravelHost delivered one of the most stable results during testing. The platform handled high player loads and heavy scripts with minimal performance drops.

During simulated peak activity, server tick rates remained stable and scripts executed smoothly. This helped maintain consistent gameplay even when multiple systems ran at the same time.

What Worked Well During Testing

Several areas stood out during testing.

consistent tick stability during high load
quick resource loading
stable network response

The server maintained smooth performance even when many scripts executed at once.

Best For

GravelHost works well for large roleplay communities that run many custom scripts and assets. Servers with high player counts benefit from strong CPU performance and fast storage.

2. Zap-Hosting - Popular Choice for FiveM Communities

Zap-Hosting has supported FiveM servers for many years. Many server owners already use the platform due to its wide selection of game hosting services.

During testing, Zap-Hosting delivered reliable performance for moderate player loads. Script execution remained stable when the simulated server ran common RP frameworks.

The platform also offers several server management tools that help communities configure and manage their servers.

Test Observations

Key observations during testing included:

stable gameplay during moderate player activity
acceptable latency levels
reliable uptime during extended testing sessions

Performance stayed consistent while the simulated environment ran typical RP scripts.

Best For

Zap-Hosting works well for communities launching their first FiveM server or running smaller RP communities.

3. Citadel Servers - Stable Hosting for Script-Heavy Servers

Citadel Servers is known for supporting many multiplayer games, including FiveM. During testing, the platform handled script-heavy workloads reliably.

Many FiveM communities run complex server logic with economy systems, police frameworks, and custom scripts. Citadel Servers maintained stable performance while these systems ran simultaneously.

Test Observations

Testing showed several strengths.

stable memory usage during heavy scripting
fast restart times
consistent server response

The platform handled complex RP environments without large performance drops.

Best For

Citadel Servers works well for communities running many scripts or complex mod setups.

4. ElixirNode - High Performance Hardware

ElixirNode focused heavily on hardware performance. During testing, the servers started quickly and handled heavy workloads smoothly.

Server startup times were among the fastest observed during the testing process. Scripts loaded quickly and map assets streamed smoothly.

Test Observations

Key findings included:

fast server startup time
strong CPU performance under load
low player latency

The server remained stable even when player counts increased.

Best For

ElixirNode works well for communities that want strong hardware performance and fast server response.

5. Iceline Hosting - Balanced Performance for Growing Communities

Iceline Hosting delivered balanced performance during testing. The servers handled moderate RP workloads without noticeable lag or instability.

Gameplay remained smooth while running typical FiveM scripts and assets.

Test Observations

During testing we observed:

stable gameplay during moderate player activity
reliable uptime
acceptable performance with common RP frameworks

While the servers performed well for medium-sized communities, extremely large servers may require higher performance hardware.

Best For

Iceline Hosting works well for small to medium FiveM communities that want reliable hosting.

Performance Comparison of the Tested Providers

The following table summarizes how the tested providers performed during the evaluation.


Provider	CPU Performance	NVMe Storage	Network Stability	Best For
GravelHost	High	Yes	Very stable	Large RP servers
Zap-Hosting	Moderate	Yes	Stable	beginner communities
Citadel Servers	High	Yes	Stable	script-heavy servers
ElixirNode	Very high	Yes	Very stable	performance-focused servers
Iceline Hosting	Moderate	Yes	Stable	growing communities

These results show that several providers offer strong FiveM hosting environments. The best choice depends on the size of your community and the complexity of your server setup.

How to Choose the Right FiveM Server Host

Selecting a hosting provider requires understanding your server’s needs. FiveM communities vary widely in size and complexity.

Player Capacity

Larger communities require stronger hardware. Servers with many players need powerful CPUs to maintain stable tick rates.

Script and Mod Usage

Roleplay servers often run many scripts. Economy systems, vehicle scripts, and custom jobs increase server load.

More scripts require additional memory and processing power.

Server Location

Hosting servers close to your player base reduces latency. Lower latency improves the in-game experience for players.

Server Management Tools

Many hosting platforms include control panels that simplify server management. These tools allow server owners to restart servers, install scripts, and monitor performance.

Common Hosting Mistakes FiveM Server Owners Make

Many server owners encounter performance problems due to common hosting mistakes.

One frequent mistake involves selecting servers with insufficient RAM. Heavy scripts require adequate memory resources to operate correctly.

Another mistake involves ignoring CPU performance. FiveM servers rely heavily on CPU power, especially when running multiple scripts.

Running too many scripts can also affect stability. Each additional script increases server workload.

Finally, choosing a server location far from the player base increases latency and affects gameplay.

Avoiding these mistakes helps maintain a stable FiveM server environment.

Our FiveM Test Environment

The testing environment included several tools used to monitor server performance.

We recorded:

CPU usage graphs
server tick rate monitoring
player latency measurements
server console logs

These measurements helped identify which hosting platforms handled heavy workloads effectively.

Screenshots and performance graphs from the test environment can provide additional context when reviewing hosting performance.

Final Thoughts

FiveM server hosting performance varies across providers. Hardware quality, network stability, and server configuration all affect gameplay experience.

Our testing showed that several hosting platforms handle FiveM workloads well in 2026.

GravelHost delivered strong results during high player loads. Zap-Hosting worked well for moderate RP communities. Citadel Servers handled script-heavy environments reliably. ElixirNode performed well due to strong hardware resources. Iceline Hosting delivered stable performance for growing communities.

Each provider supports different types of FiveM servers. Communities should choose hosting based on player count, script usage, and hardware requirements.

Selecting the right hosting provider helps maintain smooth gameplay and stable server performance for FiveM players.

We Tested 12 CPUs for Game Server Hosting - Here’s What Actually Performs Best

Hitesh Jethva — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 04:19:45 +0000

Game server performance depends heavily on the CPU. While storage, RAM, and network speed matter, the processor often decides how smoothly a multiplayer server runs when dozens or hundreds of players connect at once.

At Gravel Host, we run thousands of game servers for titles such as Minecraft, Rust, ARK, and Valheim. Because of that scale, we regularly test hardware before deploying it in production. Marketing specs do not always reflect real game server behavior. Some CPUs that look powerful on paper struggle with game workloads, while others perform far better than expected.

To better understand real performance, we tested 12 popular CPUs used in hosting infrastructure. The goal was simple: identify which processors handle game servers best under realistic load.

This article explains our testing setup, the processors we evaluated, and which CPUs delivered the best results.

Why CPU Choice Matters for Game Server Hosting

Many game servers depend on strong single-thread performance. Even with modern engines, most core simulation tasks still run on just one or two main threads. Because of this, clock speed and IPC (instructions per clock) are key to server responsiveness.

If the CPU has trouble keeping up, players quickly notice issues like these:

The server tick rate drops
Player movement is delayed.
Block updates lag, especially in sandbox games.
Large player events can cause stuttering.

For hosting providers, these problems often mean more support tickets and unhappy players.

A faster CPU helps keep simulation updates steady, even when player activity spikes. That is why picking the right processor is one of the most important hardware choices for game server infrastructure.

Our Testing Environment

To keep results consistent, we ran every test server under the same conditions.

Test configuration

64 GB DDR5 RAM
NVMe SSD storage
Ubuntu Linux host system
Docker-based game server deployment
1 Gbps internal network

Each CPU ran the same group of game servers using identical settings.

Games used in testing

Minecraft (Paper server)
Rust
Valheim
ARK: Survival Evolved
CS2 dedicated server

We simulated player load using scripted clients and real multiplayer sessions. The tests focused on:

Server tick rate stability
CPU utilization
Player latency during heavy events
Maximum stable player count

These metrics reflect real hosting workloads rather than synthetic benchmarks.

The 12 CPUs We Tested

The processors we tested represent common hardware used by game hosting companies and dedicated server providers.

Intel CPUs

Intel Xeon E-2388G
Intel Xeon E-2288G
Intel Xeon Gold 5317
Intel Core i9-13900K
Intel Core i7-13700K
Intel Core i5-13600K

AMD CPUs

AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
AMD EPYC 9334
AMD EPYC 9354P
AMD EPYC 7443P

This mix allowed us to compare consumer desktop CPUs, workstation processors, and data-center chips.

Single-Thread Performance Results

Single-thread speed had the largest impact on game server responsiveness.

Our tests showed that modern desktop CPUs delivered the strongest single-thread results. The top performers were:

Ryzen 9 7950X
Core i9-13900K
Core i7-13700K
Ryzen 7 7700X

These processors maintained stable tick rates even when player activity increased rapidly.

For example, in our Minecraft Paper test with 80 simulated players, both the Ryzen 9 7950X and Core i9-13900K kept the server close to the 20 TPS target. Older Xeon chips dropped to 16–18 TPS under the same load.

This difference directly affects gameplay. When TPS drops, block updates and entity movement become delayed.

Multi-Server Performance

Game hosting providers rarely run a single server per machine. Instead, one physical server may host dozens of smaller game servers.

This changes the CPU requirements.

While single-thread speed still matters, core count becomes important when many servers run simultaneously.

Our tests showed strong results from these CPUs:

AMD EPYC 9334
AMD EPYC 9354P
Intel Xeon Gold 5317
Ryzen 9 7950X

The EPYC processors handled the most simultaneous servers without CPU saturation.

However, when comparing cost and performance, high-end desktop chips such as the Ryzen 9 7950X delivered impressive density for smaller hosting nodes.

Game-Specific Observations

Each game engine performed differently in our tests.

Minecraft

Minecraft relies heavily on single-thread performance.

Best CPUs:

Ryzen 9 7950X
Core i9-13900K
Ryzen 7 7700X

These CPUs kept TPS steady, even with big redstone builds and mob farms.

Rust

Rust servers use several threads but still need strong per-core speed.

Best CPUs:

Core i9-13900K
Ryzen 9 7950X
EPYC 9334

A high clock speed helped keep player movement smooth during big raids.

ARK: Survival Evolved

ARK put a heavy load on the CPU when handling creature AI.

Best CPUs:

EPYC 9354P
Ryzen 9 7950X
Xeon Gold 5317

Having more CPU cores made the server more stable when lots of players were online.

Valheim

Valheim servers worked a lot like Minecraft servers.

Best CPUs:

Ryzen 7 7700X
Core i7-13700K
Ryzen 9 7950X

Single-thread speed mattered most.

Desktop CPUs vs Data-Center CPUs

One interesting result from our testing was the performance of modern desktop processors.

Data-center CPUs such as EPYC and Xeon focus on core count, memory channels, and reliability. These features are important for large cloud platforms.

However, many game servers prioritize clock speed and per-core performance.

As a result, desktop processors often produced better results on individual servers.

For example:

Ryzen 9 7950X outperformed several older Xeon chips in Minecraft testing.
Core i7-13700K handled smaller Rust servers extremely well.
Ryzen 7 7700X delivered excellent performance per dollar.

That said, large hosting environments still benefit from EPYC processors when running many servers on a single machine.

Power Efficiency and Thermal Behavior

Power consumption also affects infrastructure design.

High-frequency CPUs draw more power and generate more heat. In large hosting clusters, this increases cooling requirements.

During our tests:

Ryzen 9 7950X consumed the most power under load
Core i9-13900K also requires strong cooling
EPYC processors delivered better power efficiency when running many servers

For hosting companies operating large racks, this difference affects operational costs.

The CPUs That Performed Best

After running all the tests, three processors performed the best in most situations.

Best Overall CPU

AMD Ryzen 9 7950X

Reasons:

It delivers excellent single-thread performance.
It has a high core count, making it great for multi-server workloads.
It showed strong results in every game we tested.

Best Intel CPU for Game Servers

Intel Core i9-13900K

Reasons:

It features a very high boost clock.
It keeps tick rates stable even under heavy load.
It performs especially well with Minecraft and Rust.

Best Data-Center CPU for Large Hosting Nodes

AMD EPYC 9334

Reasons:

It offers a large core count.
It delivers strong performance when running many servers at once.
It also uses power efficiently in rack setups.

What Game Server Hosts Should Consider

Choosing a CPU depends on how servers will be deployed.

Small hosting providers or private communities may benefit most from high-clock desktop CPUs. These processors deliver excellent performance for individual game worlds.

Large hosting companies operating many servers per machine may prefer EPYC processors for their high core counts and stability under heavy workloads.

Other factors also affect performance:

Fast NVMe storage
Sufficient RAM per server
Proper container resource limits
Network latency between players and servers

The CPU still plays the largest role in overall responsiveness.

Final Thoughts

After testing 12 processors across multiple games, the results showed a clear pattern. Game server workloads favor high single-thread performance, while large hosting environments also benefit from higher core counts.

Modern desktop processors such as the Ryzen 9 7950X and Intel Core i9-13900K delivered the strongest performance per server. Meanwhile, EPYC processors performed well when hosting many servers on the same machine.

For hosting providers like Gravel Host, these results help guide hardware choices for future deployments. By selecting processors that match real game workloads, providers can run servers more smoothly, support more players, and reduce lag during peak activity.

Game engines continue to change, and future updates may use more parallel processing. For now, clock speed and strong cores remain the most important factors when choosing CPUs for game server hosting.

If you want to run a reliable multiplayer server, explore the game server plans available at GravelHost and see which option fits your game and player count.

Why Real-Time Analytics Can’t Depend on Cloud in 2026

Hitesh Jethva — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:44:40 +0000

If your system needs to react in milliseconds, a half-second delay is no longer "almost real-time"; it is a failure. For example, in robotic welding systems, the controller has to adjust torque in under 10 milliseconds to avoid structural defects. For self-driving warehouse forklifts, obstacle detection must trigger braking within 20 milliseconds to prevent crashes. In ICU monitoring, arrhythmia detection should send alerts immediately, not 400 milliseconds later.

This is the reality many teams are discovering in 2026. Systems that look fine on paper stop behaving as expected when organizations try to run real-time analytics on cloud-based platforms.

For years, industries have been told that cloud solutions are perfect for data management, transfer, and analysis. The thought process was simple: send data to the cloud and it will process and respond faster. But in practice, these assumptions are starting to fail. AI workloads are forcing companies and experts to rethink cloud-era assumptions.

As real-time analytics shifts from basic reporting and dashboards to instant decision-making, speed becomes critical. Cloud analytics is good for reporting, but distance and network delays make it slow for time-critical actions.

Edge computing changes this model. It processes data close to where it is generated, allowing systems to make immediate decisions at the source instead of waiting for a response from a remote cloud data center. By 2030, latency-critical applications will increasingly shift to edge processing, while cloud remains dominant for batch analytics and reporting.

In this post, we will cover why cloud-based real-time analytics fails and how engineers can make architecture decisions based on actual latency limits and physical constraints.

The Real-Time Analytics Promise Versus the Physics Problem

By early 2026, almost every analytics platform claims to support real-time analytics. Cloud data warehouses talk about real-time ingestion, and major streaming data platforms promise sub-second processing. If we analyze the current situation from a marketing viewpoint, it seems that the problem has already been solved.

In reality, it hasn’t.

Several analytics platforms and cloud vendors still define anything under a second “real time” because that is what cloud infrastructure can reliably deliver. That may be acceptable for business intelligence, but it falls short for systems that require true instant response, such as manufacturing control loops, safety-critical systems, and autonomous machines.

These systems don't need insights "soon." Instead, they demand decisions "now." In these environments, latency is not a basic performance metric but a quality constraint.

This is where physics enters.

Physical distance creates a minimum latency that software cannot remove. Light moves at about 300,000 kilometers per second in a vacuum, but in fiber-optic cables, signals travel closer to 200,000 kilometers per second because of refraction and signal processing. Even a few thousand kilometers of round-trip travel can take tens of milliseconds. When you include routing, serialization, queuing, and processing delays, total latency in real-world situations often reaches 200 to 500 milliseconds.

In a cloud workflow, that physical distance becomes part of the latency budget — meaning that before any computation begins, a significant portion of the response window has already been consumed.

The promise of real-time analytics collides with physics the moment decisions happen faster than the cloud can respond. And in 2026, as AI-powered systems increasingly move from generating insights to automatically triggering operational decisions, more teams are running headfirst into that limit.

What Does “Real-Time” Mean?

The term real-time analytics refers to analyzing data as it becomes available. But some practitioners carry a different definition or opinion for the term "real-time analytics." Generally, this term is used by marketing team experts, business users, application developers, and control-system engineers.

However, each of these groups works within a different latency expectation, and when those differences are not clearly defined, systems often get designed around timing assumptions that fail once deployed in real-world environments.

To understand why this matters, it is best to look at real-time analytics as a spectrum and not a single promise.

The Spectrum of Real-Time Requirements

Real-time is not a single fixed standard; different business and technical systems operate across distinct latency tiers, each with very different architectural needs.

Business Real-Time (Sub-Second)

In this latency tier, real-time cloud analytics platforms are strongest. Dashboards, operational reporting, alerting systems, and executive monitoring systems that refresh every hundred milliseconds fall under this category. For business intelligence and reporting, sub-second latency feels like real-time.

Interactive Real-Time (Sub-100ms)

In this latency tier, web applications, recommendation engines, and in-app feedback loops fit best. These often require responses under 100 milliseconds. Cloud architectures can meet this requirement, but congestion and jitter frequently make consistency difficult.

Control Real-Time (Sub-10–20ms)

Manufacturing automation, safety systems, robotics, and autonomous machines require responses in 10 milliseconds or less. At that speed, delays are not inconvenient, they are costly. They can cause defective products, equipment damage, safety risks, or failed control responses. Cloud-based real-time analytics often fails to meet this bar because network transit alone consumes the entire latency budget.

In these scenarios, timing is everything. A robotic arm that is 300 milliseconds late can miss a weld. A safety system that reacts too slowly, may fail to prevent an accident. The question is not whether the cloud is fast. It is whether it is fast enough for the physical process it controls.

How Traditional Batch Analytics Differs

Batch analytics processes historical data on a schedule. Data is collected, stored, and analyzed hours or days later. It is ideal for forecasting, trend analysis, and long-term planning.

Real-time analytics runs continuously. It ingests live data streams, evaluates events as they happen, and decides whether immediate action is required.

The difference becomes decisive when action must occur inside a strict time window. If a defect must be rejected within 20 milliseconds, a response at 300 milliseconds is useless. Batch analytics still drives trends and planning, but when decisions must shape live systems, timing determines the outcome.

The Real-Time Analytics Technology Stack

Modern real-time stacks rely on streaming platforms for ingestion. Kafka, Flink, and Kinesis move events continuously, feeding databases built for high-throughput writes and fast reads, often with columnar storage and in-memory processing.

On top sits event-driven architecture, where actions trigger the moment conditions are met. But this only works if latency targets are defined from the start. Without a clear definition of real time, teams build systems that look modern and sound fast, but fail at millisecond response. That means fraudulent transactions slip through, vehicles brake too late, defective products pass inspection, or safety systems react after the damage is done.

Why Does Cloud Architecture Create Unavoidable Latency?

Cloud latency is governed by distance, transmission paths, and routing physics more than system settings. For dashboards and report refreshes, the cloud feels fast. But once you examine how cloud processing actually works, it becomes clear why some real-time use cases hit a hard limit.

The Cloud Processing Pathway

Even for experienced engineers, it’s important to recognize that cloud-based processing follows a multi-step loop, not a direct path. The diagram above illustrates the full round-trip workflow:

Data generation (on-premises layer): Raw data originates at the device level — sensors, cameras, PLCs, or industrial controllers.
Local aggregation: A local gateway, industrial PC, or PLC filters, normalizes, and prepares the data before it leaves the facility.
Internet transmission: The data is encrypted and transmitted over the public or private internet to a cloud region.
Cloud ingestion & queuing: Services such as Azure IoT Hub or AWS Kinesis receive the stream and buffer it for processing.
Processing & analytics: The cloud platform runs analytics, inference, or rule engines to generate a decision or insight.
Local action: The local system executes a physical response — stopping a machine, rejecting a product, triggering an alert, or adjusting an actuator.

In this workflow, every step adds latency. Even with optimized pipelines, data moves through dozens of network hops, routers, and firewalls before it reaches its destination. Geographic distance adds another layer. A factory on the U.S. East Coast will reach a nearby cloud region such as AWS us-east-1 faster than one sending data across the country to AWS us-west-2.

But even the closest cloud data center is still physically distant. That distance alone is enough to introduce noticeable delays.

Latency Components You Can't Eliminate

Some sources of latency are unavoidable, for example:

Physical propagation delay: Data travels through fiber at a fraction of the speed of light. Crossing the U.S. coast-to-coast takes roughly 100 milliseconds round-trip before any processing happens at all.
Router processing at each hop: Each router introduces a processing delay, often microseconds, that adds up across 10–20 hops.
Serialization and deserialization: Data must be packaged, encrypted, decrypted, and unpacked.
Security: TLS handshakes and inspection add delay.
Queueing delays: Cloud ingestion services buffer incoming data, especially under load.

Even if you consider an ideal condition, cloud round-trip latency might drop below 150–200 milliseconds, but still can't match real-time for manufacturing control loops.

When Cloud Optimization Isn't Enough

Cloud providers offer optimizations, but the gap remains large. Content delivery networks and edge caching help with static content, but they fail in live data processing and real-time decision-making.

Deploying workloads in nearby regions shrinks geographic distance without removing the network round trip. Dedicated connections such as AWS Direct Connect reduce jitter and packet loss, but they cannot overcome the baseline latency physics imposes.

Some teams try multi-region architectures to get closer to users or devices, but this adds complexity without fixing the core issue. For systems that need responses in 10–20 milliseconds, having a few milliseconds off a 300 milliseconds round trip doesn’t change the outcome.

The Manufacturing Floor Reality Check

Cloud latency is abstract until you attach real numbers. Manufacturing shows clearly why cloud-based real-time analytics breaks down. Let’s do the math.

There is a production line that produces approximately 400 units per minute at 6.67 units per second, which means roughly every 150 milliseconds, a unit passes the inspection point. It is important for each system to respond within the set window, or it might be too late.

Comparing this figure with cloud-based AI or analytics that usually takes 300–500 milliseconds for a full round trip, the score comes to 3.3 units (500ms/150ms). By the time the cloud responds, 3–4 units would already pass the inspection.

Now, apply this timing gap to critical manufacturing tasks such as defect detection, weld monitoring, and PCB inspection, where decisions must happen before the next unit reaches the station.

Quality Control at Production Speed

Automated quality checks are common in modern factories. Vision inspection systems perform the scanning for defective products, weld monitoring systems are responsible for quality assessment while the weld is still happening, and Printed Circuit Board inspection lines analyze boards as they move through production.

Each of these systems operates fast, but the decision window is minimal.

With cloud-based processing, even a small delay of 500ms can allow defective parts to pass the inspection point. By the time the system flags it, halting the parts may no longer be possible.

However, edge processing changes the equation with responses in under 10 milliseconds, i.e., 50x faster. This responsiveness enables instant rejection of defective units, thereby improving quality control.

Safety Monitoring That Actually Protects Workers

Safety systems demand even stricter requirements. Delay in time is dangerous for workers.

If a worker steps into a hazardous zone without proper protective equipment and the sensors or cameras fail to trigger an immediate alert, the worker is exposed to serious injury or contamination.

After a 500 milliseconds delay, the system sends the alert to the cloud, but by then the worker has already entered the contaminated area. Cloud-based analytics can reconstruct the incident timeline, but only edge-based analytics can prevent it.

Predictive Maintenance Windows

Most systems and machines give alerts or warning signs before complete failure. For example, vibration anomalies, temperature change, and acoustic patterns. Generally, there is a 1–2 second window period between early detection and actual damage.

Cloud analytics can detect issues, but the system often responds too late. Edge analytics processes events immediately and stops the operation before real damage occurs.

Beyond Manufacturing

Manufacturing is not the only example of cloud latency. Many industries now demand immediate, analytics-driven decisions and face the same constraints. Let’s examine a few others.

Healthcare: When Seconds Determine Outcomes

Healthcare systems rely on real-time analytics to monitor patients. ICU sensors track oxygen levels, heart rate, and other vital signs. This data only delivers value when the system detects anomalies early and flags a potential emergency.

Delays in data transmission or cloud processing directly affect patient outcomes. Healthcare organizations must also meet strict regulatory requirements. HIPAA and data residency laws often require sensitive patient data to remain on-premises or within controlled environments, making edge processing a practical and compliant solution.

Autonomous Systems: Physics Won't Wait for the Cloud

Sales of self-driving vehicles continue to rise, driven by systems that detect obstacles, predict motion, and decide how to respond in milliseconds. Industrial robots, drones, and automated guided vehicles in warehouses use similar capabilities to generate real-time insights.

A 100–200 milliseconds delay in an autonomous system can mean a missed brake command or a collision. If connectivity drops, decision-making can stall entirely.

Autonomous systems must process data locally and keep response times under 50 milliseconds. The cloud supports model training and optimization, but real-time control must remain at the edge.

Financial Services: Fraud Detection at Transaction Speed

For financial institutions, timing is critical. Delays influence customer behavior and lead to significant data and revenue loss. Whether a credit card transaction, account login, payments, or any other financial move, the data must be evaluated under 100 milliseconds.

A delay in fraud detection can allow illegitimate transactions to complete or cause valid transactions to fail. In high-frequency trading, where decisions occur in microseconds, cloud latency is not viable.

Many financial institutions use a hybrid model: fast risk scoring and decision logic run at the edge or on-premises, while deeper analysis and model training run in the cloud.

The Connectivity Assumption Cloud Vendors Won't Discuss

Most cloud-based real-time analytics platforms assume constant internet connectivity. Many data flow diagrams show seamless movement from device to cloud and back. In reality, when the network fails, business operations fail with it.

When real-time analytics depend on a constant cloud connection, the gaps may eventually turn into system failure.

When Connectivity Isn't Reliable

The internet is widely available, but reliability is not guaranteed. Many locations cannot depend on stable, low-latency connections.

Consider retail stores where an outage takes point-of-sale systems offline during peak hours or a major sale, and transactions stop immediately.

Industrial IoT deployments often operate in remote locations such as mines, oil fields, and factories, where latency spikes and packet loss are common. Even well-connected urban areas experience peak-time congestion that introduces unpredictable delays.

In all such cases, cloud-based real-time analytics will slowly fail, and there will be a delay in operations and decisions.

The optimal solution is to move to edge computing in these cases to operate normally, even if the network is slow or unstable.

When Connectivity Is Prohibited

Some environments do not allow cloud connectivity due to security and compliance requirements.

Manufacturing plants often use air-gapped networks to protect their intellectual property and prevent outside access. Financial institutions must comply with data sovereignty laws that govern where sensitive data is stored and processed. Healthcare organizations must meet HIPAA rules that set limits on how and where patient data is stored and shared.

In all such cases, organizations need to process real-time analytics on-site or at the edge. Hybrid and private cloud models can handle less critical tasks, but operations that require low latency or follow strict rules must stay on-premises.

The Sync-When-Connected Pattern

Many teams use a straightforward approach where they process data at the edge and sync it to the cloud when a connection becomes available.

Edge systems make real-time decisions on-site, so operations keep running even during outages or network slowdowns. Once the connection is stable again, the system sends logs, summaries, and model updates to the cloud for deeper analysis and retraining.

This method gives you quick local responses while also letting you use the cloud’s scale and advanced analytics.

The Architecture That Actually Works (Cloud-Right, Not Cloud-First)

Many organizations learned a hard lesson and now shift from cloud-first thinking to cloud-right architecture. They once pushed real-time workloads to the cloud because it sounded simple, but that approach ignores latency, connectivity, compliance, and cost.

A more practical approach is what Deloitte describes as cloud-right, where each workload is placed in the location that best fits its needs.

Cloud Tier: For Elasticity and Deep Analytics

The cloud is still the best place for workloads that benefit from scale and flexibility. They excel at training machine learning models, for example, often requiring large GPU clusters that are expensive to run on-premises. Historical data analysis, reporting, and long-term storage are also a perfect fit, where data lakes and warehouses can scale on demand.

The cloud works well for variable workloads, experimentation, and analytics that don't require immediate responses. If sub-second latency is acceptable, cloud-based processing is usually the most cost-effective option.

On-Premises Tier: For Consistency and Compliance

On-premises systems are best for predictable, high-volume inference workloads that run continuously and would be costly to execute in the cloud. They play a key role when data is regulated and cannot leave the premises due to compliance, security, or data sovereignty requirements.

On-premises deployments offer consistent performance and tighter integration with existing enterprise systems. For use cases that need reliable sub-100 milliseconds responses but don't require ultra-low latency, on-premises strikes a perfect balance.

Edge Tier: For Immediacy and Offline Capability

Edge real-time processing is essential for control systems, safety applications, and autonomous operations that require sub-10-20 milliseconds latency and offline capability. Data driven decisions are also possible in such cases when connectivity is slow, unreliable, or completely unavailable. Also, it allows data to be analyzed where it's generated, reducing bandwidth costs, improving operational efficiency, providing actionable insights, and avoiding cloud round-trip entirely.

What to Do About It?

Real-time analytics have different meanings for different contexts. You don't need to chase cloud or edge computing for better results. Instead, you must run an assessment of your requirements and constraints before choosing an architecture.

Step 1: Define Your Real-Time Requirements

Start by writing down what real-time actually means for your use case. Be specific and use numbers. For business processes that need only dashboards and reporting raw data or data visualizations, sub-second responses are usually fine — cloud data analytics would fit best.

Interactive applications, where users expect instant feedback, often need responses under 100 milliseconds. This is where cloud performance becomes marginal and needs careful testing.

Manufacturing automation, robotics, and machine-driven decisions typically need responses under 20 milliseconds. Safety systems are even stricter, often under 10 milliseconds.

Before evaluating real-time analytics tools or platforms, define your latency SLAs clearly.

Step 2: Assess Connectivity Constraints

Ask if you need a system that must operate during outages, in remote locations, or under regulatory restrictions. Be honest with yourself.

Retail locations, mobile systems, remote industrial sites, and field operations regularly deal with outages and unstable networks. Ask yourself if you need a system that continues operating when offline. These constraints often matter more than raw performance benchmarks.

Step 3: Match Requirements to Architecture

If your real-time analytics requirements demand sub-100 milliseconds latency, offline capability, or on-premises deployment, cloud-only solutions are insufficient. You might require hybrid or edge-based architectures.

You can even switch to platforms like Actian’s VectorAI DB (beta in January 2026), designed to support edge and on-premises deployments specifically for latency-critical workloads.

The Bottom Line

Cloud vendors didn't break real-time analytics. Physics did.

For cloud vendors, real-time often means dashboards that refresh quickly or data that appears within a second. For industrial engineers, real-time means systems that react in milliseconds. That gap in real-time analytics definition matters.

No amount of optimization can change the physics involved. Data still has to travel across networks, through routers, and into distant data centers. A 500 milliseconds cloud round-trip might feel fast in software terms, but it is 50x too slow for manufacturing control systems that need responses in under 10 milliseconds.

That's why many real-world applications simply cannot depend on the cloud for real-time processing. In 2026, the most successful real-time analytics systems will not be cloud-first. They will be physics-based architecture: edge and on-premises deployments. They exist because some decisions must be made immediately.

If your real-time analytics requirements demand sub-100 milliseconds latency, offline operation, or strict data residency, cloud-only architectures start to break down. Solutions designed for edge and on-premises deployment, such as Actian’s VectorAI DB entering beta in January 2026, are built specifically for these constraints.

How to Choose Best Cloud Hosting and Best Practices

Hitesh Jethva — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 05:02:18 +0000

Introduction

Choosing cloud hosting is no longer just a technical decision. It directly affects your website speed, uptime, security, and monthly costs. With dozens of providers and pricing models, many people end up paying more than needed or picking a setup that does not fit their workload.

This guide helps you choose the best cloud hosting using clear, practical criteria. You will learn how to compare providers, understand pricing, avoid common mistakes, and follow proven best practices. The goal is simple: help you select cloud hosting that matches your traffic, budget, and growth plans without confusion or guesswork.

Whether you run a business website, SaaS app, or development project, this step-by-step approach gives you a reliable way to make the right cloud hosting decision in 2026.

What Is Cloud Hosting?

Cloud hosting is a way to run websites and applications using multiple connected servers instead of a single physical machine. Your site pulls computing power, storage, and bandwidth from a shared pool of servers. If one server fails or gets overloaded, another takes over automatically.

Unlike shared or VPS hosting, cloud hosting does not rely on one fixed server. This setup improves uptime, handles traffic spikes better, and lets you adjust resources without moving your site.

How cloud hosting works in simple terms:

Your data is stored across several servers
Traffic is distributed automatically
Resources can increase or decrease based on demand
You pay only for what you use

Cloud hosting works well for websites that expect growth, seasonal traffic, or global visitors. It is commonly used for business websites, SaaS products, APIs, mobile apps, and development environments.

Types of Cloud Hosting You Can Choose From

Not all cloud hosting works the same way. Before comparing providers, you need to understand the deployment model. Choosing the wrong type can lead to higher costs or limits later.

Below are the main cloud hosting types and when each one makes sense.

Public Cloud Hosting

Public cloud hosting uses shared infrastructure where many customers run workloads on the same provider platform. Each user stays isolated at the software level.

Best for:

Startups and small businesses
Websites with changing traffic
Development and testing environments

Pros:

Lower entry cost
Fast setup
Flexible pricing

Cons:

Shared physical resources
Less control over hardware

Private Cloud Hosting

Private cloud hosting uses dedicated infrastructure for a single organization. It can run on-premises or inside a provider’s data center.

Best for:

Enterprises
Compliance-heavy industries
Sensitive data workloads

Pros:

Full control over resources
Strong isolation
Custom security policies

Cons:

Higher cost
Requires skilled management

Hybrid Cloud Hosting

Hybrid cloud combines public and private cloud setups. Some workloads run on private infrastructure, while others use the public cloud.

Best for:

Businesses with legacy systems
Gradual cloud migration
Mixed compliance needs

Pros:

Flexible workload placement
Better cost control
Supports older systems

Cons:

More setup work
Requires planning

Multi-Cloud Hosting

Multi-cloud hosting uses services from more than one cloud provider at the same time. This setup avoids reliance on a single vendor.

Best for:

High availability needs
Global applications
Vendor risk reduction

Pros:

Reduced downtime risk
Pricing flexibility
Regional performance control

Cons:

Higher management effort
Tooling complexity

How to Choose the Best Cloud Hosting Provider (Step-by-Step)

Choosing a cloud hosting provider works best when you follow a clear process. Skipping steps often leads to higher bills, weak performance, or limits that appear later. Use the steps below to compare providers based on real needs, not marketing pages.

Step 1: Define Your Workload and Traffic Pattern

Start with how your application actually runs.

Ask yourself:

Is this a website, API, SaaS app, or background service?
Is traffic steady or does it spike at certain times?
Do you need high CPU, more memory, or fast storage?

A simple blog and a real-time app need very different setups. Matching the workload early prevents overpaying.

Step 2: Check Performance and Reliability

Performance affects page load time and user experience.

Look at:

CPU type and core limits
SSD or NVMe storage
Network speed
Uptime SLA (example: 99.9% or higher)

Test performance with a small instance before committing long term.

Step 3: Understand the Pricing Model

Cloud pricing can look cheap at first and grow fast later.

Compare:

Pay-as-you-use rates
Monthly or reserved plans
Bandwidth and data transfer charges
Storage and snapshot costs

Always estimate your monthly usage before choosing a plan.

Step 4: Review Data Center Locations

Server location affects speed and compliance.

Check:

Regions close to your users
Availability zones per region
Data residency rules (if required)

Global apps often need multiple regions from day one.

Step 5: Evaluate Security Features

Security is part of the platform, not an add-on.

Look for:

Network firewalls
DDoS protection
Encrypted storage
Access control and audit logs

If the provider explains these clearly, setup becomes easier.

Step 6: Check Support Quality and Documentation

Support matters when things break.

Review:

Support channels (ticket, chat, phone)
Response time by plan
Documentation depth
Community forums or guides

Try asking a pre-sales question to judge response quality.

Step 7: Plan for Exit and Migration

Avoid getting stuck later.

Check:

Export options for data
Standard VM formats
API access
Migration guides

Being able to move gives you pricing and control flexibility.

Cloud Hosting Best Practices You Should Follow

Choosing a good provider is only the first step. How you use cloud hosting affects cost, uptime, and stability just as much. These best practices help you avoid waste, reduce risk, and keep systems predictable as traffic grows.

Right-Size Resources From the Start

Avoid picking the largest plan on day one. Start small and scale based on real usage.

What to do:

Monitor CPU, memory, and disk usage for the first 30 days
Resize instances instead of adding more
Remove unused storage and snapshots

This keeps bills under control without hurting performance.

Set Up Monitoring and Alerts Early

You should know about problems before users do.

Track:

CPU and memory usage
Disk space
Network traffic
Error rates and downtime

Alerts help you act fast when limits are close.

Use Backups and Disaster Recovery Plans

Backups protect against data loss and bad updates.

Best approach:

Automated daily backups
Store copies in a separate region
Test restore steps regularly

A backup that was never tested is risky.

Separate Production and Testing Environments

Never test changes on a live system.

Good practice:

One environment for users
One for testing updates
One for development

This reduces outages caused by mistakes.

Control Access With Clear Permissions

Limit who can access what.

Follow these rules:

Give users only required access
Use separate roles for admins and developers
Rotate access keys on a schedule

This reduces damage if credentials leak.

Review Usage and Costs Every Month

Cloud bills grow quietly.

Each month:

Check unused instances
Review bandwidth charges
Remove old backups and images

Small cleanups prevent long-term cost creep.

Plan for Traffic Spikes

Traffic spikes happen during sales, launches, or outages elsewhere.

Prepare by:

Using auto-scaling when available
Testing load limits
Keeping extra capacity during peak periods

This keeps your site online when demand rises.

Popular Cloud Hosting Providers Compared (High-Level)

Below are some of the well-known cloud hosting providers you should consider when choosing based on performance, pricing, global coverage, and use case fit.

Cloud Provider	Best Known For	Strength Area	Ideal Use Case
Atlantic.Net	Business-focused cloud hosting	Simple setup, compliance-ready options	SMBs, regulated workloads, managed cloud needs
Alibaba Cloud	Strong Asia-Pacific presence	Wide service range, regional compliance	Apps targeting Asian markets, global expansion
Amazon Web Services	Largest service ecosystem	Global reach, mature tooling	Large-scale and multi-region applications
Microsoft Azure	Enterprise adoption	Microsoft stack integration	Hybrid cloud, Windows-based workloads
Google Cloud	Data and analytics	High-performance networking	Data-heavy apps, containers, ML projects

Conclusion

Choosing the best cloud hosting comes down to matching your real needs with the right platform, not following brand popularity alone. Start by understanding your workload, traffic pattern, and budget. Then compare providers on performance, pricing clarity, data center locations, security controls, and support quality. This approach helps you avoid surprises after deployment.

Cloud hosting works best when paired with good habits. Right-sizing resources, tracking usage, setting alerts, and keeping backups reduce downtime and cost creep. Separating test and production systems and limiting access by role also prevents common operational issues. Provider choice matters, but context matters more. Alibaba Cloud often suits for complex or global workloads with broader service needs.

5 Best Docker Hosting Services 2024

Hitesh Jethva — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 05:29:09 +0000

The development, deployment, and management of software applications have been completely transformed by Docker. It provides an easy method for putting apps and their dependencies into containers so that they are adaptable to various settings. But in order to take full use of Docker's advantages, you'll need reliable hosting solutions that can run containerized apps. Let us look at some of the best Docker hosting services, their key features, pros, cons, and pricing plans in detail.

Docker also requires a VPS or dedicated server in order to reach its full potential. So why waste your resources and time on managing containers. There are a lot of Docker hosting or Docker container hosting providers available in the market. They help you to host, deploy and manage Docker images and containers at a very low cost.

Also Read

Cheap VPS Hosting Providers

Importance of Docker Hosting Services

With the help of Docker hosting services, developers can easily manage and deploy the containers and ensure high performance. There are several platforms and docker hosting solutions available one that offers support to docker containers and other features like full-time support, advanced security mechanism for containerized workloads, and more. Basically, organizations can expedite application deployment, optimize DevOps workflows, and boost overall operational effectiveness by utilizing Docker hosting services.

How to Choose the Best Docker Hosting Services?

When looking for the Best Docker Hosting Services, make sure to consider the following factors before investing:

Ease of Use - Make sure to invest in a hosting service that comes with a user-friendly interface and management tools that make the whole process of deploying containers simple.
Security - Another key factor to look for when selecting the right docker hosting service provider is security measures offered by the platform, such as DDoS protection, network isolation, and more that play a key role in protecting your data from threats and hackers.
Scalability - Make sure to go for a solution or platform that is highly scalable and accommodates well with the workload demands and client requirements.
Performance - Invest in platforms that guarantee excellent container performance by providing high-performance infrastructure, SSD storage, and low-latency network connectivity.

5 Best Docker Hosting Services to Buy

Docker hosts are just like any other host that Developers and DevOps experts work with, including ones that enable Docker containers. But out of all the hosts available, it's critical to select the one that would give you a comprehensive base for your project. So, we have penned down some of the best docker hosting services that DevOps and developers can rely on for the best results.

1. Kamatera (Free Docker Hosting)

Kamatera is one of the highly secure and scalable docker hosting providers that provides cloud infrastructure deployments. It comes with an easy-to-use management console that makes it simple for team members to deploy and manage all docker containers. Also, the platform provides full-time support and assistance for all your needs. Additionally, it has its data center located all across the globe making it a reliable docker container hosting solution.

Key Features

Compatible - One of the key features is it is highly compatible with Ubuntu and offers full support to Docker Engine and Machine.
Highly Scalable - Kamatera provides robust and adaptable plans for hosting containers, enabling users to effortlessly adjust and reduce resource allocation depending on the fluctuating workload demands.
Comprehensive Management Tool - The easy-to-use management console makes the whole process of container deployment and management simple.

Pros

Global Presence - One of the key advantages of investing in Kamatera container hosting solution is it has data centers across the globe that allow users to deploy cloud infrastructure and containers close to their target audience and deliver better performance.
High Performance - Kamatera's SSD-based infrastructure guarantees delivering fast and responsive performance for all their critical applications. The SSD storage options allow users to operate databases and apps without experiencing any latency or input/output limitations.
Fastest networking speed - The new CPU supported by Kamatera's servers has up to 300% more power than processors from older versions. Additionally, they offer the fastest networking speed between the servers and the main internet network which makes the whole process quick and smooth.
24/7 Support - Kamatera offers full-time support for its users who face technical issues when using their container hosting solution. It provides a Live chat and ticket system for assistance and troubleshooting issues faster.

Cons

Steep Learning Curve - Although Kamatera is a powerful tool, users who are not familiar with Docker hosting may find it difficult to use at first.

Try Kamatera Cloud

2. Hostinger (Cheap Docker Hosting)

Hostinger is another cost-effective hosting platform suitable for both small and large-scale projects, even home users. This affordable solution comes with AMD EPYC Processors and NVMe SSD Storage options, and a 99.9% uptime guarantee. It might have fewer data center locations in comparison to other platforms still it offers reasonable coverage for many users.

Key Features

Compatibility - Cent OS7, Debian, and Ubuntu are all easily supported by Hostinger, which makes it a flexible option for a wide range of Linux-based applications.
Customer Support - Apart from phone support, the platform offers full-time technical assistance through email and live chat. It also provides a comprehensive knowledge base for its users to gain guidance.
Automated Backups - Hostinger allows the creation of automated backups and live snapshots for docker containers that keep the user safe from loss in case of unforeseen events.

Pros

Simple Webmail Login - Streamline communication and accessibility with ease by logging into your account using the webmail login on the panel.
High-speed connection - Hostinger offers 100 Mb/s network speed that makes the whole process of data transfer, upload, and download quick. As a result, users can enjoy unrestricted high-speed connection for data transfer without any delays.
User-Friendly Control Panel - The intuitive, user-friendly control panel makes it easy for users to easily deploy and manage all applications and containers.
Cost-effective solution - Organizations with different budgetary constraints can now access Docker hosting thanks to Hostinger's affordable options. One of Hostinger's main selling points is their inexpensive cost without compromising performance.

Cons

No Phone Support - Unlike other docker container hosting solutions, Hostinger does not offer phone support and assistance to its users

Pricing Plans

A variety of Docker Hosting options, catering to different needs and budgets, are available from Hostinger. The KVM 1 plan starts from $5.99 a month and includes 50 GB of SSD storage on NVMe technology, 4GB RAM, 4 TB Bandwidth, and one virtual CPU core. For more power, it is best to invest in the KVM 2 hosting plan starting at $7.99 a month, which includes 100 GB of SSD storage on NVMe technology, 8GB RAM, 8 TB Bandwidth, and two virtual CPU cores.

You can also choose from other two packages KVM 4 (4 vCPU Cores, 16 GB RAM, 200 GB NVMe Disk space, and 16 TB Bandwidth) starting at $10.84 a month and KVM 8 (8 vCPU Cores, 32 GB RAM, 400 GB NVMe Disk space, and 32 TB Bandwidth) starting at $18.08 a month.

Try Hostinger

3. A2 Hosting (Trusted Docker Container Hosting)

Another best Docker VPS Hosting service provider that supports multiple programming languages and frameworks is A2 Hosting. It is a reliable platform that comes with top-notch security mechanisms, high-speed network connection, free SSL certificates, and more advanced features.

Key Features

Free SSL Certificates - The platform includes free SSL certificates in its hosting plan along with other features that help boost the security level of Docker containers. This feature helps encrypt all the data transfer files from potential threats and prevents breaches.
Cloudflare CDN integration - Content delivery is optimized by Cloudflare CDN integration, which caches website content on global servers. By delivering the cached content from the closest server to people who visit your website or application, Cloudflare lowers latency and speeds up load times, resulting in effective operations of containers.
Supports Multiple PHP versions - The platform allows users and developers to install different versions of PHP and their dependencies in the container.

Pros

Round-the-Clock Customer Support - The platform offers 24/7 support services to its customers for all technical and web-related issues.
99.90% Guaranteed Uptime - A2Hosting offers 99.90% Guaranteed Uptime, i.e., it ensures that all the applications and web services will be accessible to users at all times without any interruption.
Developer-Friendly Environment for Users - Support for different programming languages and frameworks allows developers to meet their different needs and efficiently deploy Docker containers.
20x faster speed - The Turbo Servers from A2 Hosting offer outstanding speed and performance, which is essential for Docker applications that demand a high level of responsiveness

Cons

Pricing - When you sign up for A2 Hosting for the first time, the fees are modest. But when you renew, the costs go up by about five times.

Pricing Plans

Hyper 1 - A2 Hosting is available in four packages starting from $99.99 a month with 2 TB RAID-1 SSD Storage, 16GB RAM, and 4.6GHz Clock Speed.
Hyper 2 Intel - This package is available at $179.99 with 2 TB RAID-1 SSD Storage, 32GB RAM, and 2.4GHz Clock Speed.
Hyoer 2 Turbo Intel - This package starts at $199.99 with access to 2 TB NVMe M.2 RAID-1 SSD Storage, 64GB RAM, and 2.4GHz Clock Speed.
Advanced docker hosting plan (Hyper 2 AMD) - starting at $179.99 with access to 2 TB RAID-1 SSD Storage, 32GB RAM, and 3.2GHz Clock Speed

Try A2 Hosting

4. Hostwinds (Dedicated Docker Hosting)

Hostwinds is a flexible docker hosting service with a 99.999% uptime guarantee and 24/7 technical support. Even though Hostwinds only has a small number of data center locations, its reliable infrastructure and 24/7 customer service make it a great option for businesses with a range of hosting requirements.

Key Features

99.9999% Uptime - Hostwinds offers a 99.999% uptime guarantee that gives customers peace of mind and ensures high availability for Docker containers.
Snapshots - This feature allows Hostwinds users to take backups of all files and configurations without causing any interruptions or downtime in system operations.
Load balancer - The platform comes with a load balancer that evenly distributes all the traffic across different servers instead of just hitting one server, thus preventing overloading and ensuring easy monitoring of individual servers.

Pros

Instant Scalability - With Hostwinds, upgrading is easy and you may grow your server according to your requirements and enhance server resources.
Real-time Monitoring - No matter which hosting plan you choose from the packages available; the platform helps keep an eye on your server in real-time and raises a support ticket as a technical issue is raised by the customer.
Nightly Backups - The platform supports creating automated nightly backups of all the data on your server and complete control over the recovery process.
Full-time Technical Support - With Hostwinds' round-the-clock technical support, users can get help whenever they need it to quickly handle issues and maintain the performance of Docker containers.

Cons

No Backups - Hostwinds does support a backup feature but it comes with an extra cost.

Pricing Plans

Hostwinds is available in a wide range of packages starting from $ 4.99/mo that includes 1 TB Bandwidth, 1 GB RAM, and 30 GB storage.

For more storage and RAM options, you can choose the other package starting at $9.99/month with 2 GB RAM, 50 GB storage, and 2 TB Bandwidth.

For more CPU and storage options, you can choose the third plan starting at $18.99/month with 2 CPUs, 4GB RAM, 75 GB Storage, and 2 TB Bandwidth. There are more plans offered by Hostwinds that users can choose from and meet their requirements

Try Hostwinds

5. Vultr (Best Docker VPS Hosting)

Vultr is known for having a global network of data centers and high-performance cloud infrastructure. It is a reliable and quick Docker cloud hosting solution with an easy-to-use control panel, simple API, and SSD storage option.

Key Features

Scalable Storage Options - The platform offers extensive storage options with a container limit of up to 40 TB per volume and 10 TB for NVMe-based volumes.
IPv6 Support - The public IPv6 network support gives each network a unique IP address for increased security and personalization.
Isolated VPCs - For management and segregation of all applications and cloud-based resources, it is best to use isolated VPCs

Pros

No Configuration Fees - Vultr is one of the cost-effective solutions in the market for it demands no setup fees and is budget-friendly.
Responsive Support - Quick assistance is available through Vultr's online support ticket system, which is enhanced by an extensive FAQ section.
Secure Server Access - Use an SSH client or a password to access a secure server over SSH.
Backup Creation - Vultr offers automated backup services that ensure data remains safe and can be recovered in case of any mishap.

Cons

Less Support - In comparison to other container hosting solutions, Vultr does not offer multiple support features. For example, live chat and phone support are not offered by this hosting solution.

Pricing Plans

Vultr Docker Hosting is available in different packages. Here are first three plans:

Plan 1 starts at $2.50 per month with 0.5GB Memory, 10 GB storage, 0.50 TB, and 1 vCPUs
Plan 2 starts at $5 per month with 1 GB Memory, 25 GB storage, 1 TB, and 1 vCPUs
Plan 3 starts at $10 per month with 2 GB Memory, 55 GB storage, 2 TB, and 1 vCPUs

Try Vultr

Conclusion: Best Docker Hosting Services

Deploying and managing containerized apps successfully depends on selecting the right Docker hosting solution. To accommodate the various needs of companies, each of the five providers listed above provides special features and benefits. No matter what your top priorities are—performance, cost, or scalability—there is a Docker hosting option out there to meet your needs. Carefully consider your options and choose the hosting company that matches your technical needs and business objectives.

FAQs: Best Docker Hosting Services

1. How does Docker hosting differ from traditional hosting services?

Docker hosting provides infrastructure and tools that are optimized for the deployment, management, and scaling of Docker containers, with the specific goal of supporting containerized applications. It's possible that traditional hosting services won't support containerized workloads to the same extent.

2. Can I easily migrate my existing applications to Docker hosting providers?

There are several free Docker hosting tools available in the market that can help developers migrate the existing applications to Docker hosting providers by containerizing them. However, there are a few applications that demand modification in order to work well in the containerized environment.

3. Can I use my existing Docker images and configurations with Docker hosting providers?

It is possible to deploy your current containers into Docker hosting providers' infrastructure with ease because they usually support the use of custom Docker images and customizations.

4. Can I deploy multiple containers within a single Docker host?

Yes, users can deploy, manage, and scale several docker containers and their workloads within a single host with Docker hosting providers.

7 Best Cheapest Minecraft Server Hosting Reddit in 2025

Hitesh Jethva — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 13:12:04 +0000

Best Minecraft Server Hosting Reddit – Voted by Reddit Users. After researching various Reddit reviews of some of the most popular video game servers, we have come up with a list of 7 best cheapest Minecraft server hosting providers to consider.

A Minecraft server hosting or Minecraft modded server hosting is a game hosting service that allows you to host your own Minecraft game on the Internet.

Best Cheapest Minecraft Server Hosting – Top Picks

Here is the quick overview of the list of the cheapest Minecraft server hosting providers.

RANK	Hosting Provider	Pricing	Link
1	Golike.Host	$6.39/month	BUY NOW
2	Gravel Host	$1.8/month	BUY NOW
3	Apexhosting	$4.49/month	BUY NOW
4	RocketNode	$1.00/month	BUY NOW
5	GTXGaming	£7.50/month	BUY NOW

In recent times, that quote has become a fact of our lives. With the boom in handheld devices, gaming consoles, and computer upgrades, gaming has linked many lives together. People who love gaming are always there from kids and teens to adults. And thanks to the multiplayer mode, many gamers have become a part of a gaming community.

One such healthy community belongs to Minecraft. Minecraft has an ever-growing gaming community that has millions of active users. While you can choose to join any public server of your liking, you can opt to host one as well. And if you are aiming for that, you have come to the right place. Here, we have enlisted the top 10 hosting servers that are best suited for Minecraft.

As a bonus for all Minecraft lovers, we will cover the basics, which may answer your doubts regarding Minecraft server hosting. But before that, let us know a little about Minecraft itself.

Here is the list of the top 7 best Minecraft server hosting Reddit in 2025, which will help you buy good Minecraft server hosting.

7 Best Cheapest Minecraft Server Hosting Providers for 2025

Now that we have familiarized you with Minecraft, Here is the best Minecraft server hosting services list according to Reddit user reviews.

1. Godlike.host

Godlike.host is a high-performance game server hosting provider known for its focus on low latency and instant setup. Founded in 2019, it has quickly grown into one of the preferred choices for gamers who value performance and ease of use. The company operates global data centers across North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania, ensuring minimal ping and fast connectivity for players worldwide.

Its game hosting platform supports a wide range of titles, including Minecraft, ARK: Survival Ascended, Rust, Palworld, and Counter-Strike 2, offering automated tools for mod installation and version updates. Each server includes full DDoS protection and NVMe SSD storage for optimal speed and reliability.

Features

Instant server setup
DDoS protection and firewall security
NVMe SSDs for faster read/write performance
Full FTP and file manager access
Free sub-domain and custom branding
24/7 global technical support

Reddit Review on Godlike.host

According to Reddit users, Godlike.host is appreciated for its smooth performance, transparent pricing, and friendly support team. Many users report stable gameplay even under heavy mod loads and praise the responsive control panel. Some threads highlight the provider’s fast ticket resolution times and reliable uptime, making it a solid choice for hosting both small private servers and large multiplayer communities.

Trusted by the Community

Rated 4.8+ on HostAdvice with hundreds of satisfied users
Recommended by popular YouTubers and content creators
Over 50,000 servers hosted and counting

Try Godlike.host

2 Gravel Host

Searching for an optimal solution to enhance your Minecraft server experience with friends, free from any hitches and latency issues? Look no further, Gravel Host is your best friend when offering deluxe packages with great server management. In that management, they offer many things, such as worthy competitive pricing, impressive server features, and top-tier hardware running your servers.

Regarding pricing, Gravel Host offers some of the most affordable pricing we’ve come across. Starting at just $1.80 per month, you can acquire their recommended enterprise server package, which includes top of the line hardware at an incredibly low price! Rest assured, this trend continues as you explore their upgraded packages, as they remain surprisingly affordable. When it comes to Garvel Host pricing, they stomp the competition for affordability!

Features

Custome control panel.
24/7 Discord support.
72 hours money-back policy.
3 years of backup.
Firewall manager.
Full FTP access.

Reddit Review on Gravel Host

As per a Reddit user’s review, Gravel Host is the best and cheapest Minecraft server hosting if you want to buy game server hosting.

Try Gravel Host

3. RocketNode Hosting

RocketNode Hosting is an ideal and one of the cheapest options for Minecraft server hosting. They offer a web-based panel with an advanced Plugin Installer that allows you to 1 click install a wide variety of Spigot and Bukkit plugins to enhance your server experience. RocketNode has an in-built Version Manager that helps you easily switch between MC Versions.

Features

Plugin Manager
1TBPS DDOS Protection
Version Manager and Modpack Manager
SFTP Access
Unmetered Bandwidth
Multiple server locations to choose from.

Reddit Review on RocketNode Hosting

As per the Reddit website, RocketNode hosting has great support and provides 99.99% uptime on all their servers.

Try RocketNode Hosting

4. APEX Hosting

Established in 2013, APEX Hosting is an American-owned hosting company. It (claims) to offer the best support in the industry. It offers 24 x 7 dynamic consumer support if you are ever stuck at any step. It has the hardware integrated with the latest technology, high clock-speed CPUs, and SSD storage. It has 24/7 running servers with 1 GBPS connection speed, which justifies 99.9% uptime. So far, it has hosted over 200,000 Minecraft servers. It also offers Minecraft Java and Bedrock Edition servers starting at $7.49 a month.

Apex Hosting now offers Minecraft Bedrock Edition Hosting that allows you to play Minecraft on the go from your phone or tablet along with PC players who are using the Windows 10 Edition. Bedrock Edition is a major improvement from PocketMine and others that are missing many major components of Minecraft.

Features

Easy to setup
99% Uptime and DDoS Protection
7-day money-back guarantee
Complete database access
Over 200 one-click modpack installers
24/7 support with an hour of response time

Reddit Review on Apex Hosting

Compared to other hosting providers, Apex hosting is over the average price. However, it is known for its amazing customer support and high-performance server.

Try Apex Hosting

5. ScalaCube

ScalaCube Hosting Solutions is a hosting service that is majorly concerned with hosting Minecraft servers. They facilitate an instant server setup that is just a click away. It offers SSD-based storage, so you don’t have to worry about the storage limit. It offers support to its customers 24/7.

ScalaCube also offers dedicated Minecraft Bedrock server hosting that enables players on the Bedrock versions of Minecraft to set up their own servers at home on Windows and Linux computers or host their servers using a cloud-based service.

ScalaCube offers free Minecraft server hosting with mods that allow you to install several Minecraft servers at the same time for one server. It also provides free Minecraft server hosting that is online 24/7.

Features

Allows you to monitor the online players
Simple One-Click Installation
DDoS Protection
Offers Minecraft Java and Bedrock Edition servers
Complete access to files
Regular off-site backups
Customizable platform
Join the server from the launcher itself

Try Scalacube

6 GTX Gaming

GTX Gaming is a server hosting platform that has been transforming the gaming experience since 2008. It is the first to host all games, with Minecraft being one of its major traction. It has a full backup system and offers 24-hour support. It has been bettering the gaming experience globally with servers located in over 22 countries and major locations.

Features

Offers enterprise-level hardware
Enforces low pings with high bandwidth
High-grade DDoS protection
Offers various plugins
Professional 24/7 support

Try GTX Gaming

7. Shockbyte Hosting

Shockbyte is a leading game server hosting provider. It was launched in March 2013 and has been growing ever since. It offers 100% uptime and complete protection from DDoS attacks. The staff team is spread across three continents to provide 24 hours of support. It grants a lightning setup and a free sub-domain. It has servers in every major location in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

All Minecraft hosting plans from Shockbyte support Java Edition and Bedrock Edition and are always up-to-date.

Features

Auto nodding and updates
Auto Backups
Full FTP Access
IP support
DDoS Protection
Speedy setup

Reddit Review on Shockbyte Hosting

According to Reddit, Shockbyte Hosting offers various hosting options and plans to fit any budget, and their server performance is consistently excellent. Shockbyte also guarantees 100% network availability to all its application services covered by SLA.

Try Shockbyte Hosting

FAQs: Best CHeapest Minecraft Server Hosting

1. What is Minecraft Server Hosting Reddit?

With Mojan Studios’ help, Markus Persson launched perhaps the best non-classic (but with the classical vibes) video game, called Minecraft. It was initially launched on May 17, 2009. However, it boomed in the market in 2011 and has been growing ever since.

It is also called as ‘sandbox’ version of video games. Wonder why? That is because it is an adventure game where the possibilities are limitless. The players are allowed to mine several blocks, which they can use to build constructions however they wish to. Furthermore, like any other RPG, you can choose the adventure mode, where you battle against monsters and advance. This game allows the player to play the way they wish to while encouraging them to get creative.

No wonder it is widely loved.

2. Benefits of Running Your Minecraft Server!

There are several public servers that you may join if you wish to. However, hosting your server has its perks. Following are the benefits of hosting a Minecraft server.

Complete Freedom: When you host a server, you get complete freedom of control in the game. You can set your desired game modes, install plugins of your choice, or set up community-specific tasks to spice things up a little. Hosting a server means that you are free to customize your game; however, you want to.
Community Effect: In our hectic daily schedule, you hardly even have time for yourself. That is why socializing has become a task in recent times. But when you host a server and invite those special people, you can socialize while spending some fun time playing the game.
Rules of your Choice: In a big server, the rules favour the major section of the server population (members). That’s not a problem unless you are not a part of that population. However, when you host a server, you can create rules that favour your small community or even enforce community-specific rules.
Experimentation: Minecraft gives the liberty of creative experimentation. What does that mean? As stated earlier, Minecraft essentially allows you (the player) to play however you wish to. Thus, you can experiment with the tools and gameplay and see what new you can do. Perhaps, similar to Legos, you can teach your child with the help of this game. However, it may go against the community-set rules of a public server. But in your server, which won’t be an issue.
Uninterrupted Performance: Many hosting providers possess global data centers. That means ping won’t be an issue as your server will be hosted from the nearest data center. Also, these hosting providers offer high-performance CPUs and cloud storage. This greatly reduces the cost of investment in personal device upgrades. You only need to meet the minimum requirements.
Privacy: Many hosting service providers allow you (the owner) to see who joins the server. That means you can restrict who joins your server and enjoy your privacy.
Security: These server hosting serves can give you network protection and further mitigate any online threats such as DDoS.
Backups: In case of an emergency, the server hosting providers can back up your data. This greatly prevents data loss, saves you and your device from the hassle of backups, and lets you enjoy the game.
Monetization: On the one hand, hosting a server can be expensive, especially if it has many members. On the other hand, you can make money via in-game advertisements, web stores, donations, hosting giveaways, etc. It would be best if you were smart about your ways.

3. What are the points which you need to take into consideration in Minecraft Server Hosting?

We don’t intend to overwhelm you with the list. That is why we will point out the things you need to look for while you pick a Minecraft Hosting Service.

Clock Speed: You want the best experience from what you invest both time and money into. That is why you want to go for something that offers the best processor with the best clock speed (MHz or GHz) possible in your budget.
RAM: The RAM is vital storage needed for the processor to run. That is why a processor with a high clock-speed is useless if RAM is not adequate to support it.
Storage Space: Many servers offer SSD based storage and cloud-based. However, this does not apply to all. While Minecraft is not a storage-heavy game, it is still advised to go for the one that offers more in your budget.
Server Location: For any online game, especially multiplayer, ping is essential. The lesser the ping is, the faster and smoother your gaming experience is going to be. That is only possible if the server is near your location. This works best if you are hosting a location-specific server. Although if you are hosting a global server, having the right ping will still be beneficial.
Support: It is crucial to see if these hosting services offer any support or assistance. There are a few who offer support regarding Minecraft, too (some may charge extra). Thus, be mindful of your pick.

4. How do you find the Best Minecraft Hosting?

While every server has something to offer on the table, each of them is different. However, there are some common factors that you must consider. They are:

It offers a good clock speed and hardware
Has a server that’s closer to your location
Offers substantial consumer support
Compensate for the downtime
Avoid overly cheap packs since they may have limitations
Do not overspend and stay within your budget

Conclusion

In this guide, we showed you the 6 best cheapest Minecraft Server Hosting Reddit. Minecraft is a fun way to evade boredom. It can also be a mental exercise and may rejuvenate your creative mind. If you know about it, great. If you don’t know about it, try it once. After reading this guide, you can easily choose your best Minecraft server hosting Reddit or the best Minecraft Bedrock servers.

11 Best and Cheap ARK Server Hosting Providers in 2024

Hitesh Jethva — Sat, 11 Nov 2023 11:09:53 +0000

All that is said above is true. Gaming has evolved from entertainment to a socializing and interactive experience, from the basic arrangement of blocks to cooperative gameplay and complex story structure. Thus, gaming has evolved our world. Many games offer unique experiences integrated into their gameplay. This brief review guide will explore the best cheap ARK server hosting providers for 2024.

One such exceptional game is ARK: Survival Evolved. It is a survival game that acts as a throwback to prehistoric times (and Jurassic Park for me). And thanks to its multiplayer mode, you can play alongside your friends or become a part of an existing community within the game. However, if you don’t like the idea of joining a community, you are free to play by yourself in single-player mode.

That being said, if you are interested in the best ARK server hosting, then you have come to the right place. Here we have listed the eight best ARK hosting providers for you. After all, who doesn’t want to become the leader of their tribe? But before we get into that, let us first familiarize ourselves with the ARK server.

Here is the list of the cheapest ARK server hosting providers:

Gravel Host: Provides reliable and powerful game server hosting starting at $16.00 a month.
Sparked Host: Offers affordable and budget ARK server hosting starting at $8.00 a month
RocketNode Hosting: Offers scalable, powerful, and cheap ARK server hosting with premium CPU, NVME storage, and unlimited slots.
Shockbyte: Offers an ARK server with 100% uptime and a 72-hour money-back guarantee.
Zap Hosting: Provides a reliable and cheapest server for ARK hosting. It also offers other popular game servers, including, Minecraft, GMod, Rust, FiveM, and more.
ScalaCube: Offers affordable hosting that allows you to make your own ARK server using its easy-to-use control panel.
Nitrous: Another popular game hosting provider started in 2010. Also provides a 45-day free trial with a free Mumble Voice Server.
HostHavoc: A popular Ark hosting solution provider with a top-notch support team whose average response time is less than 10 minutes.
Low.ms: Offers a High performance hosting for ARK server with up to 70 slots and one-click install.

What is ARK?

ARK: Survival Evolved, commonly referred to as ARK or ARKSE, is an action-adventure-based survival game. It was launched on the 2nd of June 2015. This game was developed by Studio Wildcard, Instinct Games, Efecto Studios, Virtual Basement, etc.

The game offers both single-player and multiplayer options, with first-person and third-person POV (Point Of View). The objective is simple, survive on an island filled with dinosaurs, prehistoric creatures, and natural calamities, and top it off, against hostile co-players. Okay, maybe it is not as simple as it sounds. But, the game is undeniably fun. That is why it has been booming across all major PC, mobile, and gaming consoles.

What is an ARK Server?

An ARK server is a community itself. That means it is where several players gather (in multiplayer mode) and form a tribe to live, hunt, tame, and survive together. You can tame and share animals (mostly dinosaurs) and other resources among the members. And this only adds to the unique gaming experience of ARK.

Best and Cheap ARK Server Hosting in 2024

Now that we are familiar with the game let us now dive into the free and best ARK server hosting providers upvoted and recommended by Reddit users.

1. Gravel Host (Editor's Choice)

Gravel Host provides a powerful ARK: Survival Evolved Server hosting with a 72-hours money-back guarantee. It offers a user-friendly web interface that helps beginner users to set up the server quickly without any prior knowledge. Gravel Host is known for its great support and unmatched performance backed by top-end CPUs, SSDs, and RAMs. Additionally, they provide an easy-to-use settings manager that helps you tweak more than 200 aspects of your ARK server with a single click.

Features

DDoS Protection
Unlimited slots & usage
3 years of backups
One-click mod installer
Built-in firewall manager
Auto-updates & backups

Try Gravel Host

2. Sparked Host (Best Overall)

When it comes to hosting options for Ark: Survival Evolved, Spark Host provides a wide range of excellent offers. They ensure the satisfaction of your community or friends by guaranteeing an uptime of 99.9%. Moreover, they offer competitive pricing, top-notch features, and mod support for your server.

In terms of cost, Sparked Host offers the most affordable deals. Starting at $8.00 a month, their Ark budget plan is a great value. You can also opt for the recommended enterprise option starting at $18.00 a month. This includes a Ryzen 7600 or equivalent, DDR5 RAM, and a RAID 1 NVMe SSD to provide the smoothest server experience.

Need top-notch features to keep your server running? Then look no further. Sparked Host have you covered with many excellent features. These features vary from DDoS protection all the way to simple old SFTP access to get your server management needs done.

Many games including Ark have an extensive expansion of mods to bring out an entirely different experience for gamers. Sparked Host understands this very well, supporting your favorite mods for almost any game. They know that you and your friends need that enlightening experience, so they take the time to make tutorials that are easy and understandable. This is so your server can maintain a high level of fun on any given day with any modifications you want!

In conclusion, if you are looking for an excellent Ark server hosting experience with great deals, top-notch features, and mod support. Then don’t look past Sparked Host. They provide all of these needs and more!

Try Sparked Host

3. RocketNode Hosting (Cheap ARK Server Hosting)

RocketNode Hosting is a low-cost and one of the best ARK server hosting providers that offers many impressive features. It has a 99.9% uptime guarantee and a 99% network SLA. Besides renting ARK servers, they also offer hosts for Minecraft, FiveM, Rust, Arma, Garry’s mod, and many more. RocketNode provides clients with 24/7 support through our Discord Server and billing panel to keep downtime to a minimum.

Features

DDoS Protection
Powerful Server Console
Premium Hardware & Low Latency
Instant Setup
Low Latency

Key Specifications

Free Trial – No
Slots – Unlimited
Pricing – $12.75/month
Control Panel – Yes
Support – Discord and ticketing

Try RocketNode

4. Shockbyte (Affordable and Trusted)

Shockbyte is a game server provider that launched in March of 2013 and has shown exponential growth ever since. It provides servers backed with the best, updated hardware, and 24 hours of support and management. It also provides a free subdomain with DDoS protection. The servers (or data hub) are located in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, giving the lowest ping possible.

Features

100% uptime and gaming experience
Automatic updates, modding, and backups
Full FTP access
Custom maps
Instant setup
Server console for total control
24/7 expert and experienced support
Low latency

Key Specifications

Free Trial – 72-hours
Slots – 30-125
Pricing – $14.99/month
Control Panel – Multicraft
Support – Discord and chat

Try Shockbyte

5. Zap Hosting (Cheapest Option)

Zap Hosting is a cheap and powerful ARK game server hosting company. It has provided a server hosting platform to over 100,000 satisfied customers. Furthermore, it is one of the best hostings voted by Reddit users. It also offers PixARK server hosting if you want to play sandbox games.

Features

Located in all major hubs and cities
Quick installation and setup
24×7 online for an uninterrupted gaming experience
Custom control gives you total control of your server
Low ping and pricing
DDoS Protection

Key Specifications

Free Trial – 7-day
Slots – 10
Pricing – € 7.90/month
Control Panel – Yes
Support – Ticketing and Chat

Try Zap-Hosting

6. ScalaCube

ScalaCube or Scalable Hosting Solutions is an ARK server hosting service provider that commenced its operations not too long ago. Mainly concerned with hosting game servers, it soon becomes a popular choice among many game enthusiasts. Thanks to its experienced staff, it is capable of providing support around the globe.

Features

Free unlimited traffic
SSD based storage
24×7 customer support
Steam Workshop mods
Modifiable server settings
Instant server setup
Full FTP access
Free Domain
ARK official mods

Key Specifications

Free Trial – No
Slots – 20-120
Pricing – $19/month
Control Panel – Custom
Support – Ticketing

Try Scalacube

7. Nitrous Networks

Launched in July of 2010 by Jordan Bryant, Nitrous Networks has been growing strong as a host and server provider. The main motto of this company is to provide a reliable and feature-rich gaming experience. Working on that, the company has gone through various changes. However, with the leaders’ vision backed by the latest hardware, the company is now among the best ARK server hosting platforms. And the impressive ever-growing numbers of over 2,800 active servers, 206,200 deployed servers, and 137,000 satisfied customers speak for themselves.

Features

Protected from various DDoS attacks
SSD based storage
Easy setup within minutes
Quality network speed
Latest hardware
T1 connectivity for the lowest possible ping

Try Nitrous Networks

8. HostHavoc

HostHavoc is another ARK server hosting service provider majorly concerned with game servers, was founded in July 2013. It was launched to provide a cost-friendly solution with exceptional gaming performance. It has a team of experienced professionals to provide support across the globe. From the payment time until your server goes live, these professionals assist you in every step of the setup. And continue assisting you even when your server is up and running. The servers are located across the globe with 11 major gaming hubs.

Features

99.9% uptime
24x7x365 support with a response time of under 10 minutes
Easy and instant setup of new and even faster NVME SSD-based storage
High-grade processors
Free protection against DDoS attacks

Key Specifications

Free Trial – 72-hours
Slots – 30
Pricing – $15/month
Control Panel – TCAdmin
Support – Ticketing

Try HostHavoc

9. Low.MS

Low.MS is a game server hosting service provider that started its operations in 2015 under Swiftping Limited’s name. It is among the pioneers of gaming server hosts. It has servers located in several locations in Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia. They aim to further expand their services into Italy, Russia, and several South America and South Africa locations. Thus, further boosting its growth and popularity.

Features

SSD powered storage
Guaranteed set up within a minute
Full FTP access
Full customization and control of the server
10 GBpsDDoS protection
Fast pings
Powerful industrial-level hardware

Try Low.MS

10. Citadel Server

Citadel Server is a game server hosting provider launched in the year 2013. It offers various hosting solutions with the latest technology and equipment. Its round-clock professional support has eased the server’s setup and running process or any other service provided by them. Furthermore, their policies, pricing, and pings have led them to be among the top hosting providers. They are going strong in various locations such as Canada, the United States of America (USA), France, and many more.

Features

Single-click installations
Instant setup
SSD based storage
DLC supported
Supports and links multiple servers
Full ARK API support
Automatic updates and backups
Full ARK graphic configuration

Try Citadel

11. Black Box

Black Box Hosting was founded in the year 2008. They made satisfactory gaming experience their highest priority. Working along those lines, they made significant improvements in their policies, hardware, and services, landing a spot among top server hosting providers. Since it’s dawn, it has over 152,700 deployed game servers. It has data hubs located in the USA, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom (UK), France, and every major populated location.

Features

Ease in the configuration of the server
SSD based storage
10-minute setup, from payment to going live
24×7 expert support
Updated top-notch hardware
Hosting control panel for the server

Try BlackBox

Conclusion: Cheap ARK Server Hosting

While many gamers prefer to play solo, multiplayer gaming is a whole different experience. Not only do you become a part of a community, but also you socialize, learn different gameplay tricks, and get to experience the game in a different way every time. For that, you can either join an existing server or create one for yourself. Hosting a server gives you freedom and privacy. But, be ready to shoulder many responsibilities as well. That is why you pick a server hosting provider that gives you the best possible services in your budget. And lastly, enjoy the game.

FAQs: Cheap ARK Server Hosting

1. What is the best PS4 ARK server?

ScalaCube.
Shockbyte.
Apex Hosting
Citadel Servers.

2. What is a dedicated server ARK PS4?

An ARK dedicated server is hosted by a company or individual user on high-performance hardware. It allows you to rent an ARK server ps4 to any user and make money easily.

3. What is the best ARK Xbox server hosting?

Nitrado is one of the best hosting companies that support ARK servers on Xbox One and PS4. You can purchase it directly from the Nitrado official website.

4. What is an ARK non-dedicated server?

On the dedicated ARK server, you have full control of the server. On the other hand, a non-dedicated server allows you to play games with others, unlike a single-player server. It is hosted on shared hardware so you have limited storage space, bandwidth, and CPU power.

5. What is the Best Free ARK Server Hosting?

Scalacube offers the Best Free ARK: Survival Evolved Server Hosting with full functionality. Includes DDoS protection, 24/7 uptime, server monitoring & SSD.

6. How to Host an ARK Server for Free

Follow the below steps to make an ARK server for Xbox:

Purchase a Windows or Linux hosting service.
Connect and log in to your server.
Install SteamCMD Software on your server.
Install the “ARK: Survival Evolved” server using the SteamCMD command line.
Open required server ports to allow other users to access the server.
Start ARK dedicated server
Join the ARK server via Steam on your computer.

Cheap ARK Server Hosting - Top Picks

Here is a quick overview of the cheapest ARK server hosting provider for 2024.

RANK	ARK Server Hosting	Pricing	Link
1	Gravel Host	$16/month	BUY NOW
2	Sparked Host	$8/month	BUY NOW
3	RocketNode	$12.75/month	BUY NOW
4	Shockbyte	$14.99/month	BUY NOW
5	Zap-Hosting	€7.90/month	BUY NOW

How to Install and Configure Linux Terminal Server with ThinLinc on Google Cloud

Hitesh Jethva — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 17:00:32 +0000

ThinLinc is a cross-platform and one of the best remote desktop solutions for Linux. It allows users to access Linux applications and desktops from anywhere via a web browser and GUI client. ThinLinc is based on open-source software such as TigerVNC, OpenSSH, noVNC, PulseAudio, and CUPS. It also provides GUI clients for Linux, macOS, and Windows, and it can also be accessible from a web browser.

In this guide, we will show you how to install and configure ThinLinc remote desktop server on the Linux operating system on Google Cloud.

Requirements

A Linux server running on Google Cloud Platform (In this tutorial, we will use Ubuntu 22.04 server)
A root user or a user with sudo privileges
An x86_64 CPU with enough RAM and disk space.
An OpenSSH server is installed and configured.

Getting Started

First, connect to your Ubuntu 22.04 server instance via SSH then update and upgrade all system packages with the following command.

apt update -y
apt upgrade -y

Once all the packages are updated, restart your server to implement the changes.

reboot

Install Ubuntu Desktop Environment

ThinLinc is designed to access the Linux desktop environment. So you will need to install any desktop environment (Gnome, XFCE, KDE, LXDE) on your server.

First, install the tasksel utility with the following command.

apt install tasksel

Next, install the Desktop environment using the following command.

tasksel install ubuntu-desktop

This process will take some time to finish the installation. Once the Desktop environment has been installed, restart your system to apply the changes.

reboot

Download ThinLinc Terminal Server

First, you will need to create a user on the Ubuntu server. You can create it with the following command.

adduser james

Next, add the created user to the sudoer group so that it can perform administrative tasks.

usermod -aG sudo james

Visit the ThinLinc server download page and download the server package to your local system. After the successful download, you must copy the downloaded file to your Google cloud server inside the user's home directory.

Next, log in to your Ubuntu server via SSH as a james user and unzip the downloaded file.

unzip tl-4.14.0-server.zip

Install and Configure ThinLinc Terminal Server

Follow the below steps to install the ThinLinc server on the Ubuntu server.

Step 1 - First, navigate to the ThinLinc extracted directory with the following command.

cd tl-4.14.0-server

Step 2 - Next, run the following command to start the ThinLinc server installation.

sudo ./install-server

You will be asked to provide a user password to continue. After the successful authentication, you will see the server installation wizard.

[sudo] password for james:
Could not start GTK+. Using text mode fallback...
Welcome to the ThinLinc Server Installation Wizard
==================================================
This program will help you install the ThinLinc software 
packages on your system.
Before installing, please see the Platform Specific Notes 
at https://www.cendio.com/thinlinc/docs/platforms
Press Enter to continue...

Step 3 - Press the Enter key to continue. You will see the list of packages to be installed on your server.

Determining packages to install... done.
The following packages will be installed:
thinlinc-tlmisc_4.14.0-2408_amd64.deb
thinlinc-tlmisc-libs_4.14.0-2408_amd64.deb
thinlinc-tlmisc-libs32_4.14.0-2408_amd64.deb
thinlinc-vsm_4.14.0-2408_amd64.deb
thinlinc-vnc-server_4.14.0-2408_amd64.deb
thinlinc-tladm_4.14.0-2408_amd64.deb
thinlinc-tlprinter_4.14.0-2408_all.deb
thinlinc-webaccess_4.14.0-2408_all.deb
Press Enter to continue...

Step 4 - Press the Enter key to continue. Once all the packages are installed successfully, you will be asked to configure the ThinLinc server.

Performing package installation... done.
All packages were installed successfully.
The installation of ThinLinc has completed successfully
Before using ThinLinc, you must configure it using
/opt/thinlinc/sbin/tl-setup.
Run ThinLinc Setup now [Yes/no]?

Step 5 - Type Yes and press the Enter key. You will be asked to accept the license agreement.

Could not start GTK+. Using text mode fallback...
Welcome to the ThinLinc Server Setup Wizard
===========================================
This program will configure ThinLinc to run on your 
system. It will also verify that you have all required 
software installed. Before continuing, please ensure you 
have read the Platform Specific
Notes at https://www.cendio.com/thinlinc/docs/platforms
8.9 The Program(s) are not specifically developed or 
licensed for use in any nuclear, aviation, mass transit 
or medical application or in any other inherently 
dangerous applications. Neither Cendio nor its
suppliers shall be liable for any claims or damages 
arising from such use and Licensee agrees to indemnify 
and hold harmless Cendio and its suppliers from any 
claims for losses, costs, damages, or liability arising 
out of or in connection with such use of the Program(s).
Do you accept the terms of the License Agreement 
[yes/No]?yes

Step 6 - Type Yes and press the Enter key. You will be asked to select the server type.

Server Type
===========
Please select the type of ThinLinc server to configure. 
The master server is the one users will connect to. Agent 
servers are used to spread the resource load when just 
the master server is insufficent. If unsure, then pick 
Master. Server type [Master/agent]?Master

Step 7 - Type Master and press the Enter key to check all system requirements needed to install the ThinLinc server.

System Check
============
Please wait, analyzing system... done.
Library and binary requirements
===============================
ThinLinc requires a few libraries and binaries to work as 
expected.
This system lacks one or more of these.
The necessary packages can be installed automatically by 
this wizard, or you can install them manually and restart 
the wizard.
Press Enter to continue...

Step 8 - Press the Enter key to install all the required dependencies.

Resolving packages and dependencies... done.
The following packages will be installed:
postfix-3.4.13-0ubuntu1.2.amd64
Press Enter to continue...
Please wait, installing packages... done.
All packages and their dependencies were successfully 
installed.
Press Enter to continue...

Step 9 - Press the Enter key. You will be asked to install all packages for network file system support.

Network File System support
===========================
The Local Drive Redirection feature requires that your 
system can act as a NFS client.
The necessary packages can be installed automatically by 
this wizard, or you can install them manually and restart 
the wizard.
Automatically install the necessary packages [Yes/no]?Yes

Step 10 - Type Yes and press the Enter key to start installing all NFS packages. Once all of them are installed successfully, you should see the below output.

Resolving packages and dependencies... done.
The following packages will be installed:
nfs-common-1:1.3.4-2.5ubuntu3.4.amd64
The following dependencies will be installed/updated:
libtirpc-common-1.2.5-1ubuntu0.1.all,
libtirpc3-1.2.5-1ubuntu0.1.amd64, keyutils-1.6- 
6ubuntu1.1.amd64,
rpcbind-1.2.5-8.amd64, libnfsidmap2-0.25-5.1ubuntu1.amd64
Do you want to continue with installation [Yes/no]?Yes

Please wait, installing packages... done.
All packages and their dependencies were successfully 
installed.
Press Enter to continue...

Step 11 - Press the Enter key. You will be asked to install all Python modules need for LDAP integration. After installing all the required modules, you will get the following output.

Python Dependency
=================
The Python LDAP module is required for LDAP integration 
tools. Your system does not have this installed.
The necessary packages can be installed automatically by 
this wizard, or you can install them manually and restart 
the wizard.
Automatically install the necessary packages [Yes/no]?Yes
Resolving packages and dependencies... done.
The following packages will be installed:
python3-ldap-3.2.0-4ubuntu2.1.amd64
The following dependencies will be installed/updated:
python3-pyasn1-modules-0.2.1-0.2build1.all,
python3-pyasn1-0.4.2-3build1.all
Do you want to continue with installation [Yes/no]?Yes

Step 12 - Type Yes and press the Enter key. You will be asked to define an administrator email, username and password as shown below.

Administrator Contact
=====================
Please enter your e-mail address. ThinLinc will send 
administrative messages, for example license warnings, to 
this address.
Administrator email []? hitjethva75@gmail.com
Web Administration
==================
The ThinLinc web administration is running on port 1010 
(https) on this server. To authenticate, you must have a 
valid user and password.
The default username is "admin". Please enter the desired 
password for this user, or leave unchanged to skip this 
step. Web administrator password?

Step 13 - Provide your administrator Email, password and press the Enter key to install printer-related packages to your server. After the successful installation, you will get the following output.

Printers
========
ThinLinc includes special printer queues that allow users 
to use printers locally attached to their client machine, 
as well as automatically selecting the correct printer 
based on the users' location. Would you like to have 
these queues configured?
Configure location based printer queue (nearest) 
[Yes/no]?Yes
Configure client-side printer queue (thinlocal) [Yes/no]? 
no
Please wait, configuring printer queues... done.
The ThinLinc printer queues have been successfully 
installed.
Press Enter to continue...

Step 14 - Press the Enter key. You will be asked to install AppArmor in your server.

AppArmor
========
This system is using the AppArmor access control system. 
A ThinLinc configuration needs to be loaded for some 
applications to operate correctly in this environment. 
Would you like to install the ThinLinc
AppArmor configuration?
Install AppArmor configuration [Yes/no]?Yes

Step 15 - Type Yes and press the Enter key to configure and start all ThinLinc services as shown below.

Configuring Services
====================
Configuring and starting ThinLinc services... done.
All ThinLinc services have been configured and started 
successfully.
Press Enter to continue...

Step 16 - Press the Enter key to complete the ThinLinc installation. You should see the following output.

ThinLinc has been setup
=======================
The ThinLinc Web Administration is available at
https://localhost:1010, and the configuration files are 
located in /opt/thinlinc/etc/conf.d/. Icons for the 
ThinLinc Web Access, ThinLinc Web Administration and 
ThinLinc Setup have been added to the menu.
Visit https://www.cendio.com/thinlinc/support for 
information on how to contact us.

Verify ThinLinc Services

At this point, the ThinLinc server is installed and configured on the Ubuntu server. Now, you will need to verify whether all ThinLinc services are running or not.
First, verify the vsmserver service using the following command.

sudo systemctl status vsmserver

You should see the service status in the following output.

● vsmserver.service - ThinLinc VSM server
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/vsmserver.service; 
enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
Active: active (running) since Sat 2023-03-25 04:48:25 
UTC; 1min 11s ago
Process: 6218 ExecStart=/bin/bash --login -c 
/opt/thinlinc/sbin/vsmserver (code=exited, 
status=0/SUCCESS)
Main PID: 6226 (python3)
Tasks: 1 (limit: 4685)
Memory: 12.9M
CGroup: /system.slice/vsmserver.service
└─6226 /opt/thinlinc/libexec/python3 
/opt/thinlinc/sbin/vsmserver
Mar 25 04:48:25 ubuntu systemd[1]: Starting ThinLinc VSM 
server...
Mar 25 04:48:25 ubuntu systemd[1]: Started ThinLinc VSM 
server.

To check the vsmagent service status, run the following command.

sudo systemctl status vsmagent

You should see the following output.

● vsmagent.service - ThinLinc VSM agent
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/vsmagent.service; 
enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
Active: active (running) since Sat 2023-03-25 04:48:25 
UTC; 1min 36s ago
Process: 6163 ExecStart=/bin/bash --login -c 
/opt/thinlinc/sbin/vsmagent (code=exited, 
status=0/SUCCESS)
Main PID: 6189 (python3)
Tasks: 1 (limit: 4685)
Memory: 12.3M
CGroup: /system.slice/vsmagent.service
└─6189 /opt/thinlinc/libexec/python3 
/opt/thinlinc/sbin/vsmagent
Mar 25 04:48:24 ubuntu systemd[1]: Starting ThinLinc VSM 
agent...
Mar 25 04:48:25 ubuntu systemd[1]: Started ThinLinc VSM 
agent.

To check the ThinLinc web service status, run the following command.

sudo systemctl status tlwebaccess

If the service is in active state, you should see the following output.

● tlwebaccess.service - ThinLinc Web Access
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/tlwebaccess.service; 
enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
Active: active (running) since Sat 2023-03-25 04:48:26 
UTC; 1min 52s ago
Process: 6230 ExecStart=/bin/bash --login -c 
/opt/thinlinc/sbin/tlwebaccess (code=exited, 
status=0/SUCCESS)
Main PID: 6239 (python3)
Tasks: 1 (limit: 4685)
Memory: 13.3M
CGroup: /system.slice/tlwebaccess.service
└─6239 /opt/thinlinc/libexec/python3 
/opt/thinlinc/sbin/tlwebaccess
Mar 25 04:48:25 ubuntu systemd[1]: Starting ThinLinc Web 
Access...
Mar 25 04:48:26 ubuntu systemd[1]: Started ThinLinc Web 
Access.

Configure Firewall for ThinLinc Access

By default, the ThinLinc server uses the following ports:

22 - SSH connection
300 - Web Access
9000 - ThinLinc Client Access
1010 - ThinLinc control panel access

For ThinLinc remote desktop access, you need to open these three ports on your Google cloud server. You can open them via the Google cloud firewall control panel.

Access ThinLinc Via Web Browser

Open your web browser on your local system and access the Ubuntu remote desktop using the URL https://your-server-ip:300. You will be redirected to the Ubuntu desktop login screen.

Provide your Ubuntu username, password and click on the Login button. After the successful login, you should see the ThinLinc welcome screen.

Click on the OK button. You should see the Ubuntu desktop on the following screen.

Access ThinLink Via GUI Client

ThinLinc provides a graphical client for macOS, Windows and Ubuntu. Using a GUI client you can get ThinLinc all features including sound-redirection and optimized performance for low-bandwidth connection. In this tutorial, we will download the ThinLinc GUI client package for Ubuntu and install it via the terminal.

First, download the ThinLinc client .deb package using the following command.

wget https://www.cendio.com/downloads/clients/thinlinc-client_4.14.0-2324_amd64.deb

Next, install the downloaded package using the apt command.

sudo apt install ./thinlinc-client_4.14.0-2324_amd64.deb

Once the ThinLinc client package is installed, launch it via the Ubuntu Dash menu as shown below.

Provide your ThinLinc server IP address, username, password, and click on the Connect button. After the successful authentication, you should see the Ubuntu desktop inside the ThinLinc client windows.

You can now play around with your Ubuntu remote desktop and test its performance, sound redirection, media redirection, and other features.

Access ThinLinc Control Panel

ThinLinc also provides a web-based control panel to manage all user's sessions, profiles, and other settings. You can access it using the URL https://your-server-ip:1010 via a web browser. You should see the ThinLinc login screen.

Provide the default username as admin, your admin password which you have set during the installation then click on the Sign in button. After the successful login, you should see the ThinLinc control panel on the following screen.

Conclusion

In this guide, you learned how to install and configure the ThinLinc server on a Linux server running on a Google cloud. You also learned how to connect ThinLinc remote desktop via web browser and GUI client. I hope you can now easily implement the ThinLinc server on Linux.

Linux System Administration Career Course

Hitesh Jethva — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 07:42:13 +0000

A Linux Expert's Journey from Getting a Job to Becoming a Linux Expert and Highly-Paid International Writer!

From the author of linuxbuz.com and famous international writer.

=> Register Now to join the Linux System Administrator Career Package.

You want to learn Linux, but there are two major problems with your learning.

First, You start learning it but there are so many possibilities, it’s hard to get started. Or even if you manage to get started it’s difficult to expert in Linux without proper guidance.

Second, you don’t want to spend weeks or even months learning not only to get started, but the best ways to get started.

Friend, you’ve come to the right place — because I’ve got the answer to both the problems.

Introducing the Most Helpful, Practical and Inexpensive Linux System Administration Course.

Stop yourself trying to figure out how to succeed in your Linux career. Instead, take benefit of these proven methods and real-life examples.

This is a Complete Linux System Administration Course with a brief theory and Hands-On Labs.

You can pick up "Linux System Administration for Beginners [Crash Course]" and learn from the experts within two months! I’ve been working in the Linux field for almost 15+ years. I know what it takes to learn Linux, get a job, and advance in this field.

Who should join this course?

Would you like to get a job in the field of IT? Do you want to become a Linux system administrator but don’t know where to get started? In this course we will begin by covering the very basics of using the Linux operating system, and move on to the advanced system and networking skills necessary to become a Linux administrator!

It doesn’t matter if you are an undergraduate or graduate student or a fresher looking for a job in a Linux or a professional working as a Linux administrator.

Here is what we have got for you:

120+ lessons with systematic and simple way to understand Linux basic to advanced.
A clear tutorial approach to help you learn and test with real-life examples.
A comprehensive, step-by-step lab at the end of each chapter.
A perfect balance between theoretical concepts, which are covered rigorously as well as practical contexts thus allowing the readers to build a solid foundation in key methodologies, techniques, tips and tricks in the field of Linux System Administration.

=> Register Now to join the Linux System Administrator Career Package. I’m confident you’ll love it.

What You’ll learn after completing this course?

Introduction to UNIX & LINUX

History of UNIX and LINUX
Different Linux Distributions
Features and Advantages of Linux
Why Linux?
Architecture of Linux
Preparing to Install Ubuntu 20.04 Linux
Quiz on Linux & Unix (Score: 50%)
Lab 1 - Installing Ubuntu 20.04 Operating System

Create a Free Linux Machine on Cloud

Get Free Ubuntu Machine to Learn This Course

File System Hierarchy Standard and Basic Commands

File System Hierarchy Overview
Creating and Listing Files
Creating and Deleting Directories
Navigating the Linux File System
Copying Files and Directories
Modifying File Content Using VI / Vim Editors
Quiz on File System Hierarchy and Basic Commands
Lab 2 - Basic File and Directory Commands
Lab 3 - Working with VI Editor

User and Group Administration

Introduction to User and Group
Creating and Managing User Account
Creating and Managing Group Account
Quiz on User and Group Administration
Lab 4 - Creating and Managing User Account
Lab 5 - Creating and Managing Group Account

Basic File Permissions and ACLs

Introduction to File Permissions
Modifying and Managing File Permissions
Introduction to Access Control List (ACL)
Changing User and Group Ownership
Quiz on File Permissions and ACLs
Lab 6 - Set Ownership and ACL
Lab 7 - Set File and Directory Permission

Disk Partitions

Introduction to Disk Partitioning
Creating and Formatting the Disk Partition
Mounting the Disk Partition
Quiz on Disk Partitioning
Lab 8 - Creating and Managing Disk Partition

Swap File System

Introduction to Swap Space
Creating and Enabling the Swap File
Quiz on Swap File System
Lab 9 - Creating, and Managing the Swap File

Logical Volume Manager (LVM)

Introduction to LVM
Creating Physical Volume, Logical Volume, and Volume Group
Quiz on Logical Volume Manager
Lab 10 - Setup Logical Volume on Harddisk Partitions

Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID)

Introduction to RAID and RAID Levels
Installing and Setting Up RAID Array
Quiz on RAID Array
Lab 11 - Setting up RAID 10 Array on Hard Disks

Backup and Restore

Why We Need Backup and Restore
Backup and Restore using tar Command
Compress Backup Using gzip and bzip2
Quiz on Backup and Restore
Lab 12 - Backup and Restore using tar Command

Software Package Management

Introduction to Package Management
Installing and Removing Software Packages Using apt
Installing and Removing Software Packages Using dpkg
Quiz on Package Management
Lab 13 - Managing Software Packages Using apt and dpkg

Network Configuration

Introduction to Networking
Types of IP Address
Configuring Hostname
Configuring Static and Dynamic IP Addresses
Quiz on Networking
Lab 14 - Setting Up Hostname and Static IP Address

FTP Server Configuration

Introduction to FTP Server
Installing and Configuring VSFTPD Server
Accessing the VSFTPD Server
Enabling SSL/TLS on VSFTPD Server
Basic FTP Commands
Quiz on VSFTPD
Lab 15 - Setting Up an Anonymous FTP Server with VSFTPD

DHCP Server Configuration

Introduction to DHCP Server
Installing DHCP Server
Configuring DHCP Server
Configuring DHCP Client
Quiz on DHCP
Lab 16 - Setting Up DHCP Server and Client

NFS Server Configuration

Introduction to NFS Server
Installing and Configuring NFS Server
Configuring NFS Client
Quiz on NFS Server
Lab 17 - Setting Up a Local NFS Server and Client

SSH Server Configuration

Introduction to SSH Server
Installing and Configuring SSH Server
Configuring SSH Password-based Authetication
Configuring SSH Key-based Authentication
Quiz on SSH Server
Lab 18 - Setting Up and Connecting to Local SSH Server

DNS Server Configuration

Introduction to DNS Server
Zones and Records in DNS
Installing DNS Server
Configuring DNS Server
Verifying DNS Server
Quiz on DNS Server
Lab 19 - Setting Up DNS Server for Local Network

Apache Web Server Configuration

Introduction to Apache Web Server
Installing Apache Web Server
Configuring Basic Apache Web Server
Configuring Apache Virtual Hosting
Enable SSL on Apache Web Server
Quiz on Apache Web Server
Lab 20 - Deploy PHP Application with Apache and MariaDB Database

Bonus Lessons

Setting Up Firewall with UFW
Find and Replace Text in Files using sed Command
Monitoring Network Connections with Netstat Command
How to Use SCP to Securely Transfer Files Between Servers in Linux
Find Files and Directories in Linux

How to Secure Your Data Lake?

Hitesh Jethva — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 05:04:59 +0000

Your business data lake is one of the best options for warehousing your data from multiple sources no matter what the purpose. However, as I’m sure you have come to realize, securing data lakes is the biggest challenge your enterprise will face. Since you dump data into a data lake in its original format, the dumped data is scattered and accessible for anyone on the enterprise network.

Different organizations use data lakes for different purposes—an archive for their data, a sandbox for data scientists, and a landing zone for data. With the introduction of cloud services, organizations are shifting data lakes to cloud servers so they may later use the data for aggregation, indexing, and analysis.

As Merv Adrian states ‘The idea behind using data from data lakes is to try different ideas and build models. If the organization finds something fruitful, they can put it into their DBMS or RDBMS.”

But the storing of data into data lakes raises multiple security issues and can harm your organization in multiple ways. These security issues can’t be overlooked.

So let’s look at the best approaches you can use for securing your enterprise data lake:

1. Use a Robust Data Lake Management Strategy

You need to have an in-depth understanding of data usage, its planned application, and an understanding of the governance requirements of those applications to secure a data lake.

You can add and maintain different data lakes for different purposes to implement a comprehensive data lake management strategy. For example, having separate data lakes for production workloads and data science can help you to protect your data.

You need to understand that excellent management and security of data lakes is beyond the ability of a single platform. So choose low-cost object cloud storage like Microsoft’s Azure Object Store or Amazon S3.

As stated by Doug Henschen, “The governance and security of individual platforms don’t always meet the requirements for complete access control and new governance requirements.”

2. Classify and Identify Incoming and Existing Data

You need to take necessary precautions when storing sensitive data in your lake. For that, you need to classify and identify your data. Use security classification for classifying different data elements into different security levels.

The sensitivity or security levels should be based on governmental and industry regulation security standards. The data should not be modified or disclosed without an authorization from the upper management in the organization.

Data classification allows administrators to integrate baseline security procedural controls and mechanisms, evaluate existing data in your data lake, and analyze the incoming information effectively.

3. Secure Output, Input, and Work Files

Hackers can gain access to the output files, input files, and different day-to-day processing work files in your data lake to harm your organization.

You need to secure your data lake, including outgoing and incoming files, data transferring to different applications, and data lake backups.

The security of files enables you to strengthen the security of the data lake and prevent organizational losses.

4. Access Rights and Account Management

Platforms like Oracle, Amazon, Cloudera, and Microsoft have popular data lake options you can choose from. Every platform has different processes and mechanisms to create and assign accounts and access rights.

You should adhere to the industry recommendations while assigning rights and stick to granting minimal security rights for users working on the platform. Two-factor authentication, password protection, and enterprise authentication should be a requirement for gaining access to your data lake.

Some vendors include detailed security descriptions and guidelines to help administrators secure their data lake. You can go through these documents for more specific information.

5. Understanding the Data Lake Pipeline

When data is passed into the data lake, there’s not much protection provided to the RDBMS and enterprise database. In traditional management of data, the security team does little once the data enters the database management system,

The structural management of data lakes doesn’t include governance capabilities and policies. You need to consider your data lake pipeline with midstream, upstream, and downstream components when approaching data lake security.

Every stage has different threat vectors, and you need to address them differently to enhance the security of your data lake.

Vice President of Podium Data, John Felahi, believes that understanding the journey of your data is key to enhancing the security of your data lake.

6. Encryption

One of the vital and fundamental security measures for data security and clusters is encryption. You can ensure data encryption based on the details and information provided by your cloud service provider. If your cloud service provider doesn’t provide the encryption certificates, you need to incorporate it yourself.

Irrespective of the providers, you need to develop different methods for certificate rotation within 90 days for robust encryption security.

7. Data Loss Preventive Measures

Take measures to recover your data from accidental deletion or sophisticated hacking. You need to minimize the risk of data loss, create secure data backups, and integrate retention plans for complete safety.

Different services that store or manage data should be protected and evaluated against data loss. You need to manage and secure your data lakes wisely to minimize the damage of data loss.

These are the leading strategies you can use to secure the data lakes of your enterprise and strengthen your overall security.

Summary

A business’s data lake is a complex environment that requires planning, discipline, and expertise to remain secure from external threats and attacks. You have the responsibility and liability to secure your data lakes. Say, if it’s on a public cloud, you need to convert your cloud data lake into a private data lake. Implement these result-oriented strategies to secure your data lake and prevent your data from getting compromised.