True VDS Software

[interactive]

Was looking around today for true vds (not like just a lock in or whatever) software. Anyidea on who makes anything like this and how expensive it is?

[DizixCom]

There are a few distinct types of VDS:

1 - Chrooted jails.
2 - Virtualized partitions (chrooted, but with virtual file system, network, memory, and system call wrappers).
3 - Virtual Machines (ala VMWare)

Of the three, #2 is the most logical in web hosting. There are a few implementations that are close to the same but have their own unique characteristics. The two most famous commercial entries are Ensim's Server Exchange product and SW Soft's Virtuozzo. Both are rather expensive, Virtuozzo with the client side management tools will run you about $10,000 to get started with Ensims being even more (last I heard). Virtuozzo can be had for less than $3,000 if you don't want HSPComplete to go along with it. For licensing you'll have to contact them directly though because the figures change periodically with different specials.

FreeBSD offers Jails which is kind of in between 1 and 2. You can virtualize the file system in different ways, I've personally used vnode disks (see vmconfig(8) for details) and they work well. The only problem with jails is that without kernel mods there are a few drawbacks:

1 - All file systems are visibile within the jail. Not accessible, but visible.
2 - Only 1 IP address can be bound to a jail.
3 - IPC isn't secure

These have all been overcome with various kernel modifications and I presume they will make their way into the FreeBSD distribution eventually. Also lacking in jails versus other type 2 VDS's is QoS guarantees and limits, for example limiting memory and CPU usage in each VDS.

My personal choice, and the one I bet my money on Virtuozzo with HSPComplete.

[allan]

Originally posted by DizixCom:
1 - All file systems are visibile within the jail. Not accessible, but visible.
2 - Only 1 IP address can be bound to a jail.
3 - IPC isn't secure


4. Ping and traceroute don't work.
5. The VDS does not recognize itself as localhost

Having used both, I agree with Scott's assessment the Virtuozzo product provides a much better solution than a chroot'd jail, and Ensim just sucks.

[travelamerica]

What about solutions that are based on vserver? URL is at VPShttp://freshmeat.net/projects/vserver/. I'm considering using a web host that uses this solution, and has been successful at. Can the 5 tasks be done with vserver? I can't justify the expense of a full scale commercial solution.

[jbiz718]

My biggest problem with HSP is stability. When 2.1 comes out that issue should be resolved.

[Robert]

Originally posted by travelamerica:

What about solutions that are based on vserver? URL is at VPShttp://freshmeat.net/projects/vserver/. I'm considering using a web host that uses this solution, and has been successful at. Can the 5 tasks be done with vserver? I can't justify the expense of a full scale commercial solution.


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