'Virtual Private Servers' - Advice, recollections and recommendations requested

From: Rich Rudnick (nickrud_at_verizon.net)
Date: 01/07/05

  • Next message: Andrew Schulman: "Re: grub not seeing sata drive" 
    To: debian-user@lists.debian.org
Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2005 10:12:19 -0800

    Thru no fault of my own, I've been given a possible budget for a server
    - this is for a small decentralized non-profit that is still paper
    driven, and has been for decades. Over the years, each branch has kind
    of grown it's own record keeping system, and currently some are using
    OpenOffice, Lotus, and early Excel (and I mean early, it was complete on
    a Mac by 1997 and it's not trivial). Most still hand-fill the forms.

    However, everyone wants to use broadband and eventually each center will
    convert to an OpenOffice based system (Windows mostly), so I need
    pointers.

    I've done some research, and as a first cut I'm looking at renting
    cycles which give me a debian box out there somewhere that I have root
    access to -- initially running a mail server with maybe 50 - 100
    mailboxes, some kind of messaging server - jabber or it's ilk, and some
    kind of joint file storage, probably an ftp variant. This will mimic
    most of the our current usage. We'll probably leave our web site on
    another host for the foreseeable future to keep the traffic down on this
    server.

    So here are the first few questions. Direct answers, pointers to
    relevant FM's and better questions welcome:

    1. Reputable providers: Who do you use that you would recommend? UML
    seems acceptable, since our load will be almost minuscule to begin with.
    At least one static ip is a must.

    2. How do I get a grip on potential traffic volume? I'm sure there's a
    formula out there somewhere that I can plug some numbers into that will
    give me an approximation. This really is a shoe-string non-profit and I
    don't want to buy more than we really need, but if I find good deal I
    want to be reasonably comfortable I won't run into surcharges for excess
    traffic later on.

    3. Instant messaging: I don't use it, have never investigated it, and
    know nothing. I will investigate, but a few signposts would be welcome.

    Any and all comments appreciated! 

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