Here, I tell you all the ins and outs, from picking the optimal server to making it bulletproof in terms of security and performance (while not paying through the nose for it).
As you read further, be sure that everything I wrote here follows the latest standards from the tech industry.
After all, this is how the world’s leading tech companies (that I have as clients) secure & run their servers. (I cannot tell you the exact names, but think of FAANG…)
You’ve got an end-to-end list that saves you a lot of money. (Comparable consultancy services would cost you tens of thousands of dollars.)
And there you have it, all done-for-you and served on a silver plate.
Here are all the parts (which will be updated as I post more content):
Note here: Cloud might be a good choice if you need tens of instances (and all that on-demand with the possibility to scale in/out quickly).
In all other cases, I think that this need is exaggerated (you really don’t need that many options).
Dedicated server provider selection
Since I already had to replace my old dedicated server, it was a good moment to consider a full-blown migration.
If you have to do a lift-and-shift migration anyway, it takes only a little effort to change the provider as well. (When you are already at it.)
So, I compared different providers, hoping to find the best deal.
Just to clarify, here is some more context.
Server4You has been hosting my servers since 2017. They are technically reliable, but the customer support could be better (faster).
And I can tell you, this was not a big deal, as it’s a self-managed server anyway… (You have to do stuff yourself.)
Really, it’s been a smooth ride with Server4You (except for a faulty disc that had to be replaced, but this is business as usual in the tech world).
The tipping point was more on the pricing side.
Already at first glance, I could see that other providers are offering more value for the money (for the same price, you can get a way better machine).
And there I was, shopping big time.
(To be 100% honest, Server4You wanted to give me a premium offer after they heard I am moving to a competitor but I didn’t take that.)
Dedicated server alternatives
I was already familiar with most of the big names in the dedicated server world.
Here is the list of providers I thought of from day 1:
Now that I have narrowed down my choice, the moment to pick a dedicated server has come.
You basically have two options with Hetzner: buy a brand new server or buy a “refurbished” dedicated server that has some “mileage” on it (it was in service earlier).
New servers are fine (and the prices are fair), but when I looked at the so-called “auction servers,” I couldn’t believe it…
It turns out you can buy “refurbished” servers that are extremely powerful for a very cheap price.
These machines served some other customers in the past, but the service got canceled, and Hetzner now wants to rent those machines out again.
(It can also be that they got a newer hardware generation and want to offer the older one at an auction.)
Now, don’t make a mistake about it… It’s not an auction where the highest bid wins; it’s just that the prices change per hour…
At the current list price, you can buy any of the servers immediately (so you are not competing with other bidders directly and don’t wait for a thing).
How these auctions work is relatively simple…
Hetzner is changing the prices based on the demand and what they learned from the previous purchases (at what price people buy a certain configuration, etc.).
If you offer the asked price, you get the server just for you right away (no one else will have a chance to make a higher offer).
Well, it’s not a brand new. However, before putting the server at the auction, Hetzner ensures that the machines have “ticket all the boxes” in their internal tests. So rest assured the hardware is fully functional and completely healthy.
(Failures can happen — a faulty disc, for instance — but new servers are also not exempt from this issue.)
(See here and here Reddit discussions that can help you address some of the remaining worries.)
Long story short, I decided to go for an auction server.
…
Stay tuned for the next part, where I will tell you how to choose the right configuration (and other important considerations).
Experienced tech professional with a strong track record in web services and fintech. Collaborating with Silicon Valley's multi-billion tech giants and offering a range of services committed to excellence. Check the Services page for how I can help you too.
