Ask HN: unix home in the cloud?

5 pointsstrayer15y ago9 comments

Finishing a contract for an academic project soon, I'll miss having a unix machine I can log in from anywhere, which has all my scripts and data in it, where I can run stuff for myself.

Amazon EC2, slicehost, are marketed as hosting sites. I guess many of you use them as home machines too. Any thoughts?

5 pointsstrayer15y ago9 comments

Finishing a contract for an academic project soon, I'll miss having a unix machine I can log in from anywhere, which has all my scripts and data in it, where I can run stuff for myself.

Amazon EC2, slicehost, are marketed as hosting sites. I guess many of you use them as home machines too. Any thoughts?

9 comments

7 comments · 4 top-level

ddrager15y ago· 2 in thread

All of those are clouds, not really meant as an always-on home in the cloud (or at least an expensive option). I'll assume you are looking for low-budget since you mentioned "Academic project."

What you are looking for is probably a VPS (can be had for < $10/month at many, many places) or simply setting up an old computer on your home connection. Even if you have a static IP, use DynDNS or similar service to get a static address to connect to.

strayerOP15y ago

Yes, something like the idea of a Virtual Private Server is what I was looking for, thanks.

I wonder what's people's experience for single-user, private daily use.

retroafroman15y ago

I have a Linux VPS I use everyday, mostly just privately. It's very handy as a way to get around the corporate network blocked sites, and I can use it if I feel the Wifi network I'm on is sketchy to try and encrypt my traffic. Mine is only 3 bucks a month and that's easily worth it to me. Lowendbox.com has good deals pop up all the time. It's no speed demon, but it works for all I do with it.

1 more reply

inetsee15y ago· 1 in thread

If you can get by with something really lightweight, Amazon has their new EC2 micro instance. It's free for the first year (for new AWS customers), then an on-demand instance runs 2 cents an hour. You can't beat those prices with a stick.

More details about what's included can be found here: "http://aws.amazon.com/free/

strayerOP15y ago

I am considering that, but shutting down during off hours so as not to run into a bill of >$200 a year (I'm not a new customer).

I am curious about people's experiences with using them for that purpose.

I found using EC2's non-micro instances somehow inconvenient because boot times seemed to be too long for casual use, plus I had to pay extra for a permanent IP. Maybe I'm too lazy, or perhaps the micro instances are more suitable for that purpose?

JoachimSchipper15y ago

Google "shell account"? Or buy a cheap, simple computer (think SheevaPlug) and keep it on at home? Carry a netbook? The possibilities are endless...

hasenj15y ago

Did you consider "Ubuntu One" synchronization of all your scripts and dotfiles?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

9 comments

7 comments · 4 top-level

ddrager15y ago· 2 in thread

All of those are clouds, not really meant as an always-on home in the cloud (or at least an expensive option). I'll assume you are looking for low-budget since you mentioned "Academic project."

strayerOP15y ago

Yes, something like the idea of a Virtual Private Server is what I was looking for, thanks.

I wonder what's people's experience for single-user, private daily use.

retroafroman15y ago

1 more reply

inetsee15y ago· 1 in thread

More details about what's included can be found here: "http://aws.amazon.com/free/

strayerOP15y ago

I am considering that, but shutting down during off hours so as not to run into a bill of >$200 a year (I'm not a new customer).

I am curious about people's experiences with using them for that purpose.

JoachimSchipper15y ago

Google "shell account"? Or buy a cheap, simple computer (think SheevaPlug) and keep it on at home? Carry a netbook? The possibilities are endless...

hasenj15y ago

Did you consider "Ubuntu One" synchronization of all your scripts and dotfiles?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse