Ask HN: Going the cloud way - Linode or DigitalOcean?

9 pointswebvet12y ago18 comments

Having struggled a lot with our current VPS, finally decided to go the cloud way.

[Those interested to know more about what we've been facing can refer to my two recent threads:

1. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6348903

2. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6367198 ]

We're now trying to decide between linode and DigitalOcean.

One major difference between the two that we think we've found is that while DO offers SSD storage, linode (we think, again), has regular hard drives.

What do you all suggest? Linode or DO? Or something else?

Ask HN: Going the cloud way - Linode or DigitalOcean?

9 pointswebvet12y ago18 comments

Having struggled a lot with our current VPS, finally decided to go the cloud way.

[Those interested to know more about what we've been facing can refer to my two recent threads:

1. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6348903

2. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6367198 ]

We're now trying to decide between linode and DigitalOcean.

One major difference between the two that we think we've found is that while DO offers SSD storage, linode (we think, again), has regular hard drives.

What do you all suggest? Linode or DO? Or something else?

18 comments

15 comments · 9 top-level

Gnewt12y ago· 2 in thread

Linode is straightup incredible. I've been with them for about 5 years now. Almost every year they've given some sort of free upgrade -- I still pay the same amount I did 5 years ago and I now have something like 10x the bandwidth, a bit over 2x the storage, 2.8x the RAM, etc. AND faster processors. They're a company who seriously know their shit, and they're FAST.

The $20/mo base can be a bit much for some usages -- I still have a few $2-7/mo boxes from LowEndBox for various side projects, but for anything I really care about, I wouldn't put it anywhere but my Linode.

bliti12y ago

My experience with Linode left a very sour taste in my mouth. Their security leaves a lot to be desired. It cost me, and clients, a fair amount of money and grief. Their hardware might be good, but their policies are lacking. I do not recommend anyone to use Linode.

taway201212y ago

You've written the same thing twice in this thread, without giving specifics.

Which Linode specific security policies caused you what specific "grief"? And what provider do you use now?

I know (1) they were late to the two-factor-auth party, (2) had a break-in where credit cards numbers were stolen, (3) a targeted attack that was used to compromise some bitcoin hosts.

I am aware of these incidents and still give full marks to Linode. The hardware is incredible. The hard disks are speedy. The network connection is very fast. My $20/mo is working much harder at Linode than it would at Amazon. :)

I've been hosting a lightly-used disk- and network- heavy app for a few months now. Never had a problem so far.

2 more replies

AznHisoka12y ago· 2 in thread

Neither. Forget VPS. Upgrade to a dedicated server (which beats a VPS in every category) for just $40/month with OVH.

webvetOP12y ago

@AznHisoka: Thanks for the reminder. Are you associated with/use them?

After you told me about them in my previous thread, we checked them out and actually ordered a server there. Turns out the only payment option they have is PayPal. We tried to make cc payment via paypal but they would make just a test transaction (successfully) and then say, can't process. We tried four times, with the same results. OVH support wasn't much help, except saying PayPal is the only available option now.

In the meanwhile, we found this:

http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=672553

and this:

http://www.majidkhosravi.com/ovh-review/

I wonder what this is all about.

AznHisoka12y ago

I currently have 4 servers with them. Are you using their French/European servers or their US-based ones (or Montreal)?

They don't offer much tech support, but they do fix basic issues like failed Hard Drives, RAID, etc pretty quickly. You pretty much have to do everything yourselves, but that's the point of a dedicated server.

In the end, you can't beat the price, and that's why I went with them. With the Paypal, I could use my CC with them.

trebor12y ago· 1 in thread

Linode may have "regular" hard drives, but they're fast. I ran a legacy PHP commerce package for a client and it would log gigabytes of data due to deprecation warnings, I wasn't as knowledgeable about downgrading and freezing packages as I am now, but Linode handled it fine. I think they're 10k RPM SAS drives, so they're quite fast.

On the other hand, Linode gives you access to 8x Xen CPUs from the base package. While to get the same out of DigitalOcean you need to pay $160/mo. The pros/cons I see are:

DigitalOcean: SSD, RAM (2x), and therefore price (for low CPU apps) Linode: CPU, HD space, transfer (2-4x)

knightzero12y ago

Linode is working to upgrade to ssd. https://forum.linode.com/viewtopic.php?t=10406&f=26

bliti12y ago· 1 in thread

I have used both, would choose neither. Linode has awful security, and security policies. Digital Ocean's offerings were not consistent and rather unstable/buggy. Some of their OS images did not work. Their support was a bit on the slow side for me.

I've had really good luck with Webfaction. Do look into them.

ablerman12y ago

Can you give some specifics about the security issues you saw at Linode?

danpalmer12y ago

Based on the pricing, the security leaks, and the technology, Linode strike me as one of the 'old' breed of hosting providers, who are trying, but struggling to keep up with newer companies.

I've got an account with Digital Ocean, and while they can be a little slow releasing kernel updates, they've been great so far. Good performance, great price, good support.

hcho12y ago

Toss a coin. VPS offerings are more or less a commodity nowadays. The price difference is ignorable for a person at first world income levels? Linode is a full cup of coffee price more expensive than Ocean over a month. The specs will be exactly equivalent shortly, if not already. Unless you happen to end up on the same machine with an abusive neighbour, you'll be fine.

uzegonemad12y ago

I can't comment on DigitalOcean, but I've been using Linode for a couple of years and have been happy.

They've offered several free hardware upgrades (CPU cores, transfer, storage) and one optional upgrade (Doubling RAM) that set me back an extra five cents a month.

I haven't had any issues, but from what I have seen Linode is very responsive.

webvetOP12y ago

Clickable previous thread links:

1. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6348903

2. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6367198

webvetOP12y ago

Thanks to all who have responded.

We've decided to try each one-

DigitalOcean - already ordered, up and running (very well too)

Linode - will order soon

OVH - already ordered (per my comment below), now trying to figure out a way to pay them

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

18 comments

15 comments · 9 top-level

Gnewt12y ago· 2 in thread

bliti12y ago

taway201212y ago

You've written the same thing twice in this thread, without giving specifics.

Which Linode specific security policies caused you what specific "grief"? And what provider do you use now?

I know (1) they were late to the two-factor-auth party, (2) had a break-in where credit cards numbers were stolen, (3) a targeted attack that was used to compromise some bitcoin hosts.

I've been hosting a lightly-used disk- and network- heavy app for a few months now. Never had a problem so far.

2 more replies

AznHisoka12y ago· 2 in thread

Neither. Forget VPS. Upgrade to a dedicated server (which beats a VPS in every category) for just $40/month with OVH.

webvetOP12y ago

@AznHisoka: Thanks for the reminder. Are you associated with/use them?

In the meanwhile, we found this:

http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=672553

and this:

http://www.majidkhosravi.com/ovh-review/

I wonder what this is all about.

AznHisoka12y ago

I currently have 4 servers with them. Are you using their French/European servers or their US-based ones (or Montreal)?

In the end, you can't beat the price, and that's why I went with them. With the Paypal, I could use my CC with them.

trebor12y ago· 1 in thread

On the other hand, Linode gives you access to 8x Xen CPUs from the base package. While to get the same out of DigitalOcean you need to pay $160/mo. The pros/cons I see are:

DigitalOcean: SSD, RAM (2x), and therefore price (for low CPU apps) Linode: CPU, HD space, transfer (2-4x)

knightzero12y ago

Linode is working to upgrade to ssd. https://forum.linode.com/viewtopic.php?t=10406&f=26

bliti12y ago· 1 in thread

I've had really good luck with Webfaction. Do look into them.

ablerman12y ago

Can you give some specifics about the security issues you saw at Linode?

danpalmer12y ago

Based on the pricing, the security leaks, and the technology, Linode strike me as one of the 'old' breed of hosting providers, who are trying, but struggling to keep up with newer companies.

I've got an account with Digital Ocean, and while they can be a little slow releasing kernel updates, they've been great so far. Good performance, great price, good support.

hcho12y ago

uzegonemad12y ago

I can't comment on DigitalOcean, but I've been using Linode for a couple of years and have been happy.

They've offered several free hardware upgrades (CPU cores, transfer, storage) and one optional upgrade (Doubling RAM) that set me back an extra five cents a month.

I haven't had any issues, but from what I have seen Linode is very responsive.

webvetOP12y ago

Clickable previous thread links:

1. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6348903

2. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6367198

webvetOP12y ago

Thanks to all who have responded.

We've decided to try each one-

DigitalOcean - already ordered, up and running (very well too)

Linode - will order soon

OVH - already ordered (per my comment below), now trying to figure out a way to pay them

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse