We’ve all done it: seen some incredible offer that checks a couple of our desire boxes and done a speed run through purchasing…only to end up with a system that doesn’t meet our needs because we made assumptions.

No two hosting companies are alike and no two Terms of Service are alike (unless they’re using the TOS generator).  You can’t just assume that because the last three providers you use offer IPv6, allow TOR, or do daily backups that this provider does the same.

So here’s a quick checklist for you to use when evaluating offers:

• Check the Terms of Service (TOS) and Acceptable Use Policy (AUP).  This is the the #1 area where people go awry.  The TOS/AUP clues you in to things like
  • can you run a TOR relay/exit?
  • can you host adult content?
  • what about torrenting?
  • games servers?
  • are there any usage limits (e.g., VPS CPU usage)?
• Looking Glass is there for a reason.  Use it.  You’d think that if you’re in Kansas City and the provider is in Kansas City, the network ping times would be pure chef’s kiss.  But what if the provider is back-hauled through Chicago?
• Is your preferred OS/distro available?  You’d think that the latest Debian or RedHat-clone distro would be available, but some providers have old templates.
• If Windows, is it BYOL?  Is the Windows license included?
• Is the price recurring?  Usually if someone says “$3/month” then it is, but read the fine print.
• Do you need any special features?  A lot of these really shouldn’t be so special any more, but unless the provider says they offer them, it’s dangerous to assume:
  • Reverse DNS
  • Custom ISO
  • Install from ISO and not just templates
  • Out-of-band access like VNC
  • Backups
• Which ports are blocked, and are blocks liftable?  Typically this is port 25 to combat spam.  If you’re using a third party for mail (Amazon SES, MxRoute, etc.) then perhaps you don’t care about this.  But if you do, ask!

Once you go through checkout, it’s too late to ask questions, so be smart and examine offers carefully before signing up.

I’m sure I missed some things.  What’s on your checklist?  Let us know in the comments below!

raindog308

Raindog308 is a longtime LowEndTalk community administrator, technical writer, and self-described techno polymath. With deep roots in the *nix world, he has a passion for systems both modern and vintage, ranging from Unix, Perl, Python, and Golang to shell scripting and mainframe-era operating systems like MVS. He’s equally comfortable with relational database systems, having spent years working with Oracle, PostgreSQL, and MySQL.

As an avid user of LowEndBox providers, Raindog runs an empire of LEBs, from tiny boxes for VPNs, to mid-sized instances for application hosting, and heavyweight servers for data storage and complex databases. He brings both technical rigor and real-world experience to every piece he writes.

Beyond the command line, Raindog is a lover of German Shepherds, high-quality knives, target shooting, theology, tabletop RPGs, and hiking in deep, quiet forests.

His goal with every article is to help users, from beginners to seasoned sysadmins, get more value, performance, and enjoyment out of their infrastructure.

You can find him daily in the forums at LowEndTalk under the handle @raindog308.