15 parrots: choose a hosting provider for VPS / VDS servers

Elections, elections, candidates - hosting.

“ We need a new hosting ,” it dawned on our boss in early spring. It was not a spring aggravation, it was an objective necessity, because the old cobra survived its previous poison for some reason decided that once clients go by themselves because of 152-FZ, it is possible to provide services for something like SLA. And here I learned something new: there are a lot of hosting sites, but there are a lot of hosts with acceptable characteristics. And this I have not read customer reviews - this is where the portal to hell!

So, I armed myself with the brain, Google, with our requirements and began to choose the best VPS hosting, with which we will probably continue our life. In the selection process, I got a good analytics, and I decided to partially put it on Habr - what if it helps the same admin-sufferer? Enjoy my work, as they say.


Poskreb on the bottom of the barrel and as a result chose 15 hosting sites for the review. Including foreign ones. Go list-table of contents:
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1. 1cloud
2. Arubacloud
3. Cloud4y
4. Cloudlite
5. FirstVDS
6. Godaddy
7. Ihor
8. Ovh
9. RUVDS
10. Servers.ru
11. Timeweb
12. UltraVDS
13. Vps.net
14. Yandex Compute Cloud
15. Inoventica

→ Results

The purpose of testing is to measure disk performance, network and benchmarks in AIDA64. AIDA64 was not chosen randomly, because You can download it yourself and compare any of the hosting sites with your hardware, seeing how appropriate it is to host your application there.

Comparison will occur only in 3 parameters from the entire park of parrots AIDA64. Namely:

1. Write to memory - write memory with random data. All modern instructions are used. Including the AVX-512. Indicator how free the processor is for this job.
2. VP8 - video coding by VP8 codec, shows how fast the processor is in single-threaded performance. Test uses instructions: MMX, SSE2, SSSE3 or SSE4.1
3. FP64 - ray tracing. This testing involves a whole fleet of instructions: x87, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, AVX, AVX2, XOP, FMA, FMA4 and AVX-512. New processors should prove to be the most productive in this testing.

Two servers were rented for testing:

Server 1: 1 or 2 CPU cores, 2 GB of RAM, 20 to n SSD
Server 2: 2 CPU cores, 4 GB of RAM, 20 to n SSD

To obtain the correct absolute performance values, provided that the hosting does not provide 2 CPU cores with 4 GB of RAM, the excess kernels were disabled via msconfig.

Network measurement took place on server 1. In fact, the most minimal configuration with Windows Server, which was provided by hosting. After that, the server turned off. Measurement was repeated again, after 27 days.

The disk measurement occurred by copying a 6 GB VHDX file from the C: drive to the C: drive, then the server was turned off. Measurement was repeated again, after 27 days. Screenshots of both measurements are applied only if the results are significantly different.

The performance measurement took place on server 2 in two stages. The first 14 days set the baseline performance. After that, the stress test AIDA64 was turned on for 7 days, and it was turned off only for performance measurements. It is necessary to identify hidden constraints.

Considering that the tests of the last week on virtual server 2 are an extreme scenario that no one will resort to, no one will mine on the virtual machine, the final measurement data were calculated by the median. Results in chopped parrots are presented in this way. The number of chopped parrots is calculated according to the formula: "Parrots divided by the total cost of a monthly rent."

In addition to measurements and tests, I will take small notes on registration and passing processes, if there is something to pay attention to. Surely someone somewhere will see advertising or “competitors' order” below, but just in case, I will remove all links, and sort the hosts in alphabetical order.

1cloud

When registering, you need to transfer personal data and confirm the mail. To register on the site, I had to fill in only 1 required field, not including the payment form. The price indicated on the landing page is not final, in fact it is higher.

Installing a new server took 18 minutes 20 seconds. My metering data is different from the hosting data (4 minutes 14 seconds).

Hosting blocks SMB, port 445. The OS occupies 17.8 GB (vs. 9.87 reference). Bandwidth 10 megabits per second. The network speed was 10 megabits per second in both directions.

You can make checkpoints aka snapshots and manage backups. Snapshots older than 7 days are deleted. The service costs 200 ₽ per month for 1 snapshot. This console does not reflect the current state of the virtual machine. If you turn it off manually through the OS, in this console it will no longer be enabled, it is enabled for the system Therefore, you have to turn off the power for the machine already turned off to be able to start it again.

Refund is possible without any statements, at the expense of replenishment. The application filed March 7. At the time of this writing, no money was returned. To complete the test, I had to turn it off. However, it turned off by means of the OS, although it was not available via RDP.

The server on which the calculation was carried out, cost 2280 ₽. The number of parrots per cost of $ was:

Memory entry	2,411 / 13 place
VP8	0.778 / 10 place
FP64	0.108 / 12th place

The absolute number of parrots was:

Memory entry	5499/13 place
VP8	1776/11 place
FP64	248/13 place

Arubacloud

When registering, you must provide your first and last name, address of residence, including a zip code, telephone number, to confirm your bank card. I had to fill in 10 required fields.

Installing the new server took 5 minutes 40 seconds.

The standard image showed firewall rules that block SMB, AD, and RDP ports. AD and SMB are blocked by hosting both in the external network and in the data center network. The OS occupies 11.2 GB (vs. 9.87 reference).

The hosting provider provides a gigabit network at the very minimum rate for a VDS Windows Server.

You can order backups, load balancers, you can connect up to 3 switches, you can schedule a reboot, shutdown, power off, and access to the VMware vSphere Web Client.

Hosting refuses to return funds.

The server on which the calculation was carried out cost 1825.27 ₽. The funds were written off at the bank exchange rate.

The number of parrots / ₽ AIDA64 on the rental price was:

Memory entry	12.31 / 4 place
VP8	1,143 / 5 place
FP64	12.31 / 8 place

The absolute number of parrots was:

Memory entry	22478/7 place
VP8	2088/6 place
FP64	505/9 place

Cloud4y

When registering, you must provide your residential address, first and last name, phone number.

Installing a new virtual server took more than two days (!).

As a panel for managing virtual machines, they give VMware Director and this is very cool. But access to it was lost twice - the password just stopped coming. This is solved only with technical support tickets.

I transferred my personal data to find out that the SAS HDD and backups cannot be waived, and the price in the configurator is different from the price in the landing page.

I waited about an hour for processing my payment, and when I realized that the payment had not passed, I created a ticket for technical support. The next day, in the morning, the manager called me and explained that all sales are made through them, the managers. I tried to raise the check and said that he would take up my question. The question apparently was resolved, and the manager asked me an e-mail question about which OS should I put on my servers.

Apparently, for the sake of customer convenience, rather than increasing the average bill, a non-informative configurator was invented. Because as it turned out, to the amount of $ 6895.86 to install Windows Server 2016, you need to pay extra - for disk space and for backups. 1614 ₽

Hosting refuses to return funds.

Network speed was a record low of 5 megabits per second. The OS takes 9.87 GB and fits in my benchmark at 9.87.

The server, on which the calculation was carried out, cost 4471.48 ₽.

The number of parrots / rubles AIDA64 on the rental price was:

Memory entry	6.135 / 9th place
VP8	0.546 / 11 place
FP64	0.189 / 10th place

The absolute number of parrots was:

Memory entry	27435/3 place
VP8	2442/4 place
FP64	848/4 place

Cloudlite

When registering, you need to confirm only email.

Installing the new server took 18 minutes.

Judging by the number of points in FP64 and VP8, the hosting provider uses Core processors, not Xeon. It will be even clearer if you look at all the reports that I have collected.

Network speed: 97 megabits per download, 24.3 megabits per download.

Hosting returns the money within a week.

Hosting disk performance in a very strange way. Normally does not allow to write more than 4 GB.

The server on which the calculation was carried out, cost 2528 ₽.

The number of parrots / rubles in AIDA64 on the rental price was:

Memory entry	4,641 / 11 place
VP8	1,339 / 4 place
FP64	0.373 / 3 place

The absolute number of parrots was:

Memory entry	11734/10 place
VP8	3387/1 place
FP64	943/2 place

The total number of parrots at different points in time and graphics are available in the "Performance" section:

FirstVDS

To start using a virtual server, you need to transfer a first and last name, as well as a phone number.

Installing a new server took 4 minutes and 10 seconds.

A virtual machine can only be stopped or started. However, you can manage virtual disks and the network. You can create a local network, connect the drive and upload your image. OS takes 12 GB (against 9.87 reference).

The network speed was 100 megabits per second in both directions.

Hosting refuses to return funds.

The server on which the calculation was carried out, cost 949 ₽.

The number of parrots / rubles in AIDA64 on the rental price was:

Memory entry	11.73 (5th place)
VP8	2.151 (First Place)
FP64	0.365 (4th place)

The absolute number of parrots was:

Memory entry	11141/11 place
VP8	1817/10 place
FP64	347/10 place

Godaddy

When registering, you must provide your first and last name, address (including postal code), telephone number, to confirm the card. In total, we had to fill in 12 required fields, but that's not all!

Two days after registration, I received a letter saying that I am a suspicious type and that if I do not send scans of my passport and credit card, they will ask me. Judging by the reviews on the Internet, this is not an isolated phenomenon.

Installing the new server took 5 minutes and 47 seconds.

In a standard way a lot of probes. Including 2 extra users and 3 extra services (cloudbase-init and two of them are running via Non-Sucking Service Manager). Hosting displays in your personal account information about the consumption of CPU, RAM and disk. Their backdoors allow you to set your administrator password directly from the site.

You can create a local network, connect the drive and upload your image. OS occupies 13.4 GB (against 9.87 reference).

For a week after payment, they withdraw money. It is necessary to get into the settings to disable it. Hosting refuses to return funds.

The server on which the calculation was carried out, cost 2719 ₽.

The number of parrots on the cost in AIDA64 was:

Memory entry	10.59 6th place
VP8	0.953 7th place
FP64	0.318 6th place

The absolute number of parrots was:

Memory entry	28807/2 place
VP8	2593/3 place
FP64	867/3 place

Ihor

When registering, you need to transfer personal data and confirm the mail. To register on the site, I had to fill in 1 required field, not including the payment form. The price specified in the landing, incorrect - in fact, is misleading.

It is impossible to deploy AD on hosting, it is blocked by hosting. All the memory on the hosting, apparently, is balun.

On virtual VDS with Windows hosting installs trial versions of the OS. License for a fee (2650 ₽).

Registration of return is possible without statements within 10 days. The application was filed on March 7, the money at the time of this writing did not come.


A separate link is provided for managing virtual servers. Standard on / off and restart buttons are available, and VNC, which I already called KVM.

OS occupies 12.4 GB (against 9.87 reference).

The server on which the calculation was carried out, cost 600 ₽. The number of parrots / rubles AIDA64 on the rental price was:

Memory entry	0.697 / 14 place
VP8	0,331 / 14 place
FP64	0.051 / 14 place

The absolute number of parrots was:

Memory entry	488/14 place
VP8	232/14 place
FP64	36/14 place

The only provider whose results before and after turning off the server are very different.

Ovh

When registering, you must provide your first and last name, address (including postal code), telephone number, to confirm the card.

In the control panel, you can register a PTR record. You need to manually complete the installation via iBMC, aka KVM, aka VNC, as we are on the welcome screen (OOBE).

Hosting allocates 3.9 GB of RAM statically and takes 100 megabytes. Pro 4 GB on the landing is not true.

Judging by the number of points in FP64, hosting uses Core processors, rather than Xeon. The average memory latency was 21.5 ns, which is unlike DDR4 ECC. Based on the FP64 charts, hosting gives 4 days of the odds on the deployment of all applications, and after that its real work begins. I recommend to get acquainted with the full table of results.

OS occupies 10.9 GB (against 9.87 reference).

Hosting changed the size of the paging file to 512 MB. Hosting is blocking SMB. To complete the review, I had to persuade the support to unlock my server, because My server was stopped for an "attack on other people's resources." An LDAP port 389 was used as an amplifier.

I will miss this terrible battle between me and support.

Hosting refuses to return funds.

The server on which the calculation was carried out, cost 1818.15 ₽.

The number of parrots / rubles AIDA64 on the rental price was:

Memory entry	19.27 / 2 place
VP8	1,634 / 3 place
FP64	0.558 / 2 place

The absolute number of parrots was:

Memory entry	35052 / First place
VP8	2972/2 place
FP64	1016 / First place

RUVDS

When registering, you need to confirm the mail - this is the only required field (not counting the form of payment).

Installing the new server took 10 minutes.

The standard image showed an extra service, extra certificates that signed this service and firewall rules for this service (Hyper-V Server Manager).

OS occupies a record low 5.82 GB (vs. 9.87 benchmarks).

The network speed was 500 megabits per download and 100 megabits per return.

The on, off and reboot buttons are available. You can order backups.

After making a full refund, the money was returned on the 10th day after the application was submitted.

The server on which the calculation was carried out, cost 1166 ₽.

The number of parrots / rubles AIDA64 on the rental price was:

Memory entry	23.17 / First place
VP8	1,635 / 2 place
FP64	0.571 / First place

The absolute number of parrots was:

Memory entry	27017/4 place
VP8	1907/8 place
FP64	666/6 place

Servers.ru

When registering, you need to confirm the email and provide passport information along with the phone number. To get started, you need to bind a card. The cost of the operation - 100 ₽.

Billing - 100% postpay. Money is written off at the end of the month upon use.

Installing the new server took 22 minutes. The standard image found 2 extra services (OpenSSH and Cloudbase-init) and an extra user (Cloudbase-init).

OS occupies 10.4 GB (against 9.87 reference).

Hosting provides a gigabit network even at the minimum rate - this is the only hosting with gigabit. But no, Yandex is also gigabit.

In your account, you can order a backup and register a PTR-record.

The server on which the calculation was carried out, cost 2440 ₽.

The number of parrots / rubles AIDA64 on the rental price was:

Memory entry	10.09 / 7 place
VP8	0.862 / 9th place
FP64	0,293 / 7 place

The absolute number of parrots was:

Memory entry	24620/6 place
VP8	2105/5 place
FP64	716/5 place

Timeweb

When registering you need to confirm email And that's all.

Installing the new server took 22 minutes. It is necessary to complete it through VNC, since after installation we get to OOBE.

In your account, you can order a backup and register a PTR-record.

Refund is subject to the removal of all servers, followed by blocking of the account.

Judging by the graphs, hosting resorts to performance limitations of servers that consume even 50% of the total leased capacity.

The server on which the calculation was carried out, cost 1610 ₽.

Attention! In this case, two kernels are intentionally disabled. This company sells configurations ranging from 4 RAM with only 4 processor cores, and they were disabled to match the configuration of other hosting sites. Therefore, the comparison is not correct, and, some multi-threaded results can almost be safely multiplied by two.

The number of parrot-rubles AIDA64 on the rental price was:

Memory entry	6,844 (8 place
VP8	0.866 (8th place
FP64	0,211 (9 place

The absolute number of parrots was:

Memory entry	11024/12 place
VP8	1395/12 place
FP64	340/12 place

Ultravds

When registering, you need to transfer personal data, confirm the phone number and mail. To register on the site had to fill 12 required fields, not counting the form of payment.

Installing the new server took 2 minutes and 49 seconds.

In the standard image, there was an extra service, extra certificates that signed this service and firewall rules for this service (Hyper-V server manager).

OS occupies 17.6 GB (against 9.87 reference).

The network speed was 300 megabits per second.

After making a full refund, the money was returned on the 10th day after the application was submitted.

The server on which the calculation was carried out, cost 1330 ₽.

The number of parrots / rubles AIDA64 on the rental price was:

Memory entry	15.94 / 3 place
VP8	0.970 / 6 place
FP64	0.319 / 5 place

The absolute number of parrots was:

Memory entry	21211/8 place
VP8	1290.5 / 13 place
FP64	425.5 / 9th place

Vps.net

When registering, you must submit a full name, confirm the mailbox, card number and phone number. To register on the site, I had to fill in 11 required fields, not counting the form of payment.

If you are going to try, then do not forget that 7 days before the end of the payment you will be billed, which later themselves will be paid. Pay it even if you do not have active servers. You can disable it in the personal settings: "Do not send me invoices".

The server fell on the second day of use. Record remained in the system log.

Installing the new server took 11 minutes and 4 seconds, this is different from the data of the host (10 minutes exactly). OS occupies 14.3 GB (against 9.87 reference).

The network speed is about 400 megabits per second.

The standard image showed an extra service, extra certificates that signed this service, and firewall rules for this service (CYGWIN, Non-Sucking Service Manager) and an extra user, sshd and cyg_server. Both are admins.

Hosting refuses to return funds.

Attention! To obtain normalized values, two cores are intentionally disabled. This company sells configurations ranging from 4 RAM with only 4 processor cores, and they were disabled to match the configuration of other hosting sites. Therefore, the comparison is not correct and some multi-threaded results can be almost safely multiplied by two.

The server on which the calculation was carried out, cost 3762,58 ₽.

The number of parrots / rubles AIDA64 on the rental price was:

Memory entry	3,529 / 12 place
VP8	0.482 / 12 place
FP64	0.080 / 13 place

The absolute number of parrots was:

Memory entry	13279/9 place
VP8	1817/10 place
FP64	302/12 place

Yandex Compute Cloud

To take part in the sacraments of Yandex Cloud, you must first register Yandex.Passport, enable SMS authentication, and confirm the phone number. To start a user, you need to register a new payer, confirm the card and transfer the full name. To confirm the debit card, they took off and immediately returned a record low 2 ₽.

Installing the new server took 5 minutes. The standard image showed an extra user and service (Cloudbase-init). But there is nothing wrong with that.

The network speed was 1 gigabit at the lowest rate.

Information about the return of funds is not found. Technical support paid, did not turn.

VNC or KVM is not. A virtual machine can only be stopped or started. However, you can manage virtual disks and the network. You can create a local network, connect the drive and upload your image. OS takes 12.3 GB (against 9.87 reference).

Due to the billing, which they chose, the correct calculation of the cost on the same conditions as for other hosting sites is impossible. The total cost of my server for 3 weeks of use was $ 5,104.78. From this amount, I will proceed. I have chosen a reserve of 5%.

The number of parrot-rubles AIDA64 on the rental price was:

Memory entry	5.164 (10th place)
VP8	0.367 (13th place)
FP64	0.130 (11th place)

The absolute number of parrots was:

Memory entry	27435/3 place
VP8	2442/4 place
FP64	848/4 place

The total number of parrots at different points in time and graphics are available in the "Performance" section.

Inoventica (out of rating)

At registration, you need to confirm the mail. That’s all.

Installing the new server took 21 minutes.

OS occupies 10.3 GB (against 9.87 reference).

Acquaintance with hosting began with the fall. Immediately after this crash, there were 2 viruses on the server disguised as anydesk and sqlserver, Windows had to be reinstalled. And even after reinstalling the OS and updating it, it still fell and became infected. He fell constantly, but because of the wild overcell, the OS memory was loaded no further than on the recovery screen.

Launched in memory, Aida’s memory stress test did not receive all the 4 GB of RAM I had ordered, but received only 2.4 GB.

The network speed was 420 megabits per second per download and 62.93 per return.

To return the money, you need to write a complex statement in writing and attach a scan of your passport.

The review of this hosting was not set because it fell every day. I woke up in the morning to check if the server is lying or not. I attach all the results that I received. Blank charts do not include downtime, these are reports that were missed by a half-hour timeout. Stress testing hosting was not conducted.

I sincerely hope that this company will stop providing services.

The server on which the calculation was carried out, cost 2190 ₽. The number of parrots / rubles AIDA64 on the rental price was:

Memory entry	0/15 place
VP8	0/15 place
FP64	0/15 place

The absolute number of parrots was:

Memory entry	0/15 place
VP8	0/15 place
FP64	0/15 place

Results

Top absolute parrots:

	Memory write speed		vp8		FP64
one	ovh.ca	35052	cloudlite	3387	ovh.ca	1016
2	godaddy	28807	ovh.ca	2972	cloudlite	943
3	cloud4y	27435	godaddy	2593	godaddy	867
four	ruvds	27017	cloud4y	2442	cloud4y	848
five	yandex	26367	servers.ru	2105	servers.ru	716
6	servers.ru	24620	arubacloud	2088	ruvds	666
7	arubacloud	22478	firstvds	2042	yandex	664
eight	ultravds	21211	ruvds	1907	arubacloud	505
9	vps.net	13279	yandex	1876	ultravds	425.5
ten	cloudlite	11733	vps.net	1817	firstvds	347
eleven	firstvds	11141	1cloud	1776	timeweb	340
12	timeweb	11020	timeweb	1395	vps.net	302
13	1cloud	5499	ultravds	1290.5	1cloud	248
14	ihor	488	ihor	232	ihor	36
15	Inoventica	0	Inoventica	0	Inoventica	0

Top chopped parrots:

	Memory write speed		vp8		FP64
one	ruvds	23,170669	firstvds	2.151739	ruvds	0.571184
2	ovh.ca	19,2789374	ruvds	1.635506	ovh.ca	0.55881
3	ultravds	15,9481203	ovh.ca	1.6334629	cloudlite	0.373022
four	arubacloud	12,3148904	cloudlite	1,339794	firstvds	0.365648
five	firstvds	11,739726	arubacloud	1,14394	ultravds	0.319925
6	godaddy	10,5947039	ultravds	0.970301	godaddy	0.318867
7	servers.ru	10.0901639	godaddy	0,953659	servers.ru	0.293443
eight	timeweb	6,8447205	timeweb	0.86646	arubacloud	0.276671
9	cloud4y	6,13555243	servers.ru	0.862705	timeweb	0.21118
ten	yandex	5.16515893	1cloud	0.778947	cloud4y	0.189646
eleven	cloudlite	4.64121835	cloud4y	0.546128	yandex	0,130074
12	vps.net	3,52922729	vps.net	0.482913	1cloud	0.108772
13	1cloud	2,41184211	yandex	0.367499	vps.net	0.080264
14	ihor	0.69714286	ihor	0.331429	ihor	0.051429
15	Inoventica	0	Inoventica	0	Inoventica	0

I summed up the results of 3 tables of chopped parrots and derived the average. So, among the foreign VPS hosting OVH - a clear leader, both in price and performance. In the overall standings he has second place. Among Russian providers, the first place went to RUVDS, it is the first in the overall standings - apparently, we will try to continue with it.

Hoster name	Average score	Final place
ruvds	1.0	one
ovh.ca	2.3	2
firstvds	3.3	3
ultravds	4.7	four
arubacloud	5.7	five
cloudlite	6.0	6
godaddy	6.3	7
servers.ru	7.7	eight
timeweb	8.3	9
cloud4y	10.0	ten
yandex	11.3	eleven
1cloud	11.7	12
vps.net	12.3	13
ihor	14.0	14
Inoventica	15	15

→ All files with reports (4.8 MB)

And you know what I will tell you? My tests inspire hope - Russian hosting understand that life is changing, and you need to meet the requirements of business users and not be happy that customers themselves are running due to adverse conditions. So, there is hope for a real SLA! Will live :)