Insights, tutorials, and updates from the CoolVDS team
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 has shifted the battlefield from Xen to KVM. We analyze the kernel-level differences, I/O scheduling, and why 'containers' like OpenVZ might be killing your database performance.
Is 'The Cloud' just marketing fluff? We analyze the shift from dedicated iron to virtualization, the rise of KVM, and why keeping your data in Norway beats the US Patriot Act risks.
Your server load is spiking, but you don't know why. Learn how to wield `tail`, `awk`, and Apache logs to debug issues instantly, and why high I/O storage matters for logging.
Is your application choking on 'unlimited' shared hosting? We break down the technical migration to VDS, covering rsync strategies, Xen virtualization, and optimizing I/O for high-load reliability.
Shared hosting is a liability. Discover why businesses are migrating to Xen and KVM virtualization, how to optimize MySQL 5.1 for heavy loads, and why latency to NIX (Oslo) matters more than raw bandwidth.
Script kiddies and LOIC attacks don't care about your uptime. Learn to harden your Linux stack with iptables, Nginx tuning, and kernel tweaks before the next SYN flood hits.
WordPress 3.0 "Thelonious" has just dropped. It merges MU and brings custom post types, but it demands more than standard shared hosting can give. Here is the 2010 systems architect's guide to sub-second loads using Nginx, APC, and Varnish.
Is your pager buzzing at 3 AM? Stop reacting to downtime and start predicting it. We dive into Nagios 3 configuration, interpreting Linux iowait, and why hardware stability in Oslo matters for your uptime.
Stop script kiddies and botnets cold. We dive deep into stateful packet inspection, fail2ban configurations, and kernel-level security for serious Norwegian deployments.
RAID is not a backup. If you accidentally drop a database table at 3 AM, mirroring just replicates the error instantly. Here is how to architect a fail-safe backup strategy using rsync, automysqlbackup, and Norwegian remote storage.
Packet sniffers are getting smarter. Here is how to implement 2048-bit RSA encryption on Apache and Nginx without killing your server's CPU load averages.
DNS is the single most overlooked bottleneck in Norwegian hosting. Learn how to configure BIND 9 for speed, navigate Norid regulations, and why your nameserver location defines your performance.
In 2009, using plain FTP is professional negligence. We analyze the packet-level risks, configuration nuances on CentOS 5, and why SFTP is the only compliant choice for Norwegian data standards.
Stop battling 'noisy neighbors' and Apache overhead. Learn how to optimize PHP 5.3, tune MySQL buffers, and leverage Xen virtualization for low-latency performance in Norway.
Is Apache eating your RAM? We benchmark the industry standard against the rising star, Nginx, to see which server handles high concurrency in the Nordic infrastructure.
Is your database locking up under load? Forget throwing more RAM at the problem. Here is the battle-tested my.cnf configuration to handle high concurrency on Norwegian infrastructure.
Is your Apache server ready for a massive traffic spike? Learn how to implement HAProxy 1.3 for robust load balancing, reduce downtime, and why hardware isolation matters for Norwegian businesses.
Still using plain FTP? You are broadcasting passwords in cleartext. Here is how to lock down your server using SFTP and OpenSSH chroots on CentOS 5 and Debian Lenny.
Default CentOS installs are a security nightmare. Learn the essential iptables rules, SSH hardening techniques, and kernel tweaks required to survive the hostile internet of 2009. Don't let a brute-force botnet turn your server into a zombie.
Is mod_php eating your RAM? Learn how to implement the PHP-FPM patch with Nginx to handle high concurrency without melting your server. A 2009 guide to high-performance VPS tuning.
Stop relying on manual 'cp -r' for disaster recovery. Learn the 2009 industry standards for automated backup strategies using rsync, cron, and off-site replication to satisfy Datatilsynet.
Stop gambling with oversold resources. We analyze the Xen hypervisor architecture (Dom0 vs DomU), Paravirtualization performance, and why serious Systems Administrators in Norway are ditching containers for true hardware isolation.
As we approach 2010, the "Cloud" buzzword is shifting IT budgets. We analyze why moving from physical SANs to VDS-based storage improves TCO and I/O performance in Norway.
A default Linux install is a sitting duck. From iptables configuration to securing SSH, here is how we harden CentOS and Debian servers against brute-force attacks and script kiddies.
Stop relying on 'security through obscurity'. Learn to deploy a hardened OpenVPN endpoint on CentOS 5, manage TUN/TAP interfaces correctly, and secure your Oslo-Kyiv data pipeline against snooping.
Is Apache's memory footprint killing your swap? We compare the industry standard against the event-driven challenger, Lighttpd, to see which web server rules the Norwegian hosting market in 2009.
Sending passwords in cleartext is professional suicide. With the recent Gumblar exploits targeting FTP, we detail how to lock down your Norwegian VPS using OpenSSH's chroot features.
Tired of 'noisy neighbors' killing your database performance? We break down why KVM virtualization on Linux 2.6 is superior to container-based legacy systems, and how to tune I/O schedulers for maximum throughput.
Public Wi-Fi is a minefield for packet sniffers. Learn how to deploy a secure OpenVPN server in Norway using 2048-bit RSA keys and Xen virtualization to protect your traffic.
Is Apache choking your server's memory? We benchmark Apache Prefork against Lighttpd's event-driven architecture to see which web server rules the 2009 hosting landscape.