Windows VPS

[Simon]

Probably an incredible small audience for this post.

However, I'm looking to move a crucial app for my workstream into the cloud and off my own PC. I simply need a Windows host with some ACLs wrapped around it in an ultra reliable DC somewhere either in Europe or the US. The apps footprint is only a few hundred MB and very low CPU use. It basically idles until it sees I've done something and then does a small action from that.

I need a web interface onto the VPS too. No RDP preferably.

I used to work for the company that hosts OV9 but we didn't do Windows, only Linux. Don't think that's changed since I left.

Any recommendations?

[Matty]

OVH do do Windows hosting, but it aint cheap due to the Windows server licence. They do BYOI but only on dedicated hardware.

I think it's the same with the other companies I was looking at (Hetzner, and Netcup). Some said Netcup do BYOI on a VPS, but I can't find it.

[Simon]

Thanks Matty. Do BYOI hosts generally care about your licensing? I only really need Windows 11, not server, so either a pre-provided Win11 or a BYOI (I have a few licenses kicking around).

[Beany]

If you can get a Windows ISO (ideally with KVM virtio drivers slipstreamed in) hosted on a basic http server somewhere (Even your own network if you're comfy opening some ports for a while) then Mythic Beasts VPSs will let you point their systems at that. I don't know if they let you upload it through a web interface, but I'm pretty sure they let you specify and http/s location.

https://www.mythic-beasts.com/support/s ... irtual/iso

Fair warning though - you'll need to do some reading up on installing Windows in a VPS, and I'd *strongly* recommend seeing if your app can run in some of the cut-down windows 10 or maybe even Windows 8 custom isos - you won't need as much RAM then.

I'm struggling to think of anyone who does cheap, simple windows VPSs that auto-config etc out of the box. In terms of detail setup, I leave that as an exercise for the reader - it's genuinely been too long since I've done it. I couldn't even tell you how to slipstream an ISO with drivers these days, perhaps speak to an LLM?

I will say Mythic are a good company to host with though; knowledgeable, technically oriented support, reliably platform, good bandwidth etc. We've got a few chunky dedi hosts with them for larger library setups, and use their VPSs for basic MySQL replica hosting where appropriate (where they're pretty cheap and perform perfectly well)

[Matty]

Thing is most hosting is geared around Windows server, not Windows Desktop. Hetzner even has a page that says they do not allow Windows desktop images on their hosting.

Looking at Mythic Beast, they don't seem to care what you upload, so that might be an option.
Otherwise it gets expensive as you're looking at MS's own virtual desktop

Just a thought, but is a hosted docker container viable? Apparently you can run some kind of cut down Windows OS in them. Never tried, but might be an idea if you only need really basic functionality.

[tim]

Is the app something that could be wrapped in an Azure Function?

[Simon]

Thanks everyone.

@Matty and @Beany Yup, I'll look at Mythic Beast. It sucks because my requirement is so low from a CPU and RAM perspective. I just want it in the cloud to remove 'my internet' from the reliability aspect. As yes I could back it up with a 4G backup, if the area loses power then everything is unavailable, cell towers included.

Don't know if a hosted docker container is viable. I don't know how well they can 'emulate' a windows desktop.

Same goes to @tim - I didn't write the app, so not sure!

[DeskJockey]

What is the uptime requirement? Can whatever it is doing not survive if there's an outage of a couple of hours?

Alternatively, could you hang a small PC off a friend's internet connection as a backup option? Someone that lives far enough away that if they're also impacted we've got bigger fish to fry? <£100 will buy you 1L desktop with an i5 and 8GB ram. It'll run Windows 11 without any hassle.

A bit janky, but likely to be a much cheaper solution.