DEDICATED SERVER VIETNAM

Yes, VinaHost allows flexible server upgrades at any time without migration. You can upgrade:

1. RAM – Add 8GB modules starting from $10/month;
2. CPU – Upgrade to 6-core ($25/month), 8-core ($35/month), or 14-core ($95/month) processors;
3. Storage – Add SSD drives (240GB-2TB from $10-$65/month) or HDD drives (1TB-4TB from $10-$35/month);
4. Bandwidth – Increase from 100Mbps to 1Gbps ($70/month) or 900Mbps ($585/month);
5. IP Addresses – Add additional IPv4 ($5/month) or IPv6 ($1.50/month).

Upgrades are typically completed within 24-48 hours. This scalability ensures your server grows with your business needs without requiring expensive hardware replacement or data migration.

Server activation time depends on your configuration choice:

1. Standard Packages – Pre-configured servers are typically activated within 2-4 hours after payment confirmation;
2. Custom Configuration – If you require custom hardware specifications (specific CPU, RAM, or storage combinations), our technical team will consult with you on your needs. Custom builds are completed within 24-48 hours;

After activation, you receive full server credentials including IP address, root access, and remote management interface. Our team also provides initial configuration support to ensure your server is production-ready.

VinaHost supports a wide range of operating systems to meet diverse application requirements:

1. Linux Distributions – CentOS (7, 8, Stream), Ubuntu (18.04, 20.04, 22.04 LTS), Debian (9, 10, 11), AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, and openSUSE;
2. Windows Server – Windows Server 2012, 2016, 2019, and 2022 editions (Standard and Datacenter);
3. Specialized OS – FreeBSD, Fedora Server, and other distributions upon request.

VinaHost technical team provides initial OS installation with default configuration or connects installation media for custom setup. For Linux servers, we can pre-install popular web hosting control panels (Sentora, Vesta, cPanel, Plesk, DirectAdmin) along with essential services like Apache/Nginx web servers, MySQL/PostgreSQL databases, and PHP/Python environments. OS license costs (Windows Server, RHEL) are additional.

VinaHost servers support all major control panels, giving you flexibility in server management:

1. Free Control Panels – aaPanel (lightweight, modern UI, ideal for VPS and entry servers), Webmin/Virtualmin (feature-rich for advanced users), HestiaCP (stable fork of VestaCP with regular updates), CentOS Web Panel (CWP), and Ajenti;
2. Paid Control Panels – cPanel/WHM (industry standard, most popular, extensive plugin ecosystem, excellent support but higher cost at ~$15-45/month), Plesk (cross-platform supporting both Windows and Linux, great for agencies managing multiple clients, ~$10-30/month), DirectAdmin (lightweight, stable, cost-effective at ~$5-15/month, very popular in Vietnam).

VinaHost provides installation support for these control panels. Your choice depends on your budget, technical expertise, and specific feature requirements. All panels simplify tasks like domain management, email accounts, databases, SSL certificates, and backups through user-friendly web interfaces.

Since customers receive full root access and control over their dedicated servers, VinaHost does not automatically backup your data by default. However, multiple backup solutions are available:

1. Control Panel Backups – Enable automatic backup features built into cPanel, Plesk, or DirectAdmin to schedule regular backups to local storage or remote destinations;
2. VinaHost Backup Service – Subscribe to our professional Data Backup solution starting from 25,500 VND ($1.25 USD) per month for 10GB of backup storage. This service includes automated scheduled backups, secure offsite storage in separate datacenters, and easy restoration;
3. DIY Backup Solutions – Configure your own backup scripts using rsync, duplicity, or BorgBackup to external storage providers;
4. Snapshot Backup – For VPS and Cloud Servers, instant snapshots are available. As a best practice, we strongly recommend implementing a 3-2-1 backup strategy: 3 copies of data, on 2 different media types, with 1 copy offsite.

VinaHost provides comprehensive hardware warranty and replacement at no additional cost. Our hardware failure protocol includes:

1. Proactive Monitoring – 24/7 automated monitoring systems detect hardware issues (failing drives, memory errors, overheating) before they cause downtime;
2. Immediate Notification – You receive instant alerts via email and SMS when hardware problems are detected;
3. Free Replacement – Faulty components (hard drives, RAM, power supplies, motherboards) are replaced immediately at no charge during your service period;
4. Hot-Swap Capability – Many components can be replaced without server shutdown, minimizing downtime;
5. RAID Protection – Servers with RAID configurations continue operating even when a drive fails, allowing zero-downtime drive replacement.

Average hardware replacement time is 2-4 hours. For mission-critical applications, we recommend RAID configurations and our High Availability (HA) setup with failover servers to ensure business continuity even during hardware maintenance.

Each server type serves different needs and budgets:

1. Dedicated Server – An entire physical server exclusively for you. Provides maximum performance, complete hardware control, highest security, and consistent resources. Best for: large e-commerce sites, ERP/CRM systems, high-traffic applications, gaming servers, and businesses requiring strict compliance. Price: $94-$344/month;
2. Cloud Server – Virtual server with resources allocated from a pool of physical servers. Offers instant scalability, pay-as-you-grow pricing, and easy resource adjustment. Best for: growing businesses, applications with variable traffic, development/testing environments. Price: $10-$100/month;
3. VPS (Virtual Private Server) – Virtual server on shared hardware with guaranteed dedicated resources. Cost-effective middle ground between shared hosting and dedicated servers. Best for: small businesses, personal projects, learning server administration. Price: $5-$50/month.

Choose Dedicated Server when you need maximum performance, complete control, and can’t compromise on security. Choose Cloud/VPS for flexibility, lower entry costs, and scalable growth.

Yes, VinaHost fully supports BYOL (Bring Your Own License) for all software categories. You can use your own licenses for:

1. Operating Systems – Windows Server (Standard/Datacenter editions), Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, and other commercial OS distributions;
2. Databases – Microsoft SQL Server (Standard/Enterprise), Oracle Database, MySQL Enterprise Edition, PostgreSQL Enterprise, IBM Db2;
3. Control Panels – cPanel/WHM, Plesk, DirectAdmin, WHMCS (bring your own license or purchase through VinaHost);
4. Applications – Adobe Creative Cloud server apps, Autodesk server software, SAP, Microsoft Exchange Server, and any other commercial software.

VinaHost provides trial versions or evaluation copies during initial installation, but customers must activate their own licenses for continued use. If you don’t have existing licenses, VinaHost can assist with license procurement. Using your own licenses can significantly reduce monthly costs, especially for Windows Server and enterprise database systems, making dedicated servers more cost-effective for businesses with existing licensing agreements.

Yes, VinaHost’s dedicated servers fully support hypervisor installation, allowing you to create your own virtualization infrastructure or private cloud. Supported hypervisor platforms include:

1. VMware ESXi – Industry-leading enterprise virtualization, stable and feature-rich, ideal for production environments, supports vMotion and HA clustering;
2. Proxmox VE – Open-source Debian-based platform supporting both KVM (full virtualization) and LXC (containers), excellent web-based management interface, perfect for cost-conscious businesses;
3. XenServer / XCP-ng – Open-source alternative to Citrix XenServer, great for cloud infrastructure and multi-tenant hosting;
4. Microsoft Hyper-V – Native hypervisor for Windows Server environments, tight integration with Microsoft ecosystem, ideal for organizations using Windows infrastructure;
5. OpenNebula / oVirt – Open-source cloud computing platforms for building private clouds.

For hypervisor deployments, we recommend servers with higher core counts, ample RAM (64GB+), and fast SSD storage. If you need specific hypervisor configurations, provide documentation to our technical team for deployment assistance. Contact sales to verify your desired configuration supports virtualization features (Intel VT-x/AMD-V, IOMMU).

Follow these strategies to maximize value and minimize dedicated server costs:

Right-Size Your Configuration – Accurately assess your actual resource needs. Avoid over-provisioning CPU/RAM that sits idle. Start with adequate specs and upgrade later as needed;

1. Choose Appropriate Service Level – Don’t pay for managed services if you have in-house technical expertise. Conversely, managed services can save money by preventing costly mistakes and downtime;
2. Select Optimal Server Type – Consider VPS ($5-50/month) or Cloud Server ($10-100/month) instead of Dedicated Server if you don’t need exclusive hardware. These options provide good performance at lower costs with easy scalability;
3. Commit to Longer Terms – Monthly plans offer flexibility but cost more. Quarterly, semi-annual, or annual contracts typically offer 10-30% discounts;
4. Monitor Resource Utilization – Use monitoring tools to track CPU, RAM, and bandwidth usage. Downgrade if consistently underutilized (>30% idle capacity);
5. Optimize Bandwidth – Most applications don’t need 1Gbps. The standard 100Mbps with unlimited transfer suits most websites and applications;
6. Skip Unnecessary Add-ons – Evaluate if you truly need extra IP addresses, premium backup storage, or DDoS protection. Add these only when necessary;
7. Use Free Alternatives – Choose free control panels (aaPanel, HestiaCP) instead of cPanel ($15-45/month), use open-source software (MariaDB vs MySQL Enterprise, Nginx vs commercial load balancers).

Example: A typical business can save $50-200/month by right-sizing resources, choosing annual billing, and using open-source software alternatives.