Greetings everyone. The management has tasked us with relocating a portion of our IT infrastructure to Europe. Specifically, we need to move our 1c system which is currently operating on a virtual machine powered by 2*xeon 2620 v4 processors and serving about 200 users. To achieve this, we plan to employ an MS hypervisor and an ipsec tunnel to connect to the central office.

In terms of potential hosting providers, I have evaluated several options including OVH, Hetzner, Sim-Networks, Leaseweb, and Softlayer. However, I have come across some negative reviews for each of them - ranging from poor technical support to account security issues.

Although I acknowledge that reviews are subjective and influenced by individual experiences, I would prefer to start with a less complicated solution. Perhaps, renting a cheap dedicated server to test the waters before committing to a more powerful one would be a good idea.

Do you have any suggestions or recommendations? Thank you.

My experience working with the Deac datacenter in Latvia was nothing but positive. In addition, I agree with the previous comment that it is possible to pay for services provided by foreign datacenters. It's worth considering which option poses a greater risk - dealing with potential pitfalls domestically or taking the leap with a provider located overseas.

AEZA offers servers for personal use with the option of setting up a VPN. Aside from the Netherlands, you can also choose to have your server located in Germany or Australia. Their basic package provides 4GB of RAM for only $7 per month, and the server can be installed with Ubuntu (including 22.04), Debian, CentOS, RockyLinux, Alma Linux, Astra, or FreeBSD. Additionally, AEZA accepts cryptocurrency as payment.

One notable feature of this service is the ability to install additional software upon setup, including OpenVPN and WireGuard. Configuration files can be generated via prepared scripts located in the home folder. By registering through the provided link, users can receive a +15% top-up bonus on their account. Promo code LOSST150VPN can also be used for an additional $3 balance.

The virtualization technology utilized by AEZA is KVM, with a single-core Ryzen processor, 4GB of RAM, and 90GB of disk space available in the server package.

Based on your requirements and concerns, I can provide some suggestions for your situation.

Firstly, renting a cheap dedicated server to test the waters can indeed be a good idea. This will allow you to evaluate the performance, reliability, and support of the hosting provider without fully committing to a more powerful solution. It can also give you an opportunity to gather firsthand experience and address any potential issues before moving your entire infrastructure.

In terms of hosting providers, while negative reviews can be a concern, it's important to remember that experiences can vary. It might be worth considering providers that have generally positive feedback and a good reputation in the industry. Among the options you mentioned, OVH and Softlayer (now IBM Cloud) have been known to provide reliable hosting services and have a wide range of offerings suitable for different needs.

Additionally, consider looking into popular cloud service providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform (GCP). These providers have a strong presence in Europe, offer a variety of hosting options including virtual machines, and have extensive network infrastructure to support secure connectivity.

Ultimately, the choice depends on your specific requirements, budget, and comfort level with a particular provider. It might be helpful to explore their offerings further, compare pricing, read more reviews, and even reach out to their sales or support teams to get a better understanding of their services and how they can meet your needs.

hosting providers to consider:

1. DigitalOcean: Known for its simplicity and ease of use, DigitalOcean offers virtual servers called "Droplets" that can be easily deployed and managed. They have data centers in Europe and provide competitive pricing.

2. Linode: Linode is another popular cloud hosting provider that offers virtual servers with data centers in multiple locations, including Europe. They have a reputation for strong performance and reliable infrastructure.

3. Vultr: Vultr is known for its high-performance cloud servers at affordable prices. They have data centers worldwide, including several locations in Europe. They also offer a simplified control panel for easy management.

4. Scaleway: Scaleway provides both bare metal and virtual cloud servers, allowing you to choose the level of performance and customization you need. They have data centers in Europe and offer competitive pricing options.

5. Hetzner Cloud: While you mentioned experiencing negative reviews for Hetzner, it's worth considering their cloud hosting service separately from their dedicated servers. Hetzner Cloud offers scalable and flexible virtual servers with data centers in Germany and Finland.