I need recommendation for cheap VPS that I will use to host gramps only. Gramps is selfhosted app for building family tree.
I tested gramps in docker container on my home server and its awesome, check it out. My home server is not open to public (accessing it using wireguard only) and I would like to give access to some family members (3-4) for gramps. I thought its best to pay for cheap VPS and run gramps only to avoid any security issues on my home network.
I believe performance and storage requirements fit in any cheapest model, but not sure which VPS is the easiest to setup. I have my own domain from porkbun, but I have never set SSL certs properly before and I have never used VPS. I see this as a great opportunity to learn, but also to make some family members happy <3
I'm eying servercheap.com and it says in description "1 IPv4", but then it offers "Add'l Ipv4 Addresses" for 9$. I'm bit lost here and I'm not even sure do I need IPv4 address. Maybe I can run duckdns or ddclient to avoid additional cost?
How is your experience with servercheap? Is there anything better for similar price?
Also, any tips for building server like that are appreciated. I was thinking Debian 11 + gramps in docker container since I'm familiar with that setup.
Considering the small audience and purpose, I would not have any problem using the always free offerings of either Oracle or Google (the latter especially if located in the US).
I’m eying servercheap.com and it says in description “1 IPv4”, but then it offers “Add’l Ipv4 Addresses” for 9$. I’m bit lost here and I’m not even sure do I need IPv4 address. Maybe I can run duckdns or ddclient to avoid additional cost?
You should have an IPv4 address unless you're sure everyone who needs to access it has working IPv6 access or you don't mind setting up 6to4/6in4 at the locations that don't (or complain to ISPs until they fix it). The one should be fine.
I don't have VPS recommendations, but may I suggest using a VPS as a proxy to your home server (running gramps) through wireguard? The lower system requirements would allow you to choose a cheaper server, and the fact that the server is only a proxy would simplify the process of moving to a different VPS if you need to.
So, I've done exactly this with gramps. I used a NUC running proxmox at my home.
I created a very simple https server with turnkey nginx running on the NUC proxmox instance. I host the gramps database exports there via a simple HTML page.
Tied it to a domain name and sent the link to my family, with instructions to install gramps and import the database.
Thx for input. Do you not recommend running gramps as web service for some reason? Reading comments here it seems like desktop app is main way of using it and I wasn't aware. Docker container is running fine, but looks like its missing some polish
I'd recommend racknerd. Their black Friday pricing is available year round and they have super good annual pricing on some of their VPS options https://www.racknerd.com/BlackFriday/
What makes it different from running official docker container? This demo login screen looks exactly the same, but doesnt work tho. Screenshot from the link looks the same as well
I don't understand what you mean by "official docker container" because Gramps is desktop software and doesn't have a container. The GrampsWeb / Gramps.js is the web interface for browsing it, that can run in a Docker container, but is developed separately.
I think a small linode is 12 bucks a month, and putting cloud flare in front it is free. Can add some s3 storage for a few more bucks too. They also have a free firewall you can use outside of the VMs.