Servers & Infrastructure
Hosting, deployment, self-hosting, and running production infrastructure.
34 Articles
Hetzner vs netcup (2026): Prices, Performance and Contracts Compared Honestly
Hetzner vs netcup: on October 9, 2026 we pulled every VPS price straight from both providers, compared contract terms, traffic rules and dedicated cores, and benchmarked our own Hetzner servers. With worked examples, small-print traps and a clear recommendation.
What Is RAID? RAID 0, 1, 5, 6 and 10 Explained, With Real Tests (2026)
What is RAID? A plain-English guide to RAID 0, 1, 5, 6 and 10: how they work, how much space you keep, why RAID is not a backup and what happens during a rebuild. Includes mdadm tests where RAID 1 copied a corrupted mirror over the good one.
3-2-1 Backup Strategy for Servers: A restic Guide with Real Tests (2026)
The 3-2-1 backup strategy for Linux servers explained: three copies, two media, one offsite. With restic in practice, a ransomware test, restore timings and the gaps we found on our own server.
How to Create a Cron Job: crontab Guide with Real Tests (2026)
Create a cron job on Linux: crontab -e, the five time fields, examples, logs, environment variables, preventing overlap and the silent traps. Tested on our own server, with 41 real cron jobs as material.
How to Create a systemd Service: Step by Step, Tested on a Real Server (2026)
Create a systemd service on Linux: write the unit file, enable it at boot, restart on crash, read logs, harden it and replace cron with timers. Tested on our own server, including the failures you never see.
Tailscale vs WireGuard: An Honest Comparison With Our Own Measurements (2026)
Tailscale vs WireGuard: what's the difference, which is faster, which is more secure? We measured both between Nuremberg and Helsinki: throughput, CPU per gigabyte, relay fallback and a control server outage. Including Headscale as the self-hosted option.
What Is DNS? The Domain Name System Explained Simply (2026)
What is DNS? The Domain Name System turns names like getmind.io into IP addresses. We explain resolvers, root servers, record types and TTL, with real measurements from our own server: five resolvers timed, 308,739 cached queries, and three findings in our own DNS zone.
Docker vs Podman: An Honest Comparison With Our Own Measurements (2026)
Docker vs Podman tested in practice: daemon or daemonless, root or rootless, Compose, systemd and memory usage. We measured both on the same server and explain when each tool is the better choice.
What Is Docker? Explained Simply, With Real Measurements (2026)
What is Docker? Containers, images, volumes and the difference from virtual machines explained simply, with measurements from our own server: start time, memory, image sizes and 26 GB of forgotten leftovers.
Caddy vs Nginx: Benchmarks and Real-World Use With 139 Sites (2026)
Caddy vs Nginx, honestly compared: our own benchmark (static files and reverse proxy), memory, configuration, automatic HTTPS and header pitfalls. From running 139 sites on Caddy in production.
VPS vs Dedicated Server: What Do You Actually Need? (2026)
VPS vs dedicated server, honestly compared: performance, cost, security, hardware failures and management. With full-load tests on two of our own VPS and a clear decision guide.
What Is a VPS? Virtual Private Servers Explained (2026)
What is a VPS? A virtual private server is your own server with root access on shared hardware. We explain how it works, what it costs, and how it compares to shared hosting and dedicated servers, with measurements from two VPS we run ourselves.
How Much RAM Does a Server Need? Measured, Not Guessed (2026)
How much RAM does a server need? We measured three production machines: 43 php-fpm workers showing 11 GB of RSS actually use 893 MB, and a database reserving 8 TB touches 24 MB. Every number self-collected.
Ubuntu LTS vs Non-LTS: Which Version Belongs on Your Server in 2026?
Ubuntu LTS vs non-LTS, measured rather than copied: interim releases die after 9 months, apt gives no warning at all, and the LTS kernel ends up newer than the interim one. Every number pulled from the package archives.
Docker Compose Example 2026: A Stack That Actually Works — With Our Own Measurements
A Docker Compose example you can copy: minimal stack, healthcheck, depends_on, volumes, networks and .env — every claim measured on a real server, including the port that walked straight through our firewall.
Nextcloud vs ownCloud 2026: A Comparison With Real Measurements, Not Brochures
Nextcloud vs ownCloud compared honestly: we actually ran ownCloud Infinite Scale and measured it — 34 services in one process, 255 MB RAM, 2 second startup. Plus the fact almost every comparison gets wrong.
Proxmox vs ESXi: The Honest Comparison for 2026
Proxmox vs ESXi in depth: licensing models and real costs measured at the primary source, clustering and HA, Ceph storage, the ESXi import tool inspected in its source code — and an honest look at when ESXi remains the right choice.
What Is SSH? A Clear Explanation (2026)
What is SSH, how does the encryption actually work, and why are keys not a convenience but the real protection? Explained with 26,753 real attack attempts from our own server journal instead of theory.
What Is a Reverse Proxy? Explained Clearly (2026)
What is a reverse proxy, how does it work, and do you even need one? Forward vs reverse proxy, load balancer, API gateway and CDN cleanly separated — with our own measurements from production servers instead of theory.
Which Linux Is Best for Beginners in 2026? Real Measurements, Not Opinions
Which Linux is best for beginners? We counted package archives, pulled ISO sizes and support timelines from primary sources, and measured seven desktop environments. An honest recommendation — including the distributions we advise beginners against.
Debian vs Arch 2026: Stable vs Rolling Release — With Packages We Counted Ourselves
Debian vs Arch compared honestly: we downloaded and counted both package archives. 69,843 Debian packages against 15,400 for Arch — plus 118,172 in the AUR. Real package versions, maintenance effort, server suitability, and when Arch is the wrong choice.
Linux Server Distributions 2026: The Honest Overview With Real Numbers
Which Linux server distribution fits you? We compare Debian, Ubuntu Server, Rocky, AlmaLinux, Fedora Server, openSUSE Leap and Alpine — with package archives we counted ourselves, real support timelines, and operations experience from our own VPS.
Ubuntu vs Mint 2026: The Desktop Comparison With Real Measurements
Ubuntu vs Mint tested properly: we counted both package archives, read Mint's Snap blockade in the shipped source, and measured both desktops. Cinnamon 500 MB, Ubuntu Desktop 799 MB — and the real difference lies elsewhere.
Linux Server Setup 2026: From Blank VPS to Hardened Production Machine
A Linux server setup guide built on real measurements: 20,815 attacks analysed over 16 days, fail2ban checked against reality, and Docker punching through the firewall — proven live.
Nextcloud Test 2026: A Hands-On Review With Our Own Measurements
A real Nextcloud test instead of a feature list: performance with 26,000 files, sync speed, upgrading 33 to 34, Talk, apps — and the factor of 265 that decides every migration.
Nextcloud Hosting Comparison 2026: Providers, Prices and the Number Nobody Quotes
A Nextcloud hosting comparison based on our own measurements: Hetzner Storage Share, managed providers, your own VPS and Enterprise. Including the CPU test that shows why solo trials make every plan look fast.
Nextcloud Costs in 2026: The Real Bill — Measured, Not Estimated
Nextcloud costs done honestly: we ran a real instance, measured the storage overhead and pulled every price live. Including the 85 percent finding no price list mentions.
Fedora Linux Deep Dive 2026: What Actually Happens Under the Hood
A Fedora Linux deep dive: RPM 6, DNF5, the release model, SELinux, Btrfs and the Atomic Desktops — measured across 76,354 packages instead of described. With the numbers no distro comparison contains.
Nextcloud for Schools in 2026: What the Education Bundle Actually Contains — Counted
Nextcloud for schools: we opened the Education bundle in the source code, checked all 740 store apps for version compatibility, and measured the Moodle integration. With the numbers no other guide gives you.
Vercel Alternative 2026: The Honest Comparison From Real Practice
Looking for a Vercel alternative? We compare Netlify, Cloudflare, Coolify, Render, Railway and your own server — with real prices, honest trade-offs and a migration plan we have actually run.
Fedora vs Ubuntu: The Honest Comparison for 2026 — Desktop, Server, and Developer Use
Fedora vs Ubuntu compared from real daily use: package management, release cycles, desktop experience, server stability, developer workflows, and gaming. Clear recommendations for every use case in 2026.
Debian vs Ubuntu Server: Which Linux Distribution Is the Right Choice in 2026?
Debian vs Ubuntu Server compared: stability, package management, release cycles and security — with package archives we counted ourselves. Debian maintains 98.4 % of its catalogue, Ubuntu only 9.8 % for free. Clear recommendations for every use case.
Nginx Reverse Proxy: The Complete Guide for 2026
Everything about Nginx as a reverse proxy: how it works, step-by-step setup, SSL termination, load balancing, WebSocket support, caching, security hardening — from real production experience, not copy-paste configs.
Apache vs Nginx: Which Web Server Is the Right Choice in 2026?
Apache vs Nginx honestly compared: architecture, performance, configuration, reverse proxying and real-world scenarios — explained from 15+ years of server practice, with clear recommendations instead of benchmark theater.
