Yesterday we release several new and updated base GoGrid cloud server images as part of our regular Operating System refreshes.

Below is a quick lists of the New, Updated and End of Life-d base images.

New Major Versions

• CentOS 6
• What’s new in CentOS 6 (RHEL technical details): http://www.redhat.com/rhel/server/details/
• This version of CentOS is not subject to the “time drift” issue
• These machines now run in PV (paravirtualization) mode
• Debian 6
• What’s new in Debian 6: http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/armel/release-notes/ch-whats-new.en.html

New Minor Versions

• CentOS 5.6
• RHEL 5.7

Updated Versions

• Windows Server 2003 – updated with Microsoft Security Patches & Powershell 2.0
• Windows Server 2008 – updated with Microsoft Security Patches, Powershell 2.0 and on SQL Server images, Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2
• Windows Server 2008 R2 – updated with Microsoft Security Patches

End of Life-d (EOL) Versions

• CentOS 5.3
• RHEL 5.4

Note: Servers already deployed that are running older (perhaps EOL-ed) images are not affected (meaning, we do not delete them) but you may want to consider refreshing those servers to a later version of the OS. When a server is EOL-ed, it is simply removed from the GoGrid base OS repository and you cannot create new servers from these images.

Remember that these updates and new versions only apply to NEW VMs that you create using these images listed above. If you have existing cloud servers running, please be sure that you regularly run security and Operating System updates to ensure that you servers are running the latest versions and have the most current security patches.

Right on the heels of the GoGrid 3.0 release, we needed to be sure that we didn’t slow our momentum down. To that end, this week we have released some new features to GoGrid which are important to highlight.

We have 3 exciting features, specifically:

• East Coast Load Balancers
• New GoGrid Dedicated Server Images
• 16 GB RAM on GoGrid Cloud Servers

East Coast Load Balancers

As we work towards obtaining full feature parity within a few months in our East Coast Datacenter launch, one of the first items that we enabled was that of Load Balancing. Just like in the West Coast Datacenter, Load Balancing on the East Coast remains FREE. With the rollout of Load Balancers in the East Coast, all GoGrid users now have the ability to deploy 6 total Load Balancers for free, 3 in each Datacenter.

Remember though, you can only balance traffic within 1 particular datacenter. That is to say, you currently cannot use one load balancer to manage traffic across 2 datacenters. You must set up a load balancer within each datacenter to route traffic therein.

New GoGrid Dedicated Server Images

At GoGrid, we were the first to pioneer the term “Hybrid Hosting” which means that you can mix and match the best of breed infrastructure solutions within your GoGrid Cloud. You can choose to instantiate GoGrid Cloud Servers for elastic scalability as well as deploy GoGrid Dedicated Servers should you want PCI compliance or require a dedicated solution. You can use the Load Balancers to route traffic between Cloud and Dedicated servers as well as attach Cloud Storage to either Server type.

With this release, we added SIX new images to the GoGrid Dedicated Server list, bringing the total available Dedicated Server Images to 26. The new Dedicated Server Images are:

• Ubuntu 10.04 (32-bit)
• Ubuntu 10.04 (64-bit)
• CentOS 5.5 (32-bit)
• CentOS 5.5 (64-bit)
• RHEL 5.5 (32-bit)
• RHEL 5.5 (64-bit)

With this update, the list of available GoGrid Dedicated Servers now includes:

• Linux
  • Fedora Core Linux 11 & 12 (32 & 64-bit)
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.8, 5.4 & 5.5 (32 & 64-bit)
  • CentOS Linux 4.8, 5.4 & 5.5 (32 & 64-bit)
  • Ubuntu Linux 8.04, 9.04 & 10.04 (32 & 64-bit)
  • Debian Linux 4.0 & 5.0 (32 & 64-bit)
• Windows
  • Windows Server 2008 Standard (4 & 8 Core License)
  • Windows Server 2008 Standard with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Standard (4 & 8 Core License)
  • Windows Server 2008 Standard with Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Standard (4 & 8 Core License)
  • Windows Server 2003 Enterprise (32 & 64-bit and 4 & 8 Core License)
  • Windows Server 2003 Enterprise (64-bit and 4 & 8 Core License) with Microsoft SQL Server 2005 & 2008 Standard (64-bit and 4 & 8 Core License)

The process for ordering a dedicated server has not changed. Simply click the ADD button within the GoGrid portal, and select Dedicated Server:

Then choose the Configuration you would like:

And then select the Operating System image you want on that GoGrid Dedicated Server (note: I have highlighted the new CentOS 5.5 options in the list):

Once you save your GoGrid Dedicated Server configuration, it will be available for you within 2 business days.

16 GBs of RAM on GoGrid Cloud Servers

For those GoGrid users requiring more RAM, Cores and persistent hard drive space, we have now enabled the ability to provision GoGrid Cloud Servers with 16 GB RAM allocations.

GoGrid Cloud Servers deployed with the 16 GBs of RAM configuration also have 960 GBs of persistent storage and either 8 or 16 cores depending on the Operating System (Windows and Linux respectively). 16 GB configurations are backwards compatible with MyGSIs and Partner GSIs. However, this configuration is only available for 64-bit Operating Systems.

There were also a series of bug fixes included with this release.

What other items would you like to see included in future releases of GoGrid? Leave a comment and let me know!

At GoGrid, we are experts in “Hybrid Hosting“! What is hybrid hosting you ask? Essentially it takes the best of the physical and virtual hosting worlds and combines the two in order to provide a compelling and flexible infrastructure offering in the Cloud. If you desire the elasticity of virtual servers, being able to horizontally scale on demand, with GoGrid, you have that option with a variety of GoGrid and Partner virtual server images available. However, if you or your clients require compliance certification or you are simply accustomed to working with bare metal servers, a GoGrid physical server may be the solution you need.

If you haven’t experienced the power of Windows Server 2008 or Microsoft SQL Server 2008 running on a dedicated machine, we have come up with a program to get you using them quickly. Not only can you instantiate Windows Server 2008 or Microsoft SQL Server 2008 as a GoGrid Virtual Server, you NOW have the option to deploy them as GoGrid Physical Servers.

So, for a limited time, we are providing a $500 discount on dedicated servers running Windows Server 2008 or Microsoft SQL Server 2008.

Getting your infrastructure into the Cloud with GoGrid has always been quick and easy. Now, with the physical/dedicated server offering that we recently added, you have the added flexibility of being able to choose the type of infrastructure you desire as well as mix virtual and physical environments, and all of it on-demand, without contracts and within the same network infrastructure.

In order to qualify for this $500 promotional credit, customers must contact a GoGrid sales representative AND mention this offer. And be sure to tell them that you read about it on the blog. You can also find more information as well as a sign-up form here.

Currently, GoGrid Dedicated Servers require a one monthly commitment but you can get 2 Months for free if you choose the annual pre-payment options. Also, you can choose to install Microsoft SQL Server 2008 on a Windows Server 2003 operating system. The GoGrid Sales Team will work with you in figuring out the best solution for your needs. Current Dedicated Server offerings available on GoGrid are:

Windows Server images (that qualify for this limited-time promotion) include:

• Windows Server 2008 Standard 64-bit, 4 Core License.
  $69.99 / month
• Windows Server 2008 Standard 64-bit, 8 Core License.
  $129.99 / month
• Windows Server 2008 Standard 64-bit, 4 Core License. + Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Standard Ed. 64-bit, 4 Core License
  $319.98 / month
• Windows Server 2008 Standard 64-bit, 8 Core License. + Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Standard Ed. 64-bit, 8 Core License
  $629.98 / month
• Windows Server 2008 Standard 64-bit, 4 Core License. + Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Standard 64-bit, 4 Core License
  $319.98 / month
• Windows Server 2008 Standard 64-bit, 8 Core License. + Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Standard 64-bit, 8 Core License
  $629.98 / month
• Windows Server 2003, Standard 64-bit, 4 Core License. + Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Standard Ed. 64-bit, 4 Core License
  $289.98 / month
• Windows Server 2003, Standard 64-bit, 8 Core License. + Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Standard Ed. 64-bit, 8 Core License
  $559.98 / month
• Windows Server 2003, Enterprise 64-bit, 4 Core License. + Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Standard Ed. 64-bit, 4 Core License
  $319.98 / month
• Windows Server 2003, Enterprise 64-bit, 8 Core License. + Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Standard Ed. 64-bit, 8 Core License
  $589.98 / month

For additional information, please contact a GoGrid Sales Representative.

Last week, we quietly released some new larger GoGrid Cloud server instances. Today we are making that announcement a bit louder. What does this mean to you? Well, your GoGrid cloudcenter just got a bit broader and more powerful. For a year now, we have been offering 0.5, 1 and 2 Gigabyte RAM options in both Windows and Linux, now we have 4 and 8 GB RAM instances available. These larger instances, available on all 64-bit operating systems, allow for new types of higher-end environments to be spun up using all of the characteristics of Cloud Computing.

The lower size RAM instances (0.5, 1 & 2 GB) are perfect for a web front-end, where either Apache or IIS are running. For extremely high-performance and high I/O instances, we have been offering Cloud Connect as a way to create a dedicated hybrid infrastructure where Cloud Web Servers running on GoGrid can be linked via private dedicated network connections to dedicated and managed servers within the ServePath network.

With the new 4 and 8 GB RAM options, you can now set up a infrastructure with a robust set of high-performance application servers within the Cloud. These types of high RAM instances are perfect for users who want to take advantage of the increased RAM, CPU cores and persistent storage, especially when used in conjunction with specific applications (e.g., Microsoft SQL server or other Enterprise applications) that require more larger amounts of resources like RAM or CPU.

The 4 GB RAM server images can be deployed via the GoGrid web portal and API. The 8 GB RAM server images currently may only be deployed via the GoGrid API. I recommend reading the API section of the GoGrid wiki in order to fully understand how to deploy 8 GB RAM instances.

The 4 and 8 GB RAM images, available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.1, CentOS 5.1, and Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008 64-bit operating systems bring a new level of performance to the GoGrid line. 4 GB Cloud Servers have 3 CPU Cores and 8 GB have 6 CPU Cores, ensuring dedicated CPU allocations and high performance.

All GoGrid Cloud Servers come with persistent storage. The new larger RAM allocations announced today, are delivered with increased persistent storage: 4 GB Cloud Servers have 240 GB of hard drive space and 8 GB have 480 GB of storage allocated at boot time. Additional storage can be added using GoGrid’s dynamically scalable Cloud Storage offering which includes a 10 GB free allotment to start with. Each 1 GB thereafter costs $0.15/GB/month.

Our current breakdown of GoGrid Cloud Servers and associated RAM/CPU/Persistent Storage is as follows:

Further information on the new 4 and 8 GB RAM GoGrid Cloud Servers can be found on the GoGrid site. Server Release Information on these new images can be found on the GoGrid wiki. We have also posted a Server Compatibility Matrix that graphically shows what server instances are available with the associated RAM allocations.

If you are a Windows user, we ask that you please our Release and Errata pages as there are some known issues specific to 8 GB Windows Servers which may require a workaround and that they should be aware of before using 8 GB GoGrid Servers with Windows.

Our full Press Release on this information can be viewed here as well as on the GoGrid site.

As always, please leave any questions or comments here on this blog post, or open a Support case via the GoGrid portal should you need technical assistance.

Yesterday we released some new Windows Operating System images to the GoGrid Image repository. What is notable here is that GoGrid has extended our Windows Server breadth in the Cloud and we are the first to market with the ability to instantiate Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008 cloud servers with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express, Standard and Workgroup editions. Also added is support for FastCGI.

The following Windows Server images were added:

Windows Server 2008

• Web Servers:
  • 32-bit with Internet Internet Information Services 7 (IIS7), FastCGI and Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express
  • 32-bit with IIS7, FastCGI and Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express
• Database Servers:
  • 64-bit with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Workgroup^[1]
  • 64-bit with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Standard^[2]

Windows Server 2003

• Database Servers:
  • 64-bit with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Workgroup^[3]
  • 64-bit with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Standard^[4]

The full list of GoGrid Operating Systems and Images can be found either on the GoGrid site or the GoGrid wiki. For your convenience, here is the list of currently available Operating Systems and Images:

Windows Server 2008

• New!! Windows Server 2008 32 bit IIS7 + Fast CGI + MSSQL 2005 express
• New!! Windows Server 2008 32 bit IIS7 + Fast CGI + MSSQL 2008 express
• New!! Windows Server 2008 (64-bit) w/ MSSQL 2008 Workgroup
• New!! Windows Server 2008 (64-bit) w/ MSSQL 2008 Standard

• Windows Server 2008 (32-bit) w/ IIS 7.0 + PHP 5.2 + MSSQL 2005 Express
• Windows Server 2008 (32-bit) w/ IIS 7.0 + PHP 5.2 + ASP.NET + MSSQL 2005 Express
• Windows Server 2008 (32-bit) w/ IIS 7.0 + PHP 5.2 + MySQL 5.0
• Windows Server 2008 (32-bit) w/ Apache 2.2 + PHP 5.2 + MSSQL 2005 Express

• Windows Server 2008 (32-bit)
• Windows Server 2008 (32-bit) w/ IIS 7.0
• Windows Server 2008 (32-bit) w/ IIS 7.0 + MSSQL 2005 Express
• Windows Server 2008 (32-bit) w/ IIS 7.0 + ASP.NET + MSSQL 2005 Express

• Windows Server 2008 (64-bit)
• Windows Server 2008 (64-bit) w/ IIS 7.0
• Windows Server 2008 (64-bit) w/ IIS 7.0 + MSSQL 2005 Express
• Windows Server 2008 (64-bit) w/ IIS 7.0 + ASP.NET + MSSQL 2005 Express

Windows Server 2003

• New!! Windows Server 2003 (64-bit) w/ MSSQL 2008 Workgroup
• New!! Windows Server 2003 (64-bit) w/ MSSQL 2008 Standard

• Windows Server 2003 (32-bit) w/ IIS 6.0
• Windows Server 2003 (32-bit) w/ IIS 6.0 + ASP.NET + MS SQL Server 2005 Express
• Windows Server 2003 (32-bit) w/ MS SQL Server 2005 Express
• Windows Server 2003 (32-bit) w/ MSSQL 2005 Workgroup
• Windows Server 2003 (32-bit) w/ MSSQL 2005 Standard

• Windows Server 2003 (64-bit) w/ IIS 6.0
• Windows Server 2003 (64-bit) w/ IIS 6.0 + ASP.NET + MS SQL Server 2005 Express
• Windows Server 2003 (64-bit) w/ MSSQL 2005 Express

CentOS Linux

• CentOS 4.4 (32-bit) w/ Apache 2.2 + PHP5
• CentOS 4.4 (32-bit) w/ MySQL 5.0

• CentOS 4.5 (32-bit) w/ Ruby on Rails
• CentOS 4.5 (32-bit) w/ PostgreSQL 8.2

• CentOS 5.1 (64-bit) w/ Apache 2.2
• CentOS 5.1 (64-bit) w/ Apache 2.2 + PHP 5.1
• CentOS 5.1 (64-bit) w/ Apache 2.2 + PHP 5.1 + MySQL 5.0
• CentOS 5.1 (64-bit) w/ MySQL 5.0
• CentOS 5.1 (64-bit) w/ PostgreSQL 8.1

Red Hat Enterprise Linux

• RHEL 4 (32-bit) w/ Apache 2.2 + PHP5
• RHEL 4 (32-bit) w/ Apache 2.2 + MySQL 5.0 + PHP 5.2
• RHEL 4 (32-bit) w/ MySQL 5.0
• RHEL 4 (32-bit) w/ PostgreSQL 8.2

• RHEL 5.1 (64-bit) w/ Apache 2.2
• RHEL 5.1 (64-bit) w/ Apache 2.2 + PHP 5.1
• RHEL 5.1 (64-bit) w/ Apache 2.2 + PHP 5.1 + MySQL 5.0
• RHEL 5.1 (64-bit) w/ MySQL 5.0
• RHEL 5.1 (64-bit) w/ PostgreSQL 8.1

The GoGrid API which was recently put under a Creative Commons license has also been updated to support these new images.

The addition of the FastCGI component opens a new framework for high performance and reliability. FastCGI provides a high-performance alternative to the Common Gateway Interface (CGI) which is a typical way of linking external applications with Web Servers.

Currently GoGrid has 26 Windows images (16 Windows Server 2008 and 10 Windows Server 2003) and 19 Linux images (9 CentOS and 9 Red Hat Enterprise Linux). We will be continually growing this list as well as adding new Linux Operating Systems soon.

1. $99.99/month [↩]
2. $299.99/month [↩]
3. $99.99/month [↩]
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