In this article, we’ll look at what’s driving this shift, when dedicated infrastructure is the smarter choice, and how to weigh the trade-offs with today’s data in mind.

Not long ago, it seemed like every workload was headed for the public cloud. Fast forward to 2025, and dedicated servers and bare metal are making a strong return—not because of nostalgia, but because businesses are finding they solve real problems.

Rising cloud costs, stricter data regulations, and the growing demand for AI workloads are pushing companies to take another look at dedicated hosting. The scope is clear: consistent performance, better control over compliance, and predictable costs.

In this article, we’ll look at what’s driving this repatriation*, when dedicated infrastructure is the smarter choice, and how to weigh the trade-offs with today’s data in mind.

* In the hosting / cloud industry, “repatriation” means moving workloads, data, or applications out of the public cloud and back to dedicated servers, bare metal or colocation. It’s the opposite of cloud migration.

Surveys & Facts: What the data says

A recent survey by TechRadar of 1,000+ IT professionals found 86% of organizations still use dedicated servers; 42% reported moving some workloads from public cloud back to dedicated infrastructure in the last 12 months.

Additional valid sources are reporting that repatriation is indeed happening:

• Analysts caution this isn’t a mass exodus: only ~8–9% of companies plan full workload repatriation—most are selectively moving pieces like data, backups, or steady compute. IDC Blog, Puppet
  
• Uptime Institute’s 2025 survey indicates 46% of AI inference workloads run on-premises and 34% in colocation, with a minority leaning primarily on public cloud today. NEXTDC
  

Why Bare-metal Servers are Rising Again

1) Cost clarity vs surprise bills

Cloud its powerful especially when it comes to elasticity and speed. However, unpredictable consumption can turn budgets into moving targets.

In a recent research by Flexera, managing cloud spend remains the #1 challenge; budgets exceeded targets by ~17% in the prior year and are still rising. Financials with dedicated infrastructure are fair and straight-forward: you pay for the capacity you own, not every read, write, or packet.

2) Consistent Performance

Bare metal hosting eliminates the virtualization layer and multi-tenant risks. For databases, latency-sensitive trading platforms, and high-throughput applications, having a consistent performance beats burst capacity models that are usually offered by cloud providers.

Modern bare-metal providers now offer cloud-like APIs and instant provisioning servers —making dedicated hosting feel as if customer is purchasing a cloud instance.

3) AI and Data Sovereignty

AI changed the infrastructure world. Training for modern AI models requires GPU density, high bandwidth, and predictable I/O.

Many operators are keeping AI close to their data for cost, control, and sovereignty reasons—hence the preference toward on-premises, colocation, and dedicated servers for AI workloads.

4) Compliance and Control

Regulated industries (finance, public sector, health) are known for their preference towards dedicated hosting for isolation, auditability, and deterministic change management.

Organizations find it easier to document processes and prepare compliance reports for a physical infrastructure which is leased, on-prem, or co-located in a specific data center facility.

IT Fields where Dedicated Hosting Shines

NetShop ISP powers 9,000+ customers worldwide — from freelancers and SMEs to large organizations. The findings from our research align closely with insights from our extensive client base regarding the applications most commonly deployed on bare-metal servers.

1. Databases and data platforms
   High IOPS storage (NVMe), predictable CPU, and dedicated memory allocation make dedicated servers ideal for OLTP (online transaction processing), analytics engines, and message/streaming infrastructure.
   
2. AI/ML training and inference
   For companies with ongoing AI demands, bare metal servers with GPUs can reduce the overall costs. Uptime Institute data indicates many operators prefer to run on-prem or in colocation to control power density, cooling, and data locality.
   
3. Low-latency workloads
   Forex trading, ad auctions, multiplayer gaming, and personalization engines benefit from single-tenant hardware, which are easier to standardize on physical, dedicated servers.
   
4. Steady, long-running services
   If a workload’s utilization curve is stable and predictable month-to-month, committing to bare metal capacity often yields lower TCO (total cost of ownership) than Pay-per-use cloud.

What lies ahead

It’s not really about moving everything back from the cloud—it’s about finding balance.

Devops teams, CTO’s and CIO’s, today, are being more practical: running each workload where it makes the most sense in terms of cost, performance, and risk.

Surveys show that dedicated servers and bare metal are becoming an important part of that mix, especially for AI, data-heavy applications and latency-sensitive workloads, while the cloud is still the preferred option when it comes to flexibility and global reach.

As infrastructure choices get more complex, the real challenge for businesses isn’t picking between cloud or dedicated hosting—it’s knowing how to combine them in a way that supports long-term growth.

That’s where the right partner makes a difference. At NetShop ISP, we’ve spent over 20 years helping companies in finance, iGaming, fintech and ICT design hosting solutions that strike the right balance between cost, performance, and compliance.

NetShop ISP introduce an upgrade to Backup Services – now offering Hybrid Backup solutions and per-Workload billing model plans.

At NetShop ISP, we’ve always prioritized the safety and continuity of our customers’ data. With the growing complexity of IT environments and the increasing importance of compliance and data sovereignty, backup strategies must evolve.

That’s why we’re excited to announce an upgrade to our Cloud Backup Services — now offering Hybrid Backup solutions and per-Workload billing model plans.

These improvements offer our customers more control over how backups are billed, where data is stored, and how quickly it can be recovered. Whether you’re backing up a single server or managing a global infrastructure, our updated backup solutions adapts to your specific needs.

What’s New: Per-Workload Backup Plans

Until now, NetShop ISP has offered Cloud Backup services on a per-GB billing model — a straightforward solution where customers pay only for the amount of storage they use. This plan remains ideal for businesses that have a large number of devices but only need to back up small amounts of data per device — such as workstations or endpoints with light file-based backups.

However, for businesses with fewer devices that contain large volumes of data, we are introducing our new Per-Workload Backup Plans.

Here’s how it works:

• You pay a fixed monthly fee per device (also called a “workload”) — such as a dedicated server, VPS, or a Microsoft 365 account.
• You also benefit from a heavily discounted per-GB storage rate, optimized for higher data usage.

This billing model is ideal for organizations backing up:

• Data-heavy servers
• Databases
• Large-scale file or storage systems
• SaaS applications with significant storage requirements

Key benefits of Per-Workload plans:

• Lower storage costs for large datasets
• Ideal for resource-heavy environments
• Ability to choose local, cloud or hybrid storage

Hybrid Backup: Local, Cloud, or Both

Alongside the per-Workload plans, we’re also introducing Hybrid Backup — a solution that allows you to choose where your data is stored:

• Cloud Backup: Store data securely in NetShop ISP’s cloud infrastructure or Acronis’ global data centers.
• Local Backup: Retain copies on-premise for faster recovery and full data control.
• Hybrid: Use both options simultaneously to achieve maximum resilience and performance.

Hybrid Backup is the most versatile approach, giving you the ability to:

• Recover faster with local backups
• Meet compliance and data sovereignty requirements
• Enable disaster recovery with off-site cloud copies
• Reduce RTO (Recovery Time Objective) for mission-critical systems

Powered by Acronis: The Best Choice in Backup & Disaster Recovery

As always, our backup solutions are built on Acronis, a global leader in cyber protection, disaster recovery, and compliance-ready backup technologies.

Built-In Ransomware Protection

Acronis includes AI-powered ransomware detection and automatic recovery tools to ensure your backups remain clean and secure.

Granular Restore Options

Recover full systems, individual files, applications, or even a single email — on-demand and within minutes.

Compliance-Ready Architecture

Acronis supports GDPR, HIPAA, and other regulatory frameworks with encryption, audit trails, and data sovereignty controls built-in.

True Disaster Recovery

Spin up your systems directly from backups in the cloud in the event of an outage or disaster — minimizing downtime and business impact.

Choosing the Right Plan: Per-GB vs Per-Workload

Let’s compare both models so you can choose the one that best fits your infrastructure and data usage:

Feature	Per-GB Plan	Per-Workload Plan
Best for	Many devices, low data per device	Few devices, large volumes of data
Billing Model	Pay only for storage used	Fixed cost per device + low per-GB rate for storage
Use Cases	Endpoint backups, small file backups	Servers, VMs, databases, large file systems
Scalability	Scales well with growing number of endpoints	Scales with growing data size on fewer devices
Flexibility	Flexible for varying storage use	Cost-effective for storage-heavy workloads

Use Cases: Real-World Scenarios

Small & Medium Businesses (SMBs)

Use per-GB billing for lightweight workstations, or switch to per-Workload for data-heavy servers and applications.

Enterprises with High-Volume Systems

If you manage fewer but powerful systems with large datasets — such as ERP, CRM, or database servers — the per-Workload model offers excellent cost-efficiency.

Remote Workforce & SaaS Applications

Protect cloud apps like Microsoft 365 with a per-user (workload) model, while taking advantage of lower storage pricing.

Regulated Industries

Choose Hybrid Backup to meet data sovereignty, encryption, and recovery time objectives (RTOs) for HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and GDPR compliance.

Why Trust NetShop ISP with Your Backup?

With over 20 years in the business and clients spanning industries like Fintech, Forex, iGaming, and ICT, we understand how critical data availability is to your operations.

Here’s why businesses choose NetShop ISP:

• Trusted Acronis Partner
• Global infrastructure with multiple data centers
• Support for local, cloud, and hybrid backup strategies
• 24/7 Technical Support by server and backup solution experts
• Customizable backup plans
• Regular Backup and Disaster Recovery Plan Reviews/Tests

Ready to Upgrade Your Backup Strategy?

Whether you’re just starting out with cloud backup or looking to modernize your disaster recovery strategy, our enhanced backup services offer the flexibility and performance your business demands.

Visit our Cloud Backup page for more details or contact our sales team for a personalized quote.

Let NetShop ISP help you protect your data — smarter, faster, and more affordably — with hybrid cloud backup, per-Workload billing, and Acronis-powered security.

In this article, we’ll explore how NetShop’s XConnect solution enables ultra‑low latency connectivity, what makes it ideal for latency‑sensitive ecosystems, and how it empowers financial and technology players to gain competitive edge.

High-performance cross connect services are increasingly vital for forex brokers, fintech platforms, cloud-native applications, and technology providers.

In this article, we’ll explore how NetShop’s XConnect solution enables ultra‑low latency connectivity, what makes it ideal for latency‑sensitive ecosystems, and how it empowers financial and technology players to gain competitive edge.

Why Latency Matters in Forex and Fintech

In the forex and fintech world, microseconds make a difference. Trading platforms exchange tick data, liquidity feeds, and settlement orders in real time—meaning every millisecond counts.

Traditional public‑internet routing introduces unpredictable delays and packet loss, potentially impacting trade execution, price validation, and overall reliability.

By contrast, a private cross‑connect like XConnect minimizes hops, removes the unpredictability of public internet, and provides deterministic, high-throughput performance. This ensures consistently low latency, deterministic throughput, and higher SLA stability—all critical for mission‑critical financial systems.

NetShop ISP’s XConnect Service: Overview

NetShop’s XConnect service enables you to establish direct fibre connections within data centres, linking your infrastructure with cloud platforms, liquidity providers, and technology partners with minimal delay.

The Four Pillars of XConnect

1. Top Security
   Direct physical fibre is much more secure than public‑internet links, eliminating exposure to public routing vulnerabilities.
   
2. Ecosystem Direct Access
   Seamless connection to carriers, cloud providers, liquidity institutions, and other technology providers in Equinix IBX ecosystems via private links.
   
3. Data Center Resilience
   Enables redundant, high-availability designs without consuming public bandwidth, improving uptime and reliability.
   
4. Network Stability
   Eliminates packet loss and latency variability associated with public Internet routing—delivering deterministic performance.

How Cross‑Connect Works in Practice

Consider a forex brokerage firm with servers hosted in a data centre that interacts with a bridge technology provider. Sharing real-time price feeds or trading data over public Internet introduces latency and instability. But with XConnect, both parties connect to the same facility using a private fibre link.

This cross‑connect ensures data flows directly between environments over a secure, dedicated channel. The result: near-instantaneous data exchange, consistent low latency, and elevated reliability for trading systems where timing is everything.

NetShop’s XConnect Product Portfolio

NetShop ISP offers four distinct XConnect solutions, each tailored to the needs of different workloads.

1. Metro Direct XConnect

This solution provides direct point-to-point connections between two customers within the same Equinix data centre or campus. Ideal for:

• Forex brokers accessing bridge providers or liquidity feeds within the same facility
• Fintech partners collaborating securely in close proximity
• High-throughput applications that require ultra-low latency

Metro Direct XConnect is your fastest and most efficient option when both parties operate under the same IBX roof.

2. Intra-Metro XConnect (Layer 2)

The Intra-Metro XConnect enables private connectivity between different Equinix facilities within the same metro area (e.g., between LD4, LD6, and LD7 in London).

It offers Layer 2 VLAN-based connectivity, making it ideal for:

• Redundant or high-availability forex systems spanning multiple data centres
• Fintech companies running multi-zone architecture within a metro hub
• Institutions needing ultra-fast data synchronization across sites

This solution provides the low latency benefits of local links with the flexibility of geographic diversity.

3. Cloud Fabric XConnect

NetShop’s Cloud Fabric XConnect integrates your on-prem or co-located infrastructure directly with leading cloud platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, Alibaba Cloud, and Oracle Cloud.

Perfect for fintech developers, SaaS providers, and brokers needing:

• Multi-cloud and hybrid-cloud setups
• Secure, direct access to cloud APIs and services
• Avoidance of public internet bottlenecks or security risks

Provisioned over Equinix Fabric, this service brings low-latency, scalable access to the cloud without routing traffic over the internet.

4. Global XConnect

Global XConnect extends private connectivity beyond a single metro or country, enabling dedicated point-to-point or multipoint connectivity across continents.

Ideal for:

• Brokers serving traders in multiple regions (e.g., London to Hong Kong or New York)
• Fintech enterprises synchronizing data centers globally
• Applications with high sensitivity to jitter and packet loss

NetShop’s Global XConnect provides international reach while retaining the performance and security of a local private circuit.

Benefits for Forex & Fintech Providers

Ultra‑Low Latency

By eliminating public routing, xconnect cuts latency significantly—crucial for algorithmic or high-frequency forex trading.

High Security & Compliance

Private fibre avoids public exposure, minimizing risk—an important consideration given the regulatory demands in fintech.

Flexible Ecosystem Access

Quickly join cloud networks or access liquidity/bridge providers already present in major data centers.

Cost‑Effective Redundancy

Design dual‑path architecture without relying on public internet bandwidth, lowering cost and improving uptime resilience.

Use Cases for XConnect

• Forex trading platforms needing ultra‑fast execution and direct liquidity access
• Fintech firms deploying in multi-cloud or multi-datacenter environments
• Technology providers and bridges seeking secure cross-connectivity within colocation facilities
• Media streaming, blockchain, and latency-sensitive applications benefiting from dedicated infrastructure

Why Choose NetShop ISP for XConnect?

NetShop ISP provides industry-aligned, high-availability solutions tailored to forex, fintech, and cloud-native use cases. As a trusted partner within Equinix IBX data centers and major financial hubs, we offer:

• Low connectivity costs
• Fast provisioning
• 24/7 NOC support
• Local, regional and global fibre reach
• Strategic location presence in LD4, LD7, SG5, AM2, and more

Get in touch with NetShop ISP today and explore the most suitable XConnect solution for your business.

In this article, we explain how NetShop ISP ensures secure local backups using Acronis software and ISO 27001-certified data centers.

For businesses in Forex, iGaming as well as other, regulated sectors, servers are the lifeblood of operations.

One unplanned outage or data loss incident can carry dire consequences—lost revenue, regulatory penalties for ISO 27001 workflows, and irreparable reputational damage.

Yet too often, organizations neglect real-world backup strategies—until it’s too late.

The Risk Landscape: Why Backup Can’t Be an Afterthought

Hardware Failures & Cyber Threats

Disk corruption, RAID failures, ransomware, and human error remain common sources of data loss. Even top-tier providers can’t eliminate all risks. As NetShop ISP emphasizes, backups are vital because “servers are not eternal” and file-system or drive-level breakdowns can happen unexpectedly.

Single Points of Failure

Common setups like Windows with MySQL on the same drive are vulnerable. If one drive fails—or the server crashes entirely—both data and operating systems may vanish. Having no backups can mean catastrophic downtime.

Regulatory & Compliance Pressure

Clients holding ISO 27001 certification are bound to follow defined business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) procedures, which include robust backup mechanisms and regular testing. Falling short of these requirements risks losing certifications and facing audit penalties.

The Layered Backup Strategy: Local + Cloud = Resilience

Hybrid Backup (On- & Off‑Site)

NetShop ISP strongly promotes a hybrid backup approach, combining local appliances—for fast restores—with off‑site cloud copies to protect against site-wide disasters. Local storage enables rapid recovery; cloud backup ensures continuity if the main site is compromised.

Leveraging Acronis for Fully Managed Cloud Backup

You’re using Acronis Cloud Backup, which uniquely integrates local and cloud-based solutions:

• Disk‑level snapshots: Full system and database capture
• File‑level granularity: Recover individual files, folders, or entire systems
• 1‑Click restore via the myNetShop Portal and/or the Acronis Cloud Control Panel
• Automated scheduling & retention controls, with a management portal for monitoring and restoring quickly

This hybrid architecture aligns tightly with ISO 27001 mandates on data availability, integrity, and recoverability—ensuring clients can meet both Recovery Point Objectives (RPO) and Recovery Time Objectives (RTO).

Why Businesses Fail to Act Fast

Many businesses view backups as a cost center rather than insurance against downtime. NetShop ISP highlights how proactive backup management is often neglected—until disaster strikes.

Human Factor & Testing Gaps

Manual backups are unreliable. Studies show that automation vastly improves consistency and reduces errors. Importantly, backups must be verified and periodically tested—restoration drills minimize failure surprises.

ISO 27001 & DR Guidelines: What You Need to Know

ISO 27001 requires organizations to:

1. Define maximum acceptable data loss (RPO),
2. Establish acceptable downtime (RTO),
3. Maintain backup copies off‑site,
4. Plan DR procedures, and
5. Conduct periodic tests of restoration scenarios.

By combining Acronis (for hybrid backup) with a documented Disaster Recovery plan—including failover and re-provisioning via DRaaS—you fulfill all critical control requirements.

Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS)

For businesses that cannot tolerate extended outages—such as live forex trading platforms or transactional game servers—DRaaS delivers quick failover via cloud replication. NetShop ISP’s DRaaS can be set up within two business days, with guaranteed RTO as low as 5 minutes.

This offers critical benefits:

• Seamless failover to DR environment,
• Minimal latency or transaction interruption,
• Compliance with audit and business resilience requirements.

Industry-Specific Considerations

E‑Commerce

For websites and applications, CRM and ERP’s, loss or corruption means lost sales and trust. Acronis enables granular restores of databases and product files, minimizing downtime and revenue loss.

Forex / Financial Services

Even seconds of downtime may result in irreversible trading losses. Compliance frameworks demand data consistency and high availability. Local snapshots + cloud replication ensure recoverability and audit traceability.

iGaming

Real-time gaming platforms demand high integrity and continuity. Data validation, player account history, and transactional logs all must be backed up frequently and restored instantly if needed.

Best Practices Checklist

Practice	Why it matters
Automated, versioned backups	Ensures consistent snapshots and retention
Hybrid strategy: local + cloud	Fast recovery locally + resilience off‑site
Encrypted backups	Protects confidentiality, essential for ISO and customer trust
Scheduled restore drills	Prevent surprises and validate restore procedures
Defined RTO/RPO aligned with business needs	Meets internal policy and reduces risk exposure
DRaaS (failover strategy)	Enables near-zero downtime when infrastructure fails

Be Proactive, Not Reactive

In industries like e‑commerce, forex, iGaming, and any sector governed by ISO 27001, data is not just valuable—it’s mission-critical. Investing in structured backup and disaster recovery (particularly using Acronis combined with DRaaS) protects against financial loss, legal risk, and reputational damage.

Should you require more information about how a solid backup and disaster recovery plan can be customised to your business’ bespoke needs, contact us today for a free consultation.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to fix SSL certificate renewal issues in WHM after a hostname change, using Let’s Encrypt SSL and AutoSSL.

Changing the hostname of your WHM/cPanel server is a common task, whether you’re rebranding, migrating domains, or organizing your infrastructure. However, this change can cause unexpected issues, like expired or invalid SSL certificates for core services like Exim, Dovecot, FTP, and the WHM panel itself.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to fix SSL certificate renewal issues in WHM after a hostname change — using Let’s Encrypt SSL and AutoSSL to ensure a secure and trusted connection for both users and services.

Why SSL Certificates Break After Changing Hostname

When you install a Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate via WHM/cPanel, it’s bound to your server’s hostname (FQDN). If you later change this hostname, the certificate becomes invalid, and cPanel services like Webmail, WHM, and email (SMTP/IMAP/POP) start showing SSL certificate warnings or “expired certificate” errors.

You might also notice:

• Users see security warnings in browsers when accessing WHM.
• Mail clients (like Outlook or Thunderbird) reject SSL connections.
• Webmail or FTP throws SSL mismatch errors.

Step-by-Step Guide to Renew SSL After WHM Hostname Change

Step 1: Confirm the New Hostname is Set Correctly in WHM

Login to your WHM panel and navigate to:

WHM > Networking Setup > Change Hostname

• Enter your new FQDN hostname (e.g. cpanel.example.com).
• Make sure the domain resolves to your server IP.
• Click “Change” and wait for confirmation.

Step 2: Ensure DNS and Reverse DNS (PTR) Are Updated

Before issuing a new certificate:

• Confirm your new hostname has valid A and AAAA DNS records.
• Use a tool like https://dnschecker.org to verify.
• Set the correct PTR (reverse DNS) with your hosting provider.

Step 3: Reissue SSL Certificate for the New Hostname

From your WHM Control Panel navigate to:

WHM > Manage Service SSL Certificates

This section manages SSL certs for:

• cPanel/WHM/Webmail
• Dovecot (IMAP/POP)
• Exim (SMTP)
• FTP

For each service:

1. Click “Reset Certificate”
2. Choose “Install the certificate for the current hostname”
3. Click “Use the Hostname’s SSL Certificate”

This links the service SSL to the new Let’s Encrypt hostname cert.

Step 4: Run AutoSSL Manually

Even if the certificates were successfully installed, it’s highly recommended to force AutoSSL to validate and renew:

Run the following command via SSH:

root@whm:~$ /usr/local/cpanel/bin/autossl_check --force

This forces WHM to:

• Renew SSL certificates
• Apply them to all services
• Revalidate the new hostname with Let’s Encrypt

Step 5: Restart Core Services to Apply New Certificates

To ensure all services load the new certificate, restart them via SSH:

root@whm:~$ /scripts/restartsrv_cpsrvd    # WHM/cPanel
root@whm:~$ /scripts/restartsrv_exim      # SMTP
root@whm:~$ /scripts/restartsrv_dovecot   # IMAP/POP
root@whm:~$ /scripts/restartsrv_ftpserver # FTP

Upon executing successfully the above commands, you may reboot the server (not required but it’s highly suggested).

Step 6: Validate Renewed Let’s Encrypt SSL Certificate

In order to confirm your steps were successful, you may want to validate the renewed SSL via a trustworthy online tool such as https://www.sslshopper.com/ssl-checker.html.

Additionally, please make sure that you access your WHM control panel with https://<hostname>:2087 via an incognito browser, or by deleting cache/cookies on your existing one.

Deploy Cheap Dedicated Server Worldwide

Explore today our wide-range of dedicated servers available in multiple locations, or visit our Instant Servers page for configurations which are instantly available for provisioning.

In this guide we explain how to clean and further manage the redolog folder in order to preserve sufficient disk space on Zimbra server.

Zimbra is a collaborative software suite that includes an email server and a web client. It’s known for its features like email, calendar, contacts, and document sharing, making it a comprehensive platform for communication and collaboration.

At NetShop ISP, we not only offer Email-as-a-Service powered by Zimbra Collaboration, but also deploy and manage hundreds of Zimbra instances for customers hosted on VPS and Dedicated Servers. This tailored hosting approach ensures high availability, performance, and flexibility for businesses of all sizes.

One of the most common operational challenges we encounter is Zimbra servers running out of disk space. This issue often arises due to the accumulation of large backup files, statistical data, and redo log files. Without proper monitoring and housekeeping, these elements can rapidly consume available storage, leading to service disruptions.

In this guide we explain how to clean and further manage the redolog folder in order to preserve sufficient disk space on Zimbra server.

Steps to Troubleshoot Large Redo Log Files

When dealing with zimbra files and commands on your Zimbra server, ensure you are switched to the local zimbra user. You can switch from root to zimbra user by executing the following command:

root@localhost:~$ su zimbra

Step 1: Check Folder Size

zimbra@localhost:~$ du -sh /opt/zimbra/redolog/archive

Step 2: Remove Old Archived Redo Logs

Make sure no active process is using them:

zimbra@localhost:~$ zmcontrol stop
zimbra@localhost:~$rm -f /opt/zimbra/redolog/archive/*
zimbra@localhost:~$ zmcontrol start

Then you can check the new free disk space on your server by this command:

zimbra@localhost:~$ df -h

If the new root disk partition (“/”) free space satisfies you, you may stop here and continue to Step 3. Otherwise, you may want to look at different directories on your server which may be taking up space, such as /var/log/, /opt/zimbra/zmstat/, /opt/zimbra/backup/)

Step 3: Prevent Future Bloat

The following commands help in preventing the Redo log files taking large disk space on your server.
Below are some recommended settings, however you may adjust accordingly as per your company’s data retention policy.

zimbra@localhost:~$ zmprov ms zmhostname zimbraRedoLogArchiveInterval 1d
zimbra@localhost:~$ zmprov ms zmhostname zimbraRedoLogDeleteOnRollover TRUE
zimbra@localhost:~$ zmcontrol restart

Get Your Zimbra-based E-mail Accounts on Shared, VPS or Dedicated Server

Zimbra is ideal for those who care about data sovereignty and maintaining 100% control over the email service & data of their business.

At NetShop ISP we offer three types of hosting for Zimbra e-mails:

• Shared E-mail Server: Fully managed email hosting service, starting from €2.99/month
  
• VPS Server: Zimbra Collaboration solution hosted on Virtual Private Server. Based on recommended hardware specifications, solution starts from €25/month
  
• Dedicated Server: Recommended for businesses and organizations with more than 50 e-mail accounts. Pricing depends on the server’s specifications, roughly start from €99/month.

For more information or to get a free consultation about the right Zimbra hosting package that suits your business, please contact our Sales representatives.

This article walks you through configuring network bonding in Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and Debian 12, both of which use Netplan for network management.

Network bonding (also known as NIC teaming or link aggregation) allows combining multiple network interfaces into a single logical interface to increase bandwidth and provide redundancy.

This article walks you through configuring network bonding in Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and Debian 12, both of which use Netplan for network management.

Prerequisites

• A system running Ubuntu 24.04 LTS or Debian 12.
• At least 2 physical NICs (e.g., ens3, ens4).
• Root or sudo privileges.

In the commands that follow below we assume you are connected with root account, therefore you don’t need to prepend the sudo to your commands.

Step 1: Install Required Packages

root@localhost:~$ apt update
root@localhost:~$ apt install ifenslave net-tools

ifenslave is required to attach and detach physical interfaces to a bonding interface.

Step 2: Load the Bonding Kernel Module

Temporarily load the bonding module:

sudo modprobe bonding

To load it at every boot, add it to the file /etc/modules as follows:

root@localhost:~$ echo "bonding" | sudo tee -a /etc/modules

Step 3: Configure Bonding via Netplan

On servers which utilize multiple NIC ports, it is important to identify the interfaces which are involved in bonding/aggregation.

List all interfaces:

root@localhost:~$ ip link

Take note of the NICs you want to bond (e.g., ens3 and ens4).

Create or Edit the Netplan Configuration

Netplan configs are stored under /etc/netplan/. You’ll either edit an existing .yaml file or create a new one.

root@localhost:~$ nano /etc/netplan/01-bonding.yaml

Example Configuration (Active-Backup Mode)

network:
  version: 2
  renderer: networkd
  bonds:
    bond0:
      interfaces: [ens3, ens4]
      parameters:
        mode: active-backup
        primary: ens3
        mii-monitor-interval: 100
      dhcp4: no
      addresses:
        - 192.168.1.100/24
      gateway4: 192.168.1.1
      nameservers:
        addresses: [8.8.8.8, 1.1.1.1]

You can change the mode to balance-rr, 802.3ad, etc., based on your switch capabilities.

You can read more information about the bonding modes in this official Ubuntu tutorial.

Step 4: Apply the Netplan Configuration

Once you are done with your netplan configuration, its better to validate for any syntax errors. Do it as follows:

root@localhost:~$ netplan try

If no errors come up, proceed with applying your configuration:

root@localhost:~$ netplan apply

Optional: Enable LACP (802.3ad mode)

If your switch supports LACP, you can use 802.3ad mode as follows:

Edit your netplan file (e.g. /etc/netplan/01-bonding.yaml) and do the following:

From the configuration we used in this article,
replace:

mode: active-backup
primary: ens3
mii-monitor-interval: 100

with:

mode: 802.3ad
mii-monitor-interval: 100
transmit-hash-policy: layer2+3

LACP requires switch configuration for aggregation (usually called LAG or EtherChannel).

Bonding Modes Summary

Mode	Description	Switch Support Needed
balance-rr	Round-robin load balancing	Yes
active-backup	One active, others standby	No
balance-xor	Transmit based on hash policy	Yes
802.3ad	IEEE 802.3ad (LACP)	Yes
tlb	Adaptive transmit load balancing	No
alb	Adaptive load balancing (Tx and Rx)	No

Summary: Increase Traffic Throughput & Maximize Uptime

Network bonding provides redundancy and performance benefits. By using Netplan on Ubuntu 24.04 or Debian 12, you can configure bonding cleanly and persistently.

As NetShop ISP’s network infrastructure is fully redundant by design, grab the opportunity to take full advantage of this by enabling additional network redundancy on your Dedicated Servers.

Contact our Customer Care team for a free consultation or more information about applying LACP on your servers.

In this article, we explore what AVX technology is, why it’s essential for MetaTrader 5, and how to configure it in Dell PowerEdge servers via iDRAC for maximum performance.

When it comes to trading platforms like MetaTrader 5 (MT5), performance isn’t just a preference—it’s a necessity. Financial institutions, prop trading firms, and brokerage operators rely heavily on speed, accuracy, and responsiveness. But what many don’t realize is that server-level CPU settings can have a significant impact on MT5 performance. One such setting is the AVX Scaling Technology, which is critical for systems running heavy vectorized workloads; just like MT5.

In this article, we explore what AVX technology is, why it’s essential for MetaTrader 5, and how to configure it in Dell PowerEdge servers via iDRAC for maximum performance.

What is AVX and Why Does It Matter?

AVX (Advanced Vector Extensions) is a set of CPU instructions designed to handle heavy computational tasks such as simulations, analytics, or, in the case of MT5, real-time trade calculations and price data processing. These instructions help accelerate performance by enabling CPUs to process more data per clock cycle.

However, AVX instructions are power-hungry. To maintain system stability, Intel CPUs automatically reduce core frequency when executing AVX workloads. This is where the AVX Scaling Technology comes into play—it lets you control how aggressively the CPU should throttle down during AVX workloads.

How AVX Scaling Affects MetaTrader 5

MT5 servers often run multiple Expert Advisors (EAs), high-frequency trading bots, and real-time data feeds. All of these make extensive use of floating-point and vector-based calculations—precisely what AVX is designed to accelerate.

If AVX Scaling is set too conservatively, your server may throttle the CPU significantly, reducing MT5’s performance under load. On the other hand, tuning this setting appropriately can provide:

• Lower latency in order execution
• Faster tick processing
• Improved performance for concurrent EAs
• Reduced execution delays during market spikes

AVX Scaling Options Explained

On Dell PowerEdge servers, the AVX Scaling setting can typically be adjusted in the BIOS or via iDRAC. The options are numeric:

• 0 – No scaling: The CPU runs AVX workloads at maximum turbo frequencies. Best for performance but increases heat and power draw.
• 1 – Moderate scaling: Balanced option that slightly reduces frequency to maintain system stability.
• 2 – Aggressive scaling: Significantly reduces CPU frequency during AVX workloads to prioritize thermals and power efficiency.

For MT5 servers where performance is paramount, setting AVX to 0 is highly recommended—provided you have sufficient cooling and power headroom.

How to Change AVX Scaling in Dell Servers via iDRAC

Adjusting the AVX scaling on Dell PowerEdge servers is straightforward using iDRAC (Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller). Follow these steps:

Step 1: Log in to iDRAC

Open your browser and enter the iDRAC IP address. Log in with administrative credentials.

Step 2: Navigate to BIOS CPU Settings

From the left-hand menu:

• Go to System → BIOS Settings

• Then select Processor Settings

Here, you’ll find the AVX Settings section.

Step 3: Modify AVX Settings

Locate:

• AVX Control: Set this to Enabled
• Dell AVX Scaling Technology: Set to 0 for maximum performance
• AVX ICCP Pre-Grant: Set to 512-Heavy

This setting allows the CPU to run AVX instructions at maximum frequency, ensuring no throttling takes place during heavy MT5 activity.

Important: Any changes to processor settings may require a power cycle (not just a reboot) to take effect.

Thermal & Power Considerations

While setting AVX Scaling to 0 will boost performance, it may increase power draw and heat output. Here are some recommendations:

• Ensure sufficient airflow: Make sure your server chassis is optimized for airflow. Check for dust buildup and proper fan operation.
• Monitor CPU temps: Use Dell OpenManage or other tools to keep tabs on CPU temperature and fan speeds.
• Evaluate your power capacity: Ensure your rack’s PDU and UPS can handle increased load during high-frequency trading hours.

Need Help Optimizing MetaTrader 5 Server?

If you’re a trading firm, FX broker, or fintech provider looking to deploy high-performance infrastructure for MT5 or MT4, NetShop ISP offers tailored High-performance Compute (HPC) VPS and Dedicated server solutions with fully optimized BIOS configurations—including AVX tuning, NUMA alignment, and low-latency networking.

Get in touch with our hosting specialists for a free consultation.

MetaTrader 4™ and MetaTrader 5™ are trademarks of MetaQuotes Software Corp. Their use does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by the respective trademark holders.

NetShop ISP will be attending at the iFX EXPO International 2025 (17-19 June, Limassol, Cyprus) to present the XConnect Solution.

We are excited to announce that NetShop ISP will be attending once again at iFX EXPO International 2025, taking place from June 17–19 at the City of Dreams Mediterranean, Limassol, Cyprus.

This year, our spotlight will be on XConnect, our revolutionary connectivity solution that has been purpose-built for the trading industry. Designed to simplify and accelerate how brokers connect with liquidity providers, trading platforms, CRMs, and payment gateways, XConnect is redefining the way infrastructure is deployed in the forex and fintech space.

What is XConnect?

XConnect by NetShop ISP is a centralized hosting ecosystem offering seamless interconnection between brokers and mission-critical third-party services. Whether you’re launching an MT4/MT5 brokerage or scaling operations across multiple platforms, XConnect delivers:

• Ultra-low latency connections to Tier-1 LPs, bridges, and fintech APIs
• Direct access to global trading infrastructure within Equinix data centers (LD4, LD7, SG5)
• Secure, compliant architecture with redundancies at all layers

Visit XConnect’s product page for an in-depth look at its features and benefits.

Let’s Connect in Limassol, Cyprus

Whether you’re looking to accelerate execution speed, improve connectivity to key providers, or simplify your trading stack, XConnect is the solution you’ve been waiting for. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience it firsthand at iFX EXPO 2025.

👉 Schedule a Meeting

Read about the recent blackout for Forex traders using the MT4/5 platform in China.

At NetShop ISP, our deep involvement in the Forex industry as a trusted hosting solutions provider drives us to stay informed and responsive to key developments affecting brokers and traders worldwide.

In late May 2025, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms became inaccessible to new users in China, marking the second major disruption in recent months. According to industry sources (FinanceMagnates, PropInsider, TradingView) the outage lasted over a week and primarily affected new retail traders attempting to register through the MetaTrader mobile apps. Existing users remained unaffected, continuing their trading activities as usual.

The disruption is believed to be linked to China’s intensified use of anti-fraud surveillance tools. Many citizens are now required to install the National Anti-Fraud Center app, which may flag foreign trading applications such as MT4/MT5 as potentially malicious or fraudulent. This classification could have triggered automatic restrictions or connectivity blocks by local ISPs.

In response, MetaQuotes issued emergency platform updates — MT4 Android build 1445 and MT5 Android build 4981 — aimed specifically at restoring access for Chinese users. These builds were distributed through direct .apk installations due to limited access to the Google Play Store in mainland China.

One of the affected brokers, Hong Kong-based GFM, confirmed the issue via a post on X (formerly Twitter), offering a workaround:

“Newly registered users in mainland China are currently unable to search for forex broker names to log in. Please use the desktop version of MT5 and input the server IP directly.”

The current situation, at the time of this article's publication (5th June 2025), the situation has been resolved and forex traders can normally access MT4 and MT5 trading platforms.

What We’ve Learned and Why XConnect Still Matters

It’s true – even some of our Forex brokers using the XConnect service were affected by the recent MetaTrader outage in China. This shows just how unpredictable and complex the internet landscape can be, especially when government restrictions come into play.

But it also highlights why having strong, region-specific infrastructure like XConnect is still incredibly important. While it may not be able to bypass every sudden block or disruption, it gives brokers a much more stable and direct route to China – which makes a real difference in day-to-day performance and reliability.

At NetShop ISP, we’re working closely with our clients to improve routes, adapt quickly, and find ways to stay ahead of these challenges. If you’re operating a Forex business and accepting clients from mainland China, having the right infrastructure in place isn’t just a technical detail; it’s a competitive advantage.

For more information on how NetShop ISP’s XConnect solution can support your trading operations in China, please visit our website or contact our Infrastructure Solutions team.

NetShop ISP announces the launch of its new PoP VPS (Virtual Private Servers at Points of Presence), utilizing the provider’s extended global infrastructure.

NetShop ISP, a leading global hosting provider with over two decades of experience, proudly announces the launch of its new PoP VPS (Virtual Private Servers at Points of Presence) hosting solution which utilizes NetShop’s extended global infrastructure.

The PoP VPS solution is designed to meet the growing demand for low-latency and high-availability hosting solutions. By leveraging NetShop ISP’s strategically located Points of Presence, clients can now host applications closer to their target audiences, resulting in improved user experiences and reduced load times.

Key Features of PoP VPS

• Global Reach: Deploy VPS hosting in more locations beyond traditional data centers, bringing services closer to end-users worldwide.
  
• Low Latency: Ideal for latency-sensitive applications, ensuring rapid data delivery and seamless user interactions.
  
• Scalable & Redundant: Built on high-performance cloud infrastructure, offering scalability and redundancy to accommodate growing business needs.
  
• Cost-Effective Expansion: Facilitates workload deployment without the necessity for full co-location or dedicated server resources.
  
• Easy Management: Management of PoP VPS Servers is simplified through the intuitive myNetShop Self-service Portal, enabling clients to oversee web hosting, servers, communications with the support team, and invoice payments efficiently.

The available regions available for PoP VPS orders are Australia, Colombia, Dubai (UAE), Japan, Mexico and the United States. More regions will become available towards end of June 2025.

For more information about NetShop ISP’s PoP VPS hosting and to explore deployment options, visit: https://netshop-isp.com.cy/virtual-servers/pop-vps/

NetShop ISP announce the 6th edition of FXGathering on 17th of June 2025 at Fat Fish Restaurant in Limassol, Cyprus.

NetShop ISP, a global leader in infrastructure and hosting solutions for the financial services industry, is proud to announce the 6th annual FXGathering, set to take place on 17th June 2025 at Fat Fish Restaurant in Limassol, Cyprus.

Organized and sponsored by NetShop ISP in collaboration with AlphaConnect and the Cyprus Fintech Summit, FXGathering has become one of the most exclusive and anticipated networking events in the Forex and FinTech calendar.

This invite-only event will bring together top-tier professionals from brokerage firms, technology providers, payment institutions, and fintech innovators for an evening of high-level networking, thought leadership, and collaboration.

Attendees can expect a curated guest list, a premium networking atmosphere, and valuable insights into the future of Forex and financial technologies. This year’s event is also expected to highlight emerging technologies, regulatory developments, and infrastructure innovations that are shaping the next decade of trading.

To learn more about the event, visit the official website: https://fxgathering.com