Black Friday & Cyber Monday 2024 Offer – 30% LIFETIME DISCOUNT ON ALL VPS PLANS!

NetShop ISP, a leading global hosting provider, announces its Black Friday & Cyber Monday 2024 Hosting Deal. Customers can enjoy a 30% lifetime discount on all Virtual Private Server (VPS) plans, making it the perfect time to secure high-performance hosting solutions for businesses, developers, and traders.

Offer Details

• Coupon Code: BFCM30
• Discount: 30% off for life on all VPS orders.
• Valid Until: 2nd December 2024, 22:59 CET.
• Eligible Products:
  Standard VPS Plans
  Flexi VPS Plus
  Trading Access Servers
  Forex VPS

Why Choose NetShop ISP?

With 20+ years of expertise, NetShop ISP is trusted by organizations worldwide for its reliable and scalable hosting services. Our VPS plans are designed to meet the unique needs of businesses in diverse industries such as Forex, iGaming, Martech, and more.

Don’t miss this chance to secure a powerful VPS Server at an unbeatable price!

How to Claim

Simply visit https://my.netshop-isp.com.cy/cart/virtual-servers, choose your desired VPS Product and apply the BFCM30 coupon at checkout.

Check out the easiest guide on how to install Sendy on Ubuntu 22.04 Server

Sendy is a self hosted email newsletter application that lets you send bulk emails without restrictions or high costs that come with other commercial, “as-a-Service” newsletter platforms.

Sendy is very cheap ($69 one-time fee) and you can install it on your own server which gives you great control given the fact that your database will contain sensitive data of third-parties.

Whilst there are many articles explaining how to install Sendy on AWS, there are very few guides on how to install Sendy on a self-hosted server; this is what we will demonstrate in this article.

Easy Steps to Install Sendy on Ubuntu Server

Pre-requisites

• Valid Sendy license – during your license purchase you will be asked to submit your Name, Email and Domain name. These will be needed afterwards so make sure you remember them.
  
• Sendy application files – these are delivered to you upon the successful purchase of Sendy license.
  
• SSH access on Linux Ubuntu server with ‘root’ or a sudo privileged account.

Note: All commands in this tutorial assume you are accessing the server using the root account. In any other case, please prepend “sudo” to each of the commands listed below.

Step 1: Install LAMP (PHP, Apache, MySQL/MariaDB)

Sendy software requires the LAMP stack to be installed. Please use the following commands on your Ubuntu server to install Apache2, PHP and MariaDB server.

Install Apache2

root@localhost:~$ apt-get install apache2 -y

Then, enable rewrite module as follows:

root@localhost:~$ a2enmod rewrite

Install PHP-FPM and other required libraries

root@localhost:~$ apt-get install php-fpm libapache2-mod-php php-mysql php-curl php-xml -y

Install MariaDB 10x.

root@localhost:~$ apt-get install mariadb-server mariadb-client -y

Upon successful installation of MariaDB, proceed with the following command to secure the installation:

root@localhost:~$ mysql_secure_installation

We have included in bold letters where your input is required:

root@localhost:/var/www/html# mysql_secure_installation 

NOTE: RUNNING ALL PARTS OF THIS SCRIPT IS RECOMMENDED FOR ALL MariaDB
      SERVERS IN PRODUCTION USE!  PLEASE READ EACH STEP CAREFULLY!

In order to log into MariaDB to secure it, we'll need the current
password for the root user.  If you've just installed MariaDB, and
you haven't set the root password yet, the password will be blank,
so you should just press enter here.

Enter current password for root (enter for none): 
OK, successfully used password, moving on...

Setting the root password ensures that nobody can log into the MariaDB
root user without the proper authorisation.

Set root password? [Y/n] Y
New password: 
Re-enter new password: 
Password updated successfully!
Reloading privilege tables..
 ... Success!


By default, a MariaDB installation has an anonymous user, allowing anyone
to log into MariaDB without having to have a user account created for
them.  This is intended only for testing, and to make the installation
go a bit smoother.  You should remove them before moving into a
production environment.

Remove anonymous users? [Y/n] Y
 ... Success!

Normally, root should only be allowed to connect from 'localhost'.  This
ensures that someone cannot guess at the root password from the network.

Disallow root login remotely? [Y/n] Y
 ... Success!

By default, MariaDB comes with a database named 'test' that anyone can
access.  This is also intended only for testing, and should be removed
before moving into a production environment.

Remove test database and access to it? [Y/n] Y
 - Dropping test database...
 ... Success!
 - Removing privileges on test database...
 ... Success!

Reloading the privilege tables will ensure that all changes made so far
will take effect immediately.

Reload privilege tables now? [Y/n] Y
 ... Success!

Cleaning up...

All done!  If you've completed all of the above steps, your MariaDB
installation should now be secure.

Thanks for using MariaDB!

Step 2: Create Database for Sendy

Connect to your mysql server using command line using the root password you set in the previous step.

root@localhost:~$ mysql -uroot -p

MariaDB [(none)]> create database sendydb;

Create a user and grant it with full permissions on the database:

MariaDB [(none)]> GRANT ALL ON sendydb.* TO 'sendy'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'enter-strong-password-here';

Step 3: Upload Sendy software

Upon successful license purchase, a zip file containing the application files should have been delivered to you. Upload the zip on the /var/www/html/ directory of your server and proceed with unzip, as follows:

root@localhost:/var/www/html$ unzip sendy-6.1.1.zip

A new folder ‘sendy’ will be created under /var/www/html. In order to avoid having the /sendy/ in your URL, you can move the contents outside the /sendy/ folder, as follows:

root@localhost:/var/www/html$ mv /var/www/html/sendy/* /var/www/html/

Also ensure you move the .htaccess, as follows:

root@localhost:/var/www/html$ mv /var/www/html/sendy/.htaccess /var/www/html/

Update database credentials in Sendy config file:

root@localhost:/var/www/html$ vi sendy/includes/config.php

Update the fields $dbHost , $dbUser, $dbPass, $dbName according to the details of your mysql database (refer to Step 2 above).

/* MySQL database connection credentials (please place values between the apostrophes) */
$dbHost = 'localhost'; //MySQL Hostname
$dbUser = 'sendy'; //MySQL Username
$dbPass = 'enter-strong-password-here'; //MySQL Password
$dbName = 'sendydb'; //MySQL Database Name

Save the file and exit.

Step 4: Restart LAMP stack and enable to auto-start on server boot

Restart all services using the following commands:

root@localhost:~$ systemctl restart apache2 && systemctl restart php8.1-fpm && systemctl restart mysql

Then, enable services to auto-start as follows:

root@localhost:~$ systemctl enable apache && systemctl enable php8.1-fpm && systemctl enable mariadb

Step 5: Install Sendy

The last step of this tutorial is the easiest. Prior accessing the Sendy installation wizard, navigate to the following URL to confirm your server environment meets all requirements for Sendy:

https://<your_domain>/_compatibility.php?i=1

If everything has been installed as per this tutorial, you should see a 10/10 score which means you can proceed to installing Sendy.

Navigate to the following URL so you can begin the Sendy installation:

https://<your_domain>/_install.php

Complete the required fields as indicated in the installation wizard and click “Install now“.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Sendy on Ubuntu 22.04 server!

Need Help? Have Sendy Installed for Free!

By purchasing any VPS or dedicated server from NetShop ISP, we can install Sendy completely free of charge. All we will need is the license key and the zip file which you have obtained when purchasing the Sendy license.

For more information please contact our Hosting specialists today!

In this article we will explain the reasons one may want to extract the certificates from a .PFX file and the exact steps on how to do it using openssl.

PFX (Personal Information Exchange) is a file format used to store cryptographic information in a single file. One type of information held within a PFX file is SSL Certificate chains along with the Private Key.

In this article we will explain the reasons one may want to extract the certificates from a .PFX file and the exact steps on how to do it using OpenSSL.

Why Extract Certificates from Single .PFX File

Extracting certificates and private keys from a .pfx file can be necessary in various scenarios, particularly when managing SSL/TLS certificates, application deployments, or secure communications.

1. Application Requirements

Some applications or servers require separate files for certificates and private keys instead of a combined .pfx file:

Web Servers
Servers like Apache or Nginx require the private key and certificates to be in PEM format (.key and .crt files).

Load Balancers
Many load balancers such as HAProxy require the certificate chain (.crt) and private key in specific formats.

Mail Servers
Email software like Zimbra often require separate key and certificate files.

2. Compatibility & Migration

A .pfx file (PKCS#12) is mainly used in Windows systems whereas .pem, .crt and .key are using in Linux. For example, in cases when a wildcard SSL certificate is installed on a Windows Server and then a developer wants to install it in Linux, the certificates must be extracted from the .pfx file prior installing them on a Linux environment (web server, proxy, etc).

3. Easy Renewal & Replacement

Extracting the Private Key from a .PFX is useful in cases of SSL renewal, when one needs to quickly issue a renewed certificate, without going through the hassle of CSR generation.

Best Way to Extract Certificates and Private Key from PFX file

OpenSSL is the utility with which we can extract certifcates and private key from a .pfx file.

In Linux systems use the following command to install openssl:

john@localhost:~$ sudo apt install openssl -y

If you are a Windows user, please visit OpenSSL’s Wiki for instructions on how to download and install OpenSSL for Windows.

Case 1: Extract all Certificates and Private Key in Single PEM file

The following command will extract all certificates (end-entity certificate, intermediate, root certificate s) and private key in a single .pem file.

john@localhost:~$ sudo openssl pkcs12 -in yourPFXFile.pfx -out yourExtractedFile.pem -nodes

Case 2: Extract all Certificates and Private Key in Individual Files

In case you want to have each certificate (end-entity, intermediate, root, private key) in separate files, use the following commands:

Extract the private key:

john@localhost:~$ sudo openssl pkcs12 -in yourPFXFile.pfx -nocerts -nodes -out yourExtractedKey.pem

Extract the end-entity certificate:

john@localhost:~$ sudo openssl pkcs12 -in yourPFXFile.pfx -clcerts -nokeys -out yourExtractedEntityCert.pem

Extract the intermediate and root (if any) certificates:

john@localhost:~$ sudo openssl pkcs12 -in yourPFXFile.pfx -cacerts -nokeys -out yourExtractedChain.pem

Congratulations! If you followed the above steps you should have successfully extracted your desired certificates and private key from PFX file.

NetShop ISP, a global leader in hosting solutions, is pleased to announce that its CEO, Stefano Sordini, will be participating as a speaker at the Cyprus Fintech Summit 2024.

NetShop ISP, a global leader in hosting solutions, is pleased to announce that its CEO, Stefano Sordini, will be participating as a speaker at the Cyprus Fintech Summit 2024, taking place on December 6th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Limassol, Cyprus. Stefano Sordini will moderate a discussion panel titled “The Future of Forex and Crypto Trading with AI Automation,” where he and other prominent industry leaders will explore how AI-driven automation is transforming trading, financial services, and investment strategies in forex and cryptocurrency markets.

About the Cyprus Fintech Summit 2024

The Cyprus Fintech Summit is the country’s premier event dedicated to advancements in financial technology. The summit draws industry professionals, tech innovators, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders from across the region and beyond, offering a unique forum to discuss the future of fintech in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

The event will feature insights from experts on emerging technologies, regulatory trends, and the growing impact of artificial intelligence across various sectors, including trading, banking, and blockchain.

NetShop ISP is the official web hosting sponsor of Cyprus FinTech Summit 2024.

Panel Discussion: “The Future of Forex and Crypto Trading with AI Automation”

As moderator of the panel, NetShop ISP’s CEO will guide an in-depth conversation on the growing influence of AI automation in trading. Topics will include how brokers and traders can leverage machine learning and predictive analytics for enhanced trading strategies, the latest developments in AI-driven trading platforms, and the implications for market transparency and risk management.

About Stefano Sordini

Stefano Sordini is the CEO of NetShop ISP, a leading global hosting solutions provider celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Under his leadership, NetShop ISP has expanded its presence with data centers worldwide, including major financial and tech hubs like Equinix LD4, LD6, LD7 in London, and SG5 in Singapore. Known for its pioneering infrastructure, NetShop ISP serves a broad array of industries, including fintech, iGaming, MarTech, and ICT, consistently providing cutting-edge solutions to meet the needs of organizations across the globe. With a background in financial technology and IT infrastructure, Stefano is an advocate for innovation and digital transformation within fintech, making him a fitting voice for this impactful discussion.

Event Details

• Date: December 6, 2024
• Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Limassol, Cyprus
• Registration: For more information or to register for the Cyprus Fintech Summit, visit https://cyprusfintechsummit.com.

As Daylight Saving Time (DST) approaches, it’s important to understand how this change affects your MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) trading platforms and what steps are necessary to ensure smooth operations.

As Daylight Saving Time (DST) approaches, it’s important to understand how this change affects your MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) trading platforms and what steps are necessary to ensure smooth operations. This guide explains what’s changing, why it matters, and how to adjust your server timezone settings accordingly.

What Does the DST Change Mean?

In regions that observe DST, clocks will soon shift by one hour. For those using GMT+2 (Athens) time, this typically involves setting clocks back an hour in the fall and forward an hour in the spring. This adjustment helps keep local time aligned with daylight hours, but it also has significant impacts on time-sensitive systems, such as trading platforms.

Why is DST Important for MT4 and MT5 Trading Platforms?

MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms are heavily time-dependent. The platform relies on accurate timestamps to handle trades, log history, and maintain alignment with market hours. Incorrect server times can result in:

1. Order Execution Issues
   Orders may execute at incorrect times if the server time isn’t aligned with the market, leading to potential losses or missed trading opportunities.
   
2. Inaccurate Trading Data
   Trading charts, reports, and history logs may show inaccurate times, making it harder to analyze performance and market trends.
   
3. Data Consistency Across Servers
   Any additional servers that send or receive data to/from MT4/MT5 must match the main server’s time settings to ensure smooth data flow and prevent errors.

How to Update Your Server Timezone Settings

Depending on the current timezone settings configured on your MT4/5 platform and the server itself, you may or may not need to do any changes. All forex brokers must get advise from their respective trading platform administrator whether any changes are required.

How to Update Timezone on Windows Server 2022

From the bottom right of your windows server screen, right-click on the server’s time so you get prompted with the popup menu as shown in the screenshot below.

Then click Adjust date/time.

On the new window you will be presented with the current time zone settings. In our example, the server is currently configured with UTC+3 Moscow, St. Petersburg which is not impacted by DST changes.

So in this case, we will change the time zone to: (UTC +02:00) Athens, Bucharest.

Ensure the option “Set time automatically” is On and then close the window.

Make sure that the time on your server has changed to reflect the correct time with DST, from the bottom-right of your server’s window.

Final Reminder

Making these updates before the upcoming FX trading market opening will prevent unnecessary complications and ensure your trading platforms operate smoothly. If you need assistance or have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team.

Customers subscribed to NetShop’s Premium SLA are entitled to a free hands-on assistance for this task.

NetShop ISP, a global leader in web hosting and data center services, is proud to celebrate its 20th anniversary. Over the past two decades, NetShop ISP has grown from a local service provider to an international powerhouse, renowned for its innovative solutions, exceptional customer service, and commitment to technological excellence.

NetShop ISP, a global leader in web hosting and data center services, is proud to celebrate its 20th anniversary. Over the past two decades, NetShop ISP has grown from a local service provider to an international powerhouse, renowned for its innovative solutions, exceptional customer service, and commitment to technological excellence.

A Journey of Growth and Innovation

Founded in 2004 in Cyprus, NetShop ISP began with a vision to provide reliable and affordable web hosting solutions to local businesses. The early years saw steady growth as the company expanded its offerings to include dedicated servers, colocation services, and managed hosting solutions. By consistently focusing on customer satisfaction and technical support, NetShop ISP quickly established a reputation for excellence in the industry.

Download NetShop ISP’s 2024 Annual Brochure >>

Key Milestones in NetShop ISP’s History

2004: NetShop ISP is founded in Cyprus, launching its first range of web hosting services.

2006: Introduction of dedicated servers and colocation services, marking the company’s entry into the broader data center market.

2010: Expansion beyond Cyprus with the establishment of data centers in key locations across Europe and Asia, enhancing global service delivery.

2014: Launch of a suite of managed services, including security, backup, and disaster recovery solutions, catering to the growing demand for comprehensive IT support.

2018: Opening of new data centers in the United States and Asia, further extending NetShop ISP’s global reach and infrastructure capabilities.

2020: Strategic entry into the Forex and Fintech markets, marked by a significant expansion of infrastructure within Equinix data centers, achieving stunning growth and providing robust, low-latency solutions for financial trading platforms.

2022: Achievement of multiple industry certifications, including ISO 9001, reinforcing the company’s commitment to information security and quality management.

2023: Recorded a substantial growth of 75% increase in new customers and 25% increase in profits.

2024: Infrastructure expansion within the Equinix London LD7 and and LD4 Data centers offering Dedicated and Virtual Servers, DDoS Protection and Cross-connect Services.

Serving Key Markets: iGaming, Forex, and ICT

NetShop ISP has established itself as a leading provider in several key markets, including iGaming, Forex, and Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

iGaming: The company serves some of the biggest names in the online gaming industry, providing high-performance hosting solutions that ensure seamless, uninterrupted gaming experiences. NetShop ISP’s robust infrastructure supports the complex needs of online casinos, sports betting sites, and gaming platforms, delivering low latency and high availability.

Learn more about iGaming Hosting Solution >>

Forex: Entering the Forex market in 2020, NetShop ISP has become a trusted partner for financial trading platforms. By leveraging Equinix data centers, the company offers low-latency, high-performance hosting solutions critical for real-time trading operations. This infrastructure ensures that Forex clients can operate with the speed and reliability necessary to succeed in the highly competitive trading environment.

Learn more about Forex Trading Hosting Solutions >>

ICT: NetShop ISP provides a wide range of services to the ICT sector, including cloud hosting, disaster recovery, and managed services. The company’s solutions are designed to support the dynamic and evolving needs of technology firms, offering scalable, secure, and reliable infrastructure that enhances operational efficiency and innovation.

Pioneering Technological Advancements

NetShop ISP has always been at the cutting edge of technology. The company’s entry into the Forex and Fintech markets in 2020 represented a pivotal moment, leveraging the infrastructure within Equinix data centers to offer unparalleled low-latency and high-performance solutions tailored to the needs of financial trading and technology firms. This strategic move enabled NetShop ISP to deliver enhanced connectivity, security, and scalability, cementing its position as a preferred provider for the financial sector.

Commitment to Customer Excellence

Throughout its 20-year journey, NetShop ISP’s commitment to customer excellence has remained unwavering. The company offers 24/7 support and personalized service to meet the unique needs of each client. This dedication has earned NetShop ISP numerous awards and a loyal customer base that spans industries such as finance, gaming, e-commerce, and media.

“Their customer support team is always responsive and helpful, ready to assist with any queries or technical issues I encounter. The setup process was straightforward, and any minor issues were quickly resolved by their knowledgeable staff.” by Panayiotis Theodoulou on TrustPilot.

“I am an IT consultant for Forex brokers and i was referred to NetShop ISP by one of my existing customers. For the past 18 months i have been dealing almost on a daily basis with the guys at NetShop ISP for all my customers’ infrastructure, dedicated servers and forex vps needs.” by Stephen Surein on TrustPilot.

Looking to the Future

As NetShop ISP celebrates this significant milestone, the company is focused on the future. Plans are underway to expand its data center footprint further, with new facilities planned in emerging markets. Additionally, NetShop ISP is exploring new technologies such as edge computing and blockchain to stay ahead of industry trends and continue delivering innovative solutions to its clients.

About NetShop ISP

NetShop ISP is a leading provider of web hosting, dedicated servers, colocation, and managed services with a global presence. With state-of-the-art data centers in multiple countries and a reputation for excellence, NetShop ISP delivers reliable, secure, and scalable solutions to businesses of all sizes.

Website: https://netshop-isp.com.cy
Link to this PR: https://netshop-isp.com.cy/blog/netshop-isp-celebrates-20-years-of-innovation-and-excellence-in-hosting-and-data-center-solutions

NetShop ISP Makes Waves at Forex Expo Dubai 2024: Showcasing Cutting-Edge Hosting for the Financial Services Industry

NetShop ISP participated with great success in the 2024 Forex Expo in Dubai, one of the largest and most prestigious gatherings in the forex trading world. Hosted at the Dubai World Trade Centre, this two-day event drew over 10,000 forex professionals, including brokers, investors, and technology providers. With hundreds of exhibitors and attendees from diverse sectors, the expo served as an excellent platform for networking, innovation, and showcasing cutting-edge technologies designed for the fast-paced forex industry​.

The company also showcased its low-latency connectivity and cross-connect services, emphasizing their importance in reducing trade execution times. NetShop ISP’s infrastructure ensures that traders can access liquidity providers and trading platforms with minimal delays, optimizing overall trading performance—especially in high-frequency trading environments.

Another key highlight was the introduction of their revamped White-label Forex VPS Program. This program is specifically designed for brokers who want to offer their own branded Virtual Private Server (VPS) solutions to their clients. With scalable infrastructure and tailored configurations, the white-label solution allows brokers to enhance their service offerings without having to manage the technical backend.

Stefano Sordini, CEO of NetShop ISP, was actively engaged throughout the event. He met with existing partners and clients, gaining valuable feedback on the company’s services. These interactions also provided an opportunity for him to update attendees on NetShop ISP’s recent developments, including their expanding global data center footprint and the enhanced performance features of their new server offerings.

Overall, NetShop ISP’s presence at the Forex Expo 2024 demonstrated the company’s commitment to serving the evolving needs of the forex trading community. With their cutting-edge server infrastructure and innovative hosting solutions, NetShop ISP continues to lead the way in providing reliable, high-performance hosting for the fintech and trading industries​.

Learn more about NetShop ISP’s trading infrastructure hosting solutions: https://netshop-isp.com.cy/solutions/forex/.

This article will explore the various risks associated with not having adequate backups, and the importance of implementing multiple layers of backup solutions to safeguard your business.

In today’s digital age, data is the lifeblood of any business. Whether you’re running a small online store or a complex CRM system, the data stored on your servers is invaluable.

This is especially true for companies relying on forex trading platforms like MT5, where even a minor disruption can lead to significant financial losses. However, while servers are designed to be reliable, they are not infallible. Hardware failures, software corruption, and cyber-attacks can happen, potentially resulting in data loss or downtime that could cripple your operations.

As a leading hosting provider offering both VPS and dedicated servers, NetShop ISP understands the critical nature of server reliability. However, it’s important to note that our policy stipulates that clients are responsible for their own data backups.

While we provide robust infrastructure, ensuring data integrity through regular and comprehensive backups is the client’s responsibility. This article will explore the various risks associated with not having adequate backups, and the importance of implementing multiple layers of backup solutions to safeguard your business.

Understanding the Risks: Single Points of Failure

To highlight the importance of backups, let’s consider a typical server setup for hosting a CRM solution:

• Windows System and MySQL on Drive C
• Client Files/Documents on Drive D

This configuration is quite common, but it also presents several potential single points of failure:

1. MySQL Issues (e.g., Corrupted Tables): MySQL databases can become corrupted due to various factors, such as hardware failures, software bugs, or abrupt shutdowns. If your database becomes corrupted, you could lose crucial customer data, transaction records, or other vital information.
   
2. Drive C Fails: The drive hosting your Windows Operating System and MySQL database is critical. If this drive fails, not only will your operating system become inaccessible, but your database could be lost as well.
   
3. Drive D Fails: This drive typically contains client files and documents. If this drive fails, all stored documents could be lost, potentially leading to significant disruptions.
   
4. Total Server Failure (Hardware or Network Outage): A complete server failure, whether due to hardware malfunction or network issues, could render all your data and applications inaccessible.

Given these potential risks, having a comprehensive backup and disaster recovery (DR) plan is essential.

Let’s dive into the backup solutions that NetShop ISP offers and how they can mitigate these risks.

Backup and Disaster Recovery Solutions: Multi-Layered Protection

To ensure that your data remains secure and your business operations can continue uninterrupted, we recommend implementing multiple layers of backup solutions. Here are the primary options we offer:

1. Acronis Cloud Backup: Offsite Backup for Compliance and Continuity

Acronis Cloud Backup is one of the most reliable solutions for offsite backups. This service is ideal for both virtual and dedicated servers and can be used to back up files, operating systems, and entire disk snapshots.

• Why Offsite Backup? Offsite backups are crucial because they protect your data against local disasters, such as fires, floods, or theft. By storing backups in a separate location, you ensure that your data remains safe even if your primary server is compromised.
  
• Compliance and Business Continuity: For businesses that must adhere to specific compliance regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA), offsite backups are often required. Additionally, offsite backups are an integral part of any robust business continuity plan, ensuring that your data can be restored quickly in the event of a disaster.

2. VM Snapshots: Seamless Recovery for Virtual Servers

For virtual servers, VM Snapshots offer a quick and efficient way to restore your system to a previous state. Snapshots capture the entire state of your virtual machine, including the operating system, applications, and data at a specific point in time.

• 1-Click Recovery: In the event of a disaster, such as a software glitch or configuration error, you can use VM Snapshots to restore your server with just one click. This minimizes downtime and allows your operations to resume almost immediately.
  
• Flexibility: Snapshots can be taken at any time, enabling you to create backup points before making significant changes to your system. This flexibility allows for safe experimentation and easy rollback if something goes wrong.

3. DB Replication: Real-Time Data Protection

Database replication is another critical component of a comprehensive backup strategy. With DB Replication, NetShop ISP can set up real-time data replication for your databases, including MongoDB, MySQL/MariaDB, and MSSQL, on a secondary replication server.

• Real-Time Replication: This setup ensures that any changes made to your primary database are immediately reflected on the secondary server. In the event of a failure, the secondary server can take over, providing almost zero data loss.
  
• Redundancy: By replicating your database in real-time, you create redundancy, which is essential for high availability and disaster recovery. If your primary database server encounters an issue, the replicated server can seamlessly step in, ensuring continuous operations.

Mitigating Risks: A Layered Approach to Backups

Given the various risks associated with server failures, it’s crucial to implement a layered approach to backups. Here’s how you can mitigate each of the single points of failure mentioned earlier:

1. MySQL Issues (Corrupted Tables)

The most effective way to protect against MySQL issues, such as corrupted tables, is through real-time DB replication on a secondary server. This ensures that even if your primary database becomes corrupted, a near-identical copy exists on the secondary server. This approach minimizes downtime and data loss, allowing you to quickly switch to the backup database if necessary.

2 & 3. Drive Failures (C and D)

Even if your drives are configured with RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks), which offers some level of data protection, it’s still essential to have offsite backups and a well-thought-out partitioning strategy:

• Partitioning Strategy: We recommend partitioning your server as follows:
  
  • Drive C: System (Windows OS) on two disks in RAID1.
  
  
  • Drive B: MySQL database on two disks in RAID1.
  
  
  • Drive D: Client files on two disks in RAID1.
  
  By spreading each component across different disk sets, you reduce the risk of simultaneous failures affecting multiple critical components.
  
• Offsite Backups: Regularly back up the data on Drives C, B, and D to offsite storage using Acronis Cloud Backup. This provides an extra layer of security, ensuring that even if both your primary and RAID-protected disks fail, your data remains safe and recoverable.

4. Total Server Failure

In the event of a complete server failure, you need a robust disaster recovery plan:

• Server Snapshots: Take regular server snapshots and store them offsite. This allows you to quickly restore a live copy of your entire server to a new machine, minimizing downtime.
  
• Offsite File Backup: Ensure that files on Drive D are backed up daily to offsite cloud storage, such as Acronis. This ensures that the most recent versions of your critical documents and data are always available, even if your primary server fails.

Conclusion: Taking Responsibility for Your Data

As a hosting provider, NetShop ISP is committed to providing you with the infrastructure and tools you need to keep your servers running smoothly. However, the responsibility for ensuring that your data is backed up and protected lies with you, the client. By implementing the backup and disaster recovery solutions outlined in this article, you can safeguard your business against potential data loss and ensure that your operations can continue uninterrupted, no matter what challenges arise.

Remember, data loss can happen at any time, and the consequences can be devastating. Don’t wait until it’s too late—invest in a multi-layered backup strategy today. For more information about our backup solutions, please visit our Acronis Cloud Backup page or contact our support team for personalized assistance.

Your business’s future depends on the actions you take now. Secure your data, secure your business.

In this article we will highlight the importance of clock & time settings within an MT5 cluster, how to set it up and the time inconsistency impact to a Forex broker’s trading activities.

In the highly competitive and fast-moving world of forex trading, where even milliseconds can make the difference between profit and loss, precise time management within the MetaTrader 5 (MT5) server cluster is crucial.

An MT5 server cluster usually includes several key components: the main trade and history server, access servers, backup servers, and SQL export servers. Each of these components is essential for maintaining the smooth operation of a broker’s trading system.

However, a frequently overlooked yet crucial aspect that can disrupt this system is the synchronization of time across these servers. Any inconsistency in clock settings among these servers can cause major operational issues, impacting both the broker and their clients.

In this article we will highlight the importance of clock & time settings within an MT5 cluster and the consequences it can cause in a forex trading environment should it’s not setup correctly.

The Role of Each Server in the MT5 Cluster

Before going into the implications of time discrepancies, it’s essential to understand the role each server plays within a MetaTrader 5 Platform cluster:

Main Trade & History Server
This is the core server responsible for processing all trading operations. It manages order execution, trade history, and price feeds.

Access Servers
These servers act as intermediaries between the MT5 platform and clients, handling client connections, order placements, and trade requests.

Read more information about the MT5 Access Server here.

Backup Servers
These servers mirror the main trade server’s data, ensuring redundancy and continuity in case of a failure.

SQL Export Servers
These servers are responsible for exporting trading data to external databases, which can be used for reporting, CRM systems, and regulatory compliance.

The Consequences of Time Discrepancies in MT5 Environment

The importance of synchronized time across these servers cannot be overstated. Even minor time differences can cascade into significant issues, disrupting the trading experience and potentially leading to financial losses.

1. Order Execution and Trade Processing Delays

The most immediate impact of non-synchronized clocks is on order execution and trade processing. If the main trade server and the access servers are not perfectly aligned in time, clients may experience delays in opening or closing positions. For example, if the access server’s clock is ahead of the trade server, orders might be rejected or executed at incorrect prices, leading to client dissatisfaction and possible financial disputes.

2. Inaccurate Trade History and Reporting

The trade and history server maintains records of all executed trades, which are then used for client statements, auditing, and regulatory reporting. If there is a time mismatch between the trade server and the SQL export server, the trade data exported to external databases could be timestamped incorrectly. This discrepancy can result in inaccurate trade history, leading to issues with client reports, compliance checks, and even legal challenges if discrepancies are significant.

3. CRM and Client Data Issues

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems often rely on data exported from the MT5 platform to manage client interactions, track trading activity, and generate performance reports. If the SQL export server’s clock is out of sync with the trade server, the CRM system may display incorrect or outdated information. This can severely impact the broker’s ability to provide timely and accurate support to clients, potentially damaging the broker-client relationship.

4. Gateway and Liquidity Provider Communication Failures

In a typical forex brokerage setup, MT5 gateways are used to connect to liquidity providers, allowing brokers to access the broader financial markets for trade execution. Time synchronization issues between the trade server and the gateways can lead to failures in processing trades with liquidity providers. Orders might not be routed correctly, leading to rejected trades, incorrect pricing, or even exposure to market risks due to delayed executions.

5. Backup and Disaster Recovery Complications

Backup servers are designed to take over in case of a failure in the main trade server. However, if the backup server’s clock is not synchronized with the main server, the transition can result in data corruption or loss. This misalignment can also complicate disaster recovery efforts, as the broker may be unable to restore trading operations to their exact state before the failure, leading to potential discrepancies in client accounts.

Ensuring Time Synchronization Across the MT5 Cluster

Given the potential for serious operational disruptions, it’s imperative that brokers implement robust time synchronization protocols across their MT5 server clusters. This typically involves the use of Network Time Protocol (NTP) to ensure all servers are synchronized to a precise and reliable time source.

Regular monitoring and audits should be conducted to ensure that all components of the MT5 cluster remain in sync.

Fully Managed Server Hosting Solutions for MT5 Trading Platform by NetShop ISP

Hosting an MT5 Trading Server with NetShop ISP gives you a worry-free time to focus on running the most important aspects of your brokerage, such as dealing and risk management.

Trading servers under our Premium SLA enjoy full server administration as well as around-the-clock assistance for any technical-related queries or issues with the MT5 Platform.

NetShop ISP is a multi-award winning hosting provider, established in 2004, providing bespoke infrastructure and hosting services for leading companies in the Financial and Fintech sectors; Forex brokers, Liquidity Providers, Bridge and CRM platforms, and other Technology providers.

Disclaimer: All trademarks, references to MetaTrader 5 (MT5), MetaQuotes, MainTrade, History Server, Access Servers, logos and screenshots taken by the MT5 Platform, and any other related materials are the property and copyright of MetaQuotes Software Corp. All rights reserved. This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by MetaQuotes Software Corp.

NetShop ISP reinforces its commitment to global expansion by offering top-tier Virtual Private Server (VPS) services in Brazil, enhancing its presence in the rapidly growing Latin American (LatAm) market. August 30, 2024 — NetShop ISP, a leading provider of data center services and cloud solutions, is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest Virtual […]

NetShop ISP reinforces its commitment to global expansion by offering top-tier Virtual Private Server (VPS) services in Brazil, enhancing its presence in the rapidly growing Latin American (LatAm) market.

August 30, 2024 — NetShop ISP, a leading provider of data center services and cloud solutions, is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest Virtual Private Server (VPS) offerings in São Paulo, Brazil. This strategic expansion marks a significant milestone in NetShop ISP’s ongoing mission to deliver high-performance, reliable, and scalable cloud solutions to businesses across the globe, with a particular focus on the emerging Latin American (LatAm) market.

A Strategic Move into the LatAm Market

Brazil, as the largest economy in Latin America, has witnessed a surge in demand for robust digital infrastructure to support its growing online industries. Recognizing the immense potential and the increasing demand for cloud services in the region, NetShop ISP has strategically expanded its services to São Paulo, a major technology hub in Brazil. This expansion allows businesses in LatAm to leverage world-class VPS solutions that cater to their specific needs, from trading infrastructure hosting to geotargeted, SEO-boosted Ad campaigns and website hosting.

NetShop ISP’s new VPS plans in Brazil are designed to meet the diverse requirements of businesses in LatAm, ranging from small startups to large enterprises. By establishing a local presence in São Paulo, NetShop ISP is better positioned to provide low-latency, high-availability VPS hosting that ensures optimal performance and reliability for businesses operating in or targeting the Latin American market.

Brazil has emerged as one of the most sought-after hosting regions in 2024, driven by the growing demand from iGaming companies and Forex brokers seeking to establish a strong presence in the LatAm market. Additionally, e-commerce businesses and digital marketing agencies are increasingly turning to locally hosted servers within Latin America to achieve optimal SEO results and execute geo-targeted ad campaigns with precision.

About NetShop ISP

NetShop ISP is a globally recognized provider of premium data center services, cloud solutions, and managed hosting. With a presence in key markets across Europe, Asia, and now Latin America, NetShop ISP offers a comprehensive range of hosting solutions, including dedicated servers, VPS, cloud hosting, and colocation services. The company is known for its state-of-the-art infrastructure, exceptional customer support, and commitment to delivering tailored hosting solutions to Forex, iGaming, Fintech and ICT companies around the world.

For more information about NetShop ISP’s new VPS plans in Brazil and other global offerings, visit NetShop ISP’s Brazil VPS page.

Important information and Suggested Actions regarding the zero-click IPv6 vulnerability CVE-2024-38063

Microsoft has recently issued a critical security advisory concerning a newly discovered vulnerability affecting all Windows systems with IPv6 enabled. This vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2024-38063, allows remote code execution (RCE) without user interaction, posing a significant risk to servers and endpoints running on Windows 10, 11, and Windows Server.

Understanding the IPv6 Threat

The flaw, discovered by XiaoWei from Kunlun Lab, stems from an integer underflow weakness in the TCP/IP stack when processing IPv6 packets. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited in a “zero-click” attack, meaning no user interaction is required for an attacker to gain control of a system. The potential impact is severe, as the flaw can be exploited remotely, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code by simply sending specially crafted IPv6 packets to the target system.

Exploitation and Mitigation

Microsoft has labeled this vulnerability as “exploitation more likely,” emphasizing the urgency for organizations to apply the necessary patches. Due to the ease of exploitation and the critical nature of the flaw, it has been identified as a high-priority issue by cybersecurity experts.

To mitigate the risk for systems that cannot be immediately patched, Microsoft suggests disabling IPv6. However, they caution that even disabling IPv6 may cause disruptions, as it is an integral part of the Windows network protocol stack since Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.

This is not the first time Windows’ IPv6 implementation has been under scrutiny. Previous vulnerabilities, such as the “Ping of Death” (CVE-2020-16898) and an IPv6 fragmentation bug (CVE-2021-24086), have exposed similar weaknesses in the protocol, underlining the ongoing challenge of securing IPv6 implementations on Windows systems.

Immediate Action Required

Given the critical nature of CVE-2024-38063 and its potential for exploitation, immediate action is required from IT administrators and security teams. Patching systems should be prioritized to prevent potential breaches. In environments where patching is not immediately feasible, disabling IPv6 temporarily, while being mindful of the potential disruptions, could serve as a short-term mitigation strategy.

We strongly recommend that you install the latest Windows updats immediately. This is crucial, as the details of the vulnerability have become publicly available and can now be exploited by other attackers.

Emergency Support Services Available by NetShop ISP Support Team

In light of the critical IPv6 vulnerability affecting Windows systems, NetShop ISP’s 24×7 Support department is actively assisting customers with the necessary Windows updates to secure their systems.

Due to increased demand, customers under our Premium SLA are being prioritized. We encourage all other customers without a Premium SLA to submit a ticket via our portal to ensure their request is queued for support. Our team is committed to helping you protect your infrastructure during this urgent time.

For more details and updates, please refer to the original article on BleepingComputer.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through a straightforward process (two ways) to seamlessly connect to a Windows Server 2022 instance from Ubuntu, allowing you to manage your server from anywhere, anytime.

In today’s increasingly interconnected world, remote access to servers is a necessity for, not just IT professionals and developers, but also for individuals who require accessing remotely-hosted Windows machines.

Typical use cases for utilizing RDP connections to Windows servers include:

• Forex traders: Accessing a Windows Forex VPS for executing trades and managing trading platforms.
• HR professionals and accountants: Remotely accessing payroll and accounting systems hosted on Windows servers.
• Business owners: Connecting to their office-based Windows Server from home to manage business operations and access essential files.0

Ubuntu workstations have gained popularity among non-IT users in recent years due to their user-friendly interface, stability, security and cost-effectiveness (free OS versus Windows which requires a paid license). Knowing how to establish a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) connection from a Linux Ubuntu PC can save you time and streamline your workflow.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through a straightforward process (two ways) to seamlessly connect to a Windows Server 2022 instance from Ubuntu, allowing you to manage your server from anywhere, anytime.

Two Ways to RDP on Windows Server from Linux Ubuntu

Method 1: RDP Using Terminal with ‘rdesktop’

This method is quicker than the second, yet requires to feel a bit comfortable with using linux commands. For a fully command-less, GUI-based method please check Method 2 below.

Step 1: Open your terminal (Cltr + Alt + T)

Step 2: Install ‘rdesktop’ by executing the following commands:

root@ss-netshopisp:~$ apt update -y
root@ss-netshopisp:~$ apt install rdesktop -y

Step 3: Use the ‘rdesktop’ utility to connect remotely on your Windows machine:

root@ss-netshopisp:~$ rdesktop -u username -p password -g 1024x768 windows_server_ip_address

Notes for Step 3:
a. Replace username with your Windows account username.
b. Replace password with your Windows account password.
c. Replace 1024×768 with your desired screen resolution.
d. Replace windows_server_ip with the IP address of your Windows Server.

Step 4: Trust the Certificate Exception warning – if prompted

It is probable that upon your attempt to connect on a Windows Server, you will be prompted with a Certificate Exception warning. Type “Yes” to continue, as shown below.

Method 2: RDP Using Remmina Application

This method is considered easier than the first as all you need is to install the Remmina application from Ubuntu Software.

Step 1: Search for Ubuntu Software and click to launch as shown below.

Step 2: Search and Install Remmina.

a. Use the search icon at the top left corner and type Remmina.
b. One or more options may appear depending on your Ubuntu version. Choose one of them and click the Install button.
c. You should be prompted to enter your ubuntu’s account logins – these are the credentials you are using to login on your Ubuntu machine. Do it so you can authorize the system to proceed with the installation.

Step 3: Launch Remmina and Connect to Windows Server

a. Click the the icon at the top left corner to add a new server in the connections list, as below:

b. Click “Save and Connect” and you are good to go!

Method 2b: Install Remmina using Terminal

If you fancy working with linux commands, here is an alternative, command-based way to install Remmina on your Ubuntu workstation.

Step 1: Open your terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T).
Step 2: Run command: sudo apt update
Step 3: Run command: sudo apt install remmina remmina-plugin-rdp -y

Once the above steps are completed, you may continue to launch remmina and add your first server (see Step 3: Launch Remmina and Connect to Windows Server above).

Deploy Windows and Linux machines Globally with NetShop ISP

All NetShop ISP customers enjoy the privilege of virtual machines deployment worldwide. Spin up within seconds a virtual server (VPS) with your desired set of specifications and any operating system (linux or windows).

Create a Free Account Today to Get Started at https://my.netshop-isp.com.cy/signup