Build your own VM

Anchor provides you with the option of building your own virtual private server. Here’s how it works:

  1. Build a virtual machine on a local VMware, Xen or KVM server
  2. Ship the virtual server disc image file to Anchor
  3. Anchor installs and boots up your server

Why would I want to build my own server?

  • You’re very particular about how you would like your server built in the first place.
  • You have an existing virtual server which resides locally on which your application is already configured but you want it hosted and want to avoid a rebuild or migration.
  • You have a virtual machine hosted elsewhere that you wish to move to Anchor and you have a copy of the virtual server disc image file.
  • You already have a valid licence for your operating system and would like to make use of it.
  • It’s cool.
  • You are disturbingly anal about security on your server and never want anyone else to ever have access to it.
  • You want to run Gentoo and you are l33t h4x0r.

Technical details

What versions of VMware, Xen & KVM virtual servers do you support?

Anchor can support Linux and Windows VPS’ built on the following hypervisor versions:

  • Workstation 6.x, 5.x and 4.x
  • Fusion 1.x
  • ESX Server 3.x
  • ESXi Server version 3.5 (installable and embedded)
  • GSX Server 3.x
  • VMware Server 1.x
  • Virtual Center 2.x
  • Any VMware virtual appliance image
  • KVM – all versions
  • Xen – 3.2 onwards

Which files do I need to send you?

You will need to send a single file for the virtual server, this will have one of the following file extensions (depending on the version of VMware you have installed):

  • .vmdk
  • .vmx
  • .vmtn
  • .ovf
  • .ova

We do not currently support virtual machines created on Virtuozzo, Microsoft Virtual PC or Microsoft Virtual Server etc.

Network settings

When you submit an order Anchor will supply you with the network settings for your virtual machine. You will need to configure virtual machine with the supplied network settings before sending the virtual server disc image to Anchor.

Getting the virtual server disc image to Anchor

Your options for getting the virtual server disc image file to Anchor:

  • Deliver it in person on an external USB hard disk to the Anchor office in the Sydney CBD. Anchor staff will copy the file whilst you wait and move it to the data centre.
  • Courier/Post your USB hard disk to Anchor. Anchor staff will copy the virtual server disc image file and return the USB hard disk to you via courier/post (at your expense).
  • Burn the virtual server disc image file to a DVD, or chunk over several DVD’s if required, and post to Anchor.
  • If you have a seriously fast Internet connection we can provide you with a location to upload the virtual server disc image file to over the Internet.

Special conditions

If you build your own server, the only level of support that will be available is Anchor Monitor. You will not be able to upgrade to Anchor Secure or Anchor Complete at a later date.