Laptop on 24/7 for running software

SkidMarkKing · 3 Sep 2018 at 09:43

Hi there,

I am using some software which requires my laptop to be on all the time.

Would anyone advise paying for a remote virtual machine service as this would probably workout cheaper than leaving my laptop on 24/7.

Thanks

btph · 3 Sep 2018 at 10:11

My guess is that a laptop on 24/7/52 would cost somewhere between £25 and £50 in electricity. So you'd be looking at less than £5/month. I can't remember for sure, but I think some of the smallest amazon VMs come in at about half that. So then the question becomes, what is the software you want to run?

SkidMarkKing · 3 Sep 2018 at 10:34

btph said:
My guess is that a laptop on 24/7/52 would cost somewhere between £25 and £50 in electricity. So you'd be looking at less than £5/month. I can't remember for sure, but I think some of the smallest amazon VMs come in at about half that. So then the question becomes, what is the software you want to run?

It will be used for a small automated program.

btph · 3 Sep 2018 at 11:01

Actually, I'll have to admit I'm out of my depth now. I've just checked, no idea where I got the idea about VMs costing that little from. The other thing to bare in mind is that a small automated program may not have to run 24/7, ie would it running once every hour be enough? I'm sure someone who knows what they are talking about will be along shortly!

btph · 3 Sep 2018 at 12:35

Ah, actually I wasn't too far off the mark. The most basic digital ocean "droplet", VM to you and I, comes in at $5/mo, running 24/7.

I'd be interested in your experience if you go down this route, so be sure to share your experience

SkidMarkKing · 3 Sep 2018 at 12:42

btph said:
Ah, actually I wasn't too far off the mark. The most basic digital ocean "droplet", VM to you and I, comes in at $5/mo, running 24/7.

I'd be interested in your experience if you go down this route, so be sure to share your experience

I have a trial for this software which I will test this week and then decide if to install it on a hosted VM

asim18 · 3 Sep 2018 at 16:28

The only advantage of having it hosted is if it needs good internet bandwidth. Otherwise, everything else is a disadvantage; you're not going to get the same resources, CPU/ram will be shared between dozens of users running all sorts of crap.