Hosting

The right server for your platform

Tamaranga platforms run on your own server. Here is what that server needs, how to choose a host, and what we take care of at launch.

Choosing a host

How to choose hosting

A VPS, VDS, or dedicated server

Every Tamaranga platform needs its own server: a VPS, VDS, or dedicated server. Standard shared hosting won't work.

Close to your audience

If your project serves a specific region, host it in that region. Your pages will load and respond faster.

Pick your server later

The 14-day trial runs on our servers. After you buy, you can start with a clean project or ask us to move your trial's settings and data across.

System requirements

A server for Tamaranga

Minimum specs to install and run the platform.

Minimum server configuration

Operating system
Rocky Linux 9.x or AlmaLinux 9.x
RAM
8 GB or more
CPU
4 CPU cores or more
Disk space
50 GB or more
Disk type
SSD or NVMe
Virtualization
KVM

Server environment

Web server
Nginx + php-fpm
PHP
8.3
PHP extensions
apc(u) curl dom gd gettext fileinfo json mbstring openssl pdo_mysql pcntl posix spl xmlreader zip
PHP setting
short_open_tag=On
Database
MySQL 8+
ionCube Loader
12+
Package manager
Composer
Search
SphinxHandles search queries. Setup is covered in the documentation

The minimum configuration above is enough to launch. If you expect heavy load or a large data volume, use the load-testing results below as a guide.

Load testing

How to choose a server for your load

As your project grows, it needs more resources. This table helps you pick a configuration based on how many listings and users you expect.

Server configuration
Active listings
Total listings
Users per day
Concurrent users
8 GB RAM + 4 CPU cores
500K
1M
~15K
150
16 GB RAM + 6 CPU cores
1M
2M
~30K
300
16 GB RAM + 8 CPU cores
1.5M
3M
~50K
500
How we tested

Load testing was run with Tsung. We counted a server as keeping up if it generated a page in 2 seconds or less. Beyond these loads, response times grew, but the server kept serving every request.

These configurations assume a server running Nginx + PHP-FPM with the OPcache and APCu extensions and Sphinx for search. Static project files and listing images are stored on a separate server, such as Amazon S3.

As your project grows

How to scale your infrastructure

What to do when a single server no longer has enough resources for your project.

1

Move the database to its own server

The database can become one of the bottlenecks as you grow, especially past 2–3 million listings. A dedicated database server with primary-replica replication takes the main load off.

2

Store static files and images separately

Static project files and listing images can live on a separate server, such as Amazon S3.

3

Move sessions to memcached

The platform supports storing sessions in memcached, which takes load off the main server.

4

The indexes are already in place

Every index covering the main queries on the listings tables ships out of the box.

Installation and setup

Common questions

Who sets up the server for the platform?

We set up the server when we first install the platform. After installation, we'll offer to set up external backups, which need an additional server.

After that, server setup by our specialist is billed separately, from $360.

Who installs the platform after I buy?

We do. The initial installation and setup of the platform on your server is part of the service, at no extra cost. On request, we'll also set up a copy of your project for custom development on a separate server, free of charge. If you started with a trial, we can also move the trial's settings and data to your server.

Can I reinstall the platform myself later?

Yes, if you set up the server to the requirements above and follow the installation guide. If you'd rather have us set up the server and install the platform, that work is billed separately.

Do I need a control panel like cPanel or Plesk?

We don't recommend one. A control panel gives you a web interface to some server settings, but it costs you performance and adds the risk of critical vulnerabilities. Panels also often can't install the software versions you need, such as MySQL 8.

We don't install a panel during the initial server setup, and we can't help configure a server that has a control panel installed.

Which server do I need for my load?

The minimum configuration above is enough to launch. If your project is built for heavy load or a large data volume, use the load-testing results as a guide. If you're unsure, we'll help you pick a configuration for your project.

Ready to launch your project?

Start with a free 14-day trial. You'll only need a server after you buy.