Customer Story
Running Point of Sale & Management Apps on VPS

We are Techsahara, running multiple SaaS applications including a Point of Sale system and a property management platform. Our goal was to find an app hosting server that offers stability, scalability, and affordability. Since our applications rely heavily on docker hosting, automated CI/CD pipelines, PHP hosting, and nginx hosting, we needed an environment that supports smooth deployment and reliable performance. Database Mart’s VPS app cloud met these needs perfectly, providing us with a solid foundation to efficiently manage and grow our services.
Our main websites are dukani.techsahara.xyz/login, titusai.techsahara.xyz, and makaosmart.org.

*Submitted by user "titu****@gmail.com"*

Application Scenario

Our primary use case is app hosting for containerized business applications that support up to 100 concurrent users smoothly. We run the latest Docker on an Ubuntu server, combined with GitLab Runners to manage our automated CI/CD pipelines. Our applications mainly use PHP and Python, and we rely on Nginx hosting as a reverse proxy to route traffic to the appropriate containers.

Typically, we have multiple Docker containers running simultaneously. The system handles real-time processing alongside scheduled background tasks, all orchestrated through automated deployments. This setup ensures efficient operation and delivers a responsive experience to our users.

Server Specifications

Product Name: Express Linux VPS
CPU: 2 Core
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 60GB SSD
Bandwidth: 100Mbps
Operating System: Ubuntu Server 22 LTS 64-bit

Deployment Process

1. Initial Setup

After receiving SSH credentials, we updated the Ubuntu system to ensure all packages were current. We then installed Docker, Nginx, Apache, and GitLab Runners to create a solid foundation for our applications.

2. Application Deployment

Our deployment process relies on GitLab CI/CD pipelines that automatically build and deploy application code into Docker containers on the VPS, streamlining updates and rollouts.

3. Network and Configuration Optimization

Nginx was configured as a reverse proxy to securely handle HTTPS traffic with SSL certificates. We also assigned custom environment variables and ports to each container, enhancing isolation and overall performance.

Performance Review

Under typical load, the server performs well and remains stable, with applications responsive for everyday tasks. Occasional slowdowns occur during heavy traffic, simultaneous container builds, or deployments due to the VPS size constraints. Nevertheless, performance is acceptable for light to moderate workloads, with no frequent reboots required.

Network Performance

Fast, low-latency connection.

Reliability Evaluation

The VPS has been running uninterrupted for over 158 days. There was a single forced restart when the server slowed down due to high load causing delayed app responses. Since then, optimizations have improved stability and responsiveness

Resource Utilization (Under Load)

Under normal operations, the server performs reliably, with predictable resource usage patterns:

• CPU Usage: Peaks typically range between 45% to 65%, especially during application deployments or when multiple CI/CD pipelines are triggered.
• RAM Usage: Varies between 60% and 80%, depending on how many containers are actively running and the nature of the workload.

Attached screenshots illustrate real-time CPU, memory, and network load during typical usage conditions.

Application Performance Evidence

To ensure stable performance and detect bottlenecks, we actively monitor our applications using various tools and logs:

• Live Resource Monitoring: Regular monitoring of CPU and RAM usage confirms that the server handles typical workloads efficiently, even during traffic surges or parallel deployments.
• CI/CD Pipeline Graphs: GitLab CI/CD dashboards show consistent build and deployment times, indicating that the environment is optimized for automated delivery workflows.
• Nginx Logs: Response times logged via Nginx show steady request handling, with no significant latency under normal traffic conditions.

These performance indicators, along with the attached monitoring screenshots, provide confidence in both application stability and deployment efficiency.

Optimization Tips

• Automated scripts to kill unused service instances, freeing resources
• Load balancing across multiple app instances to evenly distribute traffic
• Adjusted concurrency in worker processes to match CPU cores
• Tweaked timeout values in Nginx to avoid premature connection drops
• Configured caching to reduce backend load and improve response speed
• SSL offloading and logging customization for better security and monitoring

Conclusion & Recommendations

The Express Linux VPS provides reliable and affordable hosting for containerized applications with moderate user demands. To maintain optimal responsiveness, users should carefully monitor resource usage and optimize container builds. For more intensive workloads, upgrading to a higher-tier VPS is recommended. Additionally, employing automation scripts for service management and load balancing greatly improves overall system stability.

Why DBM?

• Competitive pricing compared to other hosting providers
• Excellent customer support and quick technical assistance
• Easy to manage VPS with Docker and GitLab integration

We highly recommend DBM for its outstanding hosting service and technical support.

Notes & Troubleshooting

Issue

Server slowdown causing app latency requiring restart

Solution

Monitored and optimized container resource usage; implemented auto-kill scripts for idle services

Issue

Initial misconfiguration of reverse proxy

Solution

Adjusted Nginx proxy rules and ports