Category: Tutorials

Use Ansible to Manage Multiple VPS Instances Efficiently

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Managing several VPS instances manually can be time-consuming and error-prone. With the power of Ansible, system administrators can automate repetitive tasks, deploy configurations, and maintain consistency across all their VPS servers — all from a single control node.

In this guide, we’ll explore how you can use Ansible to efficiently manage your VPS instances hosted with Hosteons.

🚀 What is Ansible?

Ansible is an open-source IT automation tool that allows you to manage systems using simple YAML-based playbooks. It doesn’t require any agent installation and communicates over SSH, making it ideal for managing Linux VPS environments.

✅ Benefits of Using Ansible with Hosteons VPS

  • Agentless: No need to install additional software on your VPS.
  • Scalable: Manage 2 or 200 servers with the same effort.
  • Consistent: Standardized deployments ensure fewer mistakes.
  • Efficient: Automate updates, security patches, and software installs.

🛠️ Prerequisites

To get started with Ansible, you’ll need:

  • A local machine (control node) with Ansible installed (Ubuntu/Mac/Linux).
  • SSH access to your Hosteons VPS instances.
  • All VPS servers should have a common user with SSH key access (preferably with sudo privileges).

🔧 Step-by-Step Setup

1. Install Ansible on Your Local Machine

For Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install ansible -y

For macOS (using Homebrew):

brew install ansible

2. Create an Inventory File

Ansible uses an inventory file to keep track of the VPS instances you want to manage.

Example: hosts.ini

[webservers]
vps1 ansible_host=192.0.2.1 ansible_user=root
vps2 ansible_host=192.0.2.2 ansible_user=root

Replace 192.0.2.x with the IPs of your VPS servers from Hosteons.

3. Test Connectivity

Use the ping module to verify connection:

ansible -i hosts.ini all -m ping

You should see a “pong” response if the connection is successful.

4. Create and Run a Playbook

Example: Install Apache on all VPS servers

---
- name: Install Apache on VPS
  hosts: webservers
  become: yes
  tasks:
    - name: Update apt packages
      apt:
        update_cache: yes

    - name: Install Apache
      apt:
        name: apache2
        state: present

Save this file as apache.yml, then run it:

ansible-playbook -i hosts.ini apache.yml

🔁 What Can You Automate?

  • Initial server setup
  • Firewall configuration
  • Software installation
  • Security updates
  • Deploying web applications
  • Monitoring tools setup (e.g., Fail2Ban, UFW, Zabbix)

📦 Combine with Hosteons Initial VPS Setup Script

Hosteons also offers an open-source initial VPS setup script on GitHub to secure and configure your new servers. You can run this once and then switch to Ansible for ongoing automation.

GitHub: https://github.com/hosteons/Initial-VPS-Setup-Script-for-Linux

Blog: https://blog.hosteons.com/2025/06/05/instantly-secure-and-set-up-your-vps-with-hosteons-initial-vps-setup-script/

🔒 Pro Tip: Use SSH Key Authentication

To avoid entering passwords for every VPS, use SSH key-based login and disable password authentication for improved security.

🏁 Final Thoughts

Ansible is a powerful way to save time and reduce errors when managing multiple VPS instances. Whether you’re running WordPress sites, managing Docker containers, or deploying custom apps — Ansible and Hosteons VPS make a powerful combination.

🖥️ Ready to scale your server management?

👉 Order a Hosteons VPS and start automating with Ansible today!

How to Install and Configure Nextcloud on a Hosteons VPS

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Nextcloud is a powerful open-source self-hosted cloud storage solution that allows you to store, share, and access your files from anywhere — securely and privately. With a VPS from Hosteons, you can deploy your own Nextcloud instance in minutes.

✅ Prerequisites

Before starting, make sure:

  • You have a Hosteons KVM VPS with at least 1 GB RAM (2 GB recommended).
  • You’re using Ubuntu 22.04 (or a similar Linux distro).
  • You have a domain name pointed to your VPS IP (optional but recommended).
  • SSH access to the VPS (as root or sudo user).

🧰 Step 1: Update Your System

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

⚙️ Step 2: Install Required Dependencies

sudo apt install apache2 mariadb-server libapache2-mod-php \
php php-gd php-mysql php-curl php-mbstring php-xml php-zip php-bz2 php-intl php-imagick php-gmp php-bcmath unzip wget -y

🗄️ Step 3: Configure MariaDB

sudo mysql_secure_installation

Then log into MariaDB:

sudo mysql -u root -p

Run the following queries to create a database and user:

CREATE DATABASE nextcloud;
CREATE USER 'nextclouduser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'strongpassword';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON nextcloud.* TO 'nextclouduser'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

📦 Step 4: Download and Extract Nextcloud

cd /var/www/
sudo wget https://download.nextcloud.com/server/releases/latest.zip
sudo unzip latest.zip
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data nextcloud
sudo chmod -R 755 nextcloud

🌐 Step 5: Configure Apache for Nextcloud

Create a new config file:

sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/nextcloud.conf

Paste this:

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerName yourdomain.com

    DocumentRoot /var/www/nextcloud

    <Directory /var/www/nextcloud/>
        Require all granted
        AllowOverride All
        Options FollowSymlinks MultiViews
    </Directory>

    ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/nextcloud_error.log
    CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/nextcloud_access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

Enable the config and necessary modules:

sudo a2ensite nextcloud.conf
sudo a2enmod rewrite headers env dir mime
sudo systemctl restart apache2

🔐 (Optional) Step 6: Secure with HTTPS using Let’s Encrypt

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-apache -y
sudo certbot --apache

🧪 Step 7: Final Setup via Web UI

Open your browser and go to http://yourdomain.com or http://your_server_ip

You’ll see the Nextcloud installer. Enter:

  • Admin username and password
  • Database name: nextcloud
  • Database user: nextclouduser
  • Password: your DB password
  • DB host: localhost

Click Finish Setup.

🎉 Done!

Nextcloud is now ready on your Hosteons VPS. You can install the mobile or desktop apps and start syncing your files securely.

🚀 Need a VPS?

Hosteons offers powerful, affordable VPS solutions with full root access, 10Gbps ports, and global payment methods including Crypto, Alipay, UPI, and more.

👉 Explore VPS Plans

How to Monitor VPS Resource Usage Like a Pro

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Whether you’re running a website, application, or a private service, keeping an eye on your VPS (Virtual Private Server) is crucial. Poor resource monitoring can lead to downtime, sluggish performance, or even security issues. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best tools and techniques to monitor your VPS resource usage like a seasoned sysadmin.

Why VPS Monitoring Matters

When you rent a VPS, you’re allocated limited resources like:

  • CPU
  • RAM
  • Disk space
  • Network bandwidth

If any of these are overused or misconfigured, your entire server performance can degrade — affecting uptime and user experience. Real-time monitoring helps prevent:

  • Unexpected crashes
  • Performance bottlenecks
  • Security breaches (like DDoS or crypto mining)
  • Exceeding bandwidth quotas

Key VPS Metrics to Monitor

  1. CPU UsageHigh CPU usage over time may signal bad code, a process gone rogue, or even a hacked server.
  2. Memory (RAM) UsageRunning out of RAM can cause your apps to crash or your OS to start swapping.
  3. Disk I/O and SpaceIf disk space fills up, backups fail, logs get lost, and the server might even crash. Also watch for high I/O which can slow everything down.
  4. Network TrafficMonitor both inbound and outbound traffic. Spikes could mean viral traffic — or an attack.
  5. Load AverageGives you a quick look at how stressed your system is overall, especially on Linux.

Tools to Monitor VPS Resources

Here are some tools — from basic to advanced — to help you monitor effectively:

🛠️ Basic Linux Commands (Good for SSH Users)

  • top or htop – Real-time CPU, memory, and process monitoring
  • free -m – RAM usage
  • df -h – Disk usage
  • iotop – Disk I/O monitoring
  • nload, vnstat – Network bandwidth tracking
  • uptime – Load average

📊 Web-Based Monitoring Tools

  • Netdata – Beautiful, real-time dashboards for CPU, RAM, Disk, Network, and more.
  • Glances (with Web UI) – A terminal-based tool with optional web dashboard.
  • Cockpit – Lightweight admin panel for basic server monitoring and control.
  • Grafana + Prometheus – Powerful combo for enterprise-grade, customizable monitoring.

🔔 Alerts and Uptime Monitoring

  • UptimeRobot / BetterUptime – Alert you when your server goes down.
  • Monit – Local monitoring tool that can also auto-restart services if they crash.
  • Zabbix / Nagios – Enterprise-level solutions with alerting and distributed monitoring.

Automate and Optimize Monitoring

  • Set Threshold Alerts – Get notified when CPU hits 90% or disk drops below 10% space.
  • Use Crontabs for Logs – Automate scripts to log and analyze stats daily.
  • Centralize Logs – Use tools like Logwatch or Logrotate to keep logs manageable and secure.

Security Tip

If you notice sudden CPU or network spikes, investigate immediately. Could be malware, brute-force attacks, or unauthorized scripts.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to be a DevOps engineer to monitor your VPS like a pro. Start with basic Linux commands, move to visual dashboards like Netdata, and eventually automate your monitoring with alerting systems.

Regular monitoring saves time, money, and the reputation of your services. Don’t wait for an outage to start caring — make it part of your server maintenance habit today.

Need a Reliable VPS?

Choose from our high-performance Intel KVM or Ryzen VPS solutions across US and EU with full root access and 10Gbps ports. Monitor with ease and scale effortlessly.

👉 Explore VPS Plans

Setting Up a Game Server on Your VDS – Step-by-Step for Beginners

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If you’re a gaming enthusiast or a developer looking to run your own private game server, a Virtual Dedicated Server (VDS) from Hosteons gives you the perfect combination of power, control, and affordability. Whether it’s Minecraft, CS:GO, ARK, Valheim, or any other multiplayer title, you can set it up on your own terms.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through setting up a basic game server from scratch on your VDS.

✅ Why Use a VDS for Game Hosting?

A VDS provides:

  • Dedicated CPU cores – unlike shared VPS resources.
  • Full root access – install and configure any game server software.
  • High bandwidth & low latency – great for hosting players globally.
  • Scalability – upgrade RAM, CPU, or storage as needed.

🛠️ Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure:

  • You’ve purchased a Ryzen VDS or Hybrid Server from Hosteons👉 Order here
  • You have a basic understanding of SSH and Linux commands.
  • Your VDS is running a supported OS like Ubuntu 22.04 or Debian 12.

🚀 Step-by-Step: Installing a Game Server

Step 1: Connect to Your VDS

Use SSH to log into your server:

ssh root@your-server-ip

Step 2: Update the System

apt update && apt upgrade -y

Step 3: Install Dependencies

For most game servers (like Minecraft or Valheim), you may need:

apt install screen wget unzip curl -y

Step 4: Create a New User (Optional but Recommended)

adduser gameserver
usermod -aG sudo gameserver

Then:

su - gameserver

Step 5: Download Your Game Server Files

Example for Minecraft Java Edition:

mkdir minecraft && cd minecraft
wget https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/your_server_jar_link_here -O server.jar

Accept the EULA:

echo "eula=true" > eula.txt

Step 6: Run the Game Server

java -Xmx2G -Xms1G -jar server.jar nogui

You can also run it inside a screen session:

screen -S mcserver
java -Xmx2G -Xms1G -jar server.jar nogui

Press Ctrl+A then D to detach the session.

🔓 Open Required Ports

Make sure to allow incoming game traffic. Example for Minecraft (default port 25565):

ufw allow 25565

Adjust based on the game you’re hosting.

📡 Optional: Set Up a Domain or Subdomain

Point your domain (like play.yourdomain.com) to your VDS IP for easy connection.

💬 Common Games You Can Host

  • Minecraft (Java/Bedrock)
  • CS:GO or Team Fortress 2 (via SteamCMD)
  • Valheim
  • ARK: Survival Evolved
  • Rust
  • 7 Days to Die
  • Terraria

💡 Tips for Better Performance

  • Choose a location closer to your players to reduce latency.
  • Use SSD or NVMe storage for faster world loading.
  • Regularly back up your game data using rsync or cron.
  • Monitor server usage with tools like htop or netdata.

🔥 Why Choose Hosteons for Game Hosting?

  • High-performance Ryzen 7950X VDS
  • 10 Gbps network ports
  • Multiple locations – Los Angeles, Dallas, Salt Lake City & more
  • Full root access with no resource sharing
  • Crypto, Alipay, UPI, and 20+ local payment methods

👉 Ready to start?

Check out our VDS plans here:

🔗 https://my.hosteons.com/store/ryzen-7950x-based-hybrid-dedicated-server

🕹️ Conclusion

Hosting your own game server gives you complete freedom to customize, invite friends, and even build communities. With Hosteons VDS, you’re in control — no lag, no limits, and no middlemen.

Need help? Our support team is here 24/7 at https://my.hosteons.com

How to Migrate Your Website to a New VPS Without Downtime

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Moving your website to a new VPS can feel daunting, especially when you’re worried about downtime, broken links, or losing data. At Hosteons, we’ve helped thousands of users migrate smoothly—often without their visitors even noticing the switch.

In this post, we’ll walk you through how to migrate your website to a new VPS step-by-step while keeping everything live.

✅ Step 1: Prepare Your New VPS

Before anything else:

  • Deploy your new VPS from Hosteons or Premium Ryzen VDS
  • Install necessary software: web server (Apache/Nginx), database (MySQL/MariaDB), PHP, and other required dependencies
  • Ensure firewall and security settings are configured

✅ Step 2: Backup Your Website

On your current server:

  • Use tools like rsync, scp, or control panel backups (e.g. cPanel/DirectAdmin)
  • Export your database using mysqldump or phpMyAdmin
  • Compress your website files and download them safely

✅ Step 3: Transfer Files and Database to New VPS

  • Upload your files using rsync, scp, or FTP/SFTP
  • Import the database to your new VPS using mysql or phpMyAdmin
  • Recheck file permissions and ownership

✅ Step 4: Test the Website on the New Server

  • Modify your local hosts file to point the domain to the new server IP
  • Access the site via browser and ensure everything functions (no broken links, database errors, or missing files)

✅ Step 5: Sync Latest Changes (Optional)

If your site is dynamic (blog, e-commerce, etc.), you may need to:

  • Re-export the database just before the final switch
  • Re-transfer updated files (images, new posts, etc.)
  • Place the site in “maintenance mode” briefly if needed

✅ Step 6: Update DNS Records

  • Change your domain’s A record to the new VPS IP
  • TTL (Time to Live) should be set low (e.g. 300 seconds) a day before migration to allow faster DNS propagation

✅ Step 7: Monitor and Go Live

  • Monitor the site post-migration
  • Check logs (/var/log/nginx/error.log or Apache equivalents)
  • Use tools like uptimerobot.com or statuscake.com to verify uptime

🔒 Bonus Tip: Use a CDN to Smooth the Transition

A CDN like Cloudflare caches your content and helps reduce DNS propagation-related issues. It can even act as a reverse proxy to switch servers behind the scenes.

Why Choose Hosteons for Your Next VPS?

  • 🌍 Global server locations (US, EU)
  • 💸 Flexible payments: Credit cards, PayPal, Crypto, Alipay, UPI, and more!
  • 🚀 99.99% uptime
  • 🧑‍💻 Fast support, no KYC for crypto or local payments
  • 📦 Explore VPS Plans

Still unsure or need help with the migration?

📩 Open a support ticket at https://my.hosteons.com — our team is here to guide you!

How to Install Docker and Run Containers on a Hosteons VPS

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Docker is one of the most popular tools for deploying and managing applications in isolated environments called containers. With a Hosteons VPS, you have full root access and KVM virtualization — making it perfect for running Docker!

In this guide, we’ll show you how to install Docker on a VPS (Ubuntu/CentOS/AlmaLinux) and run your first container.

✅ Prerequisites

  • A Hosteons VPS with root access
  • OS: Ubuntu 20.04/22.04 or CentOS 7/8 / AlmaLinux 8/9
  • Updated system packages

🚀 Step 1: Update Your VPS

Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

CentOS/AlmaLinux:

sudo yum update -y
# OR
sudo dnf update -y

🚀 Step 2: Install Docker

For 

Ubuntu

:

sudo apt install apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl software-properties-common -y
curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo apt-key add -
sudo add-apt-repository \
  "deb [arch=amd64] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs) stable"
sudo apt update
sudo apt install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io -y

For 

CentOS/AlmaLinux

:

sudo yum install -y yum-utils
sudo yum-config-manager \
    --add-repo \
    https://download.docker.com/linux/centos/docker-ce.repo
sudo yum install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io -y

For AlmaLinux 8/9, replace yum with dnf where needed.

🚀 Step 3: Start and Enable Docker

sudo systemctl start docker
sudo systemctl enable docker

Check status:

sudo systemctl status docker

🚀 Step 4: Run a Test Container

Run a basic hello-world container:

sudo docker run hello-world

If everything is set up correctly, you’ll see a message from Docker saying your installation is working.

🚀 Step 5: Run Any Container (Example: NGINX)

sudo docker run -d -p 80:80 nginx

Visit your VPS IP in a browser to see the default NGINX welcome page.

⚡ Bonus Tips

  • Add your user to the docker group to avoid using sudo:
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

Then log out and log back in.

  • You can manage Docker containers using tools like Portainer for a web UI:
sudo docker volume create portainer_data
sudo docker run -d -p 9000:9000 --name=portainer \
    --restart=always \
    -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock \
    -v portainer_data:/data \
    portainer/portainer-ce

Access it at: http://your-server-ip:9000

🌐 Ready to Deploy Containers with Power?

Hosteons VPS plans provide full KVM virtualization, root access, and 10Gbps ports — ideal for Docker workloads.

👉 Order Budget VPS

👉 Order Ryzen VPS

👉 Order Ryzen VDS

Top 5 Tips to Harden Your Linux VPS Against Attacks in 2025

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In 2025, cyberattacks are more sophisticated than ever. Whether you’re hosting a personal project or critical business application, securing your Linux VPS is no longer optional—it’s essential. Thankfully, with just a few steps, you can drastically reduce your risk and keep your VPS locked down against the most common threats.

At Hosteons, we provide high-performance KVM VPS with root access, but security is a shared responsibility. Here’s how you can harden your VPS in minutes:

1. Use SSH Keys Instead of Passwords

Disable password login and use SSH key authentication for more secure, automated, and brute-force-resistant logins.

Steps:

  • Generate a key pair using ssh-keygen
  • Upload your public key to your VPS: ~/.ssh/authorized_keys
  • Disable password auth in /etc/ssh/sshd_config

👉 Read: Why You Should Use SSH Keys Instead of Passwords

2. Set Up a Firewall (UFW/iptables)

Block unnecessary ports to reduce your attack surface. Only open what’s required (e.g., 22 for SSH, 80/443 for web).

Example with UFW:

sudo ufw default deny incoming
sudo ufw allow 22
sudo ufw allow 80
sudo ufw allow 443
sudo ufw enable

3. Install and Configure Fail2Ban

Prevent brute-force attacks by banning IPs with too many failed login attempts.

Install Fail2Ban:

sudo apt install fail2ban

Create a jail for SSH and monitor logs like /var/log/auth.log or /var/log/secure.

👉 Full Fail2Ban Guide

4. Keep the System and Software Updated

Always run the latest security patches. Use tools like unattended-upgrades for automated updates.

Commands:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
sudo yum update

Outdated software is one of the most exploited vulnerabilities.

5. Monitor Login Attempts and File Changes

Install tools to track unauthorized access and suspicious activity.

  • Use auditd to track system events
  • Use logwatch or logcheck to scan logs for anomalies
  • Monitor /var/log/auth.log for failed logins

👉 Read: How to Monitor Login Attempts and File Changes on Your VPS

Bonus: Disable Root Login

Prevent direct root access by using a non-root sudo user instead.

In /etc/ssh/sshd_config:

PermitRootLogin no

Final Thoughts

Hardened servers are happy servers! With these 5 simple steps, you’ll block the majority of attacks targeting Linux VPS.

At Hosteons, we give you the control, performance, and reliability — now it’s your turn to secure it.

🔐 Ready to deploy a secure VPS?

👉 Explore Our KVM VPS

👉 Premium Ryzen VPS

How to Set Up a Private Proxy Server on Your KVM VPS

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Setting up a private proxy server on your KVM VPS is a great way to enhance privacy, control internet access, or bypass geo-restrictions. In this tutorial, we’ll guide you through the process of installing and configuring a private HTTP/HTTPS proxy server using Squid — a powerful, flexible, and widely-used caching proxy.

✅ 

Prerequisites

  • A KVM VPS from Hosteons
  • Root access to your VPS
  • Ubuntu 20.04/22.04 or CentOS/AlmaLinux 8/9 installed

🔧 

Step-by-Step Setup Using Squid Proxy

Step 1: Update System Packages

# For Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

# For CentOS/AlmaLinux
sudo dnf update -y

Step 2: Install Squid

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install squid -y

# CentOS/AlmaLinux
sudo dnf install squid -y

Step 3: Backup Default Config

sudo cp /etc/squid/squid.conf /etc/squid/squid.conf.backup

Step 4: Configure Squid

Edit the config:

sudo nano /etc/squid/squid.conf

Look for and modify these lines:

http_port 3128

Add this at the top or near ACL section to allow only your IP:

acl allowed_ips src YOUR_IP_HERE
http_access allow allowed_ips
http_access deny all

Replace YOUR_IP_HERE with your real IP. You can get it from https://ipinfo.io

Step 5: Restart Squid

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo systemctl restart squid

# CentOS/AlmaLinux
sudo systemctl restart squid

Step 6: Enable on Boot

sudo systemctl enable squid

🔍 

Step 7: Test Your Proxy

Configure your browser or tool to use your VPS IP and port 3128 as the HTTP/HTTPS proxy. You can use websites like https://whatismyipaddress.com to verify your outgoing IP.

🔐 

(Optional) Add Authentication to Your Proxy

To prevent misuse, you can add basic authentication.

  1. Install Apache utils:
sudo apt install apache2-utils -y  # Ubuntu/Debian
sudo dnf install httpd-tools -y   # CentOS/AlmaLinux
  1. Create password file and user:
sudo htpasswd -c /etc/squid/passwd proxyuser
  1. Edit squid.conf and add:
auth_param basic program /usr/lib/squid/basic_ncsa_auth /etc/squid/passwd
auth_param basic realm Proxy
acl authenticated proxy_auth REQUIRED
http_access allow authenticated
  1. Restart Squid again.

✅ 

Done!

You now have a fully working private proxy server running on your Hosteons KVM VPS! This setup is lightweight, secure (with IP whitelisting or optional authentication), and suitable for personal or development use.

🔗 Need a KVM VPS to try this?

Explore our plans at:

👉 Budget KVM VPS (US & EU)

👉 Ryzen KVM VPS (10 Gbps)

💳 Multiple payment options including Crypto, Alipay, PayPal, UPI, and more.

🌍 VPS available in the US and EU locations.

📡 10Gbps Port Speed included!