Hello everyone,
I’m thinking of opting for a Kimsufi plan; I intend to install several services/applications on it, notably a mail server, Nextcloud, Python applications or PHP sites, an XMPP instant‑messaging service… etc.
Does the Kimsufi offering allow that, and which plan would you recommend considering I don’t expect a very heavy load or traffic, just personal use or limited to family members?
If you have any advice you can give me, I’m all ears—especially anything I’ll need to reach my goal and avoid making the wrong choices.
Finally, I already have a domain name with another registrar. I wanted to go with OVH for the domain, but I ran into a technical issue: OVH asked me for an OTP code that was sent to a number I don’t have. According to customer support, it was the number provided by the issuing bank of the payment card I used—the number belongs to a close acquaintance, but even they didn’t recognize the phone number shown by OVH, so the OTP could not be received.
Thanks in advance 🙂
Hi @mahmoud_213
Yes, the Kimsufi range is perfectly suitable for what you want to do.
You have full root access to the server, which means you can install absolutely any software you need, including your mail server, Nextcloud, Python applications, PHP sites, or an XMPP server. The good thing here is that you don’t have the limitations of shared hosting.
The one‑time password (OTP) OVH is asking for is part of its two‑factor authentication (2FA) system to protect access to your account. To manage your domain at OVH, you need to resolve the account access issue. I’ll give you two options to try to fix it:
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Use backup codes. When 2FA is enabled, OVH provides 10 single‑use backup codes. If you saved those codes when you created the account, you can use them to log in and, once inside, update the phone number.
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If you don’t have the backup codes and the family member can’t recognize the number, you’ll have to contact OVH support.
Regarding your choice of Kimsufi, I’m asking just in case: have you also considered a VPS? It’s more flexible and easier to scale than a dedicated server, although Kimsufi gives you guaranteed physical performance and more control. It depends on whether you prefer raw power or more convenience in managing it.
Hope this helped :slight_smile:
Sergio Turpín
Hello @sturpin,
Thanks for your answer, it helps me a lot.
Regarding the OTP code, it was requested during the payment when I was about to buy a domain name from OVH. Would any of the backup codes be accepted if I provided one at this payment step instead of providing an OTP code that should be received but I don’t get? As for an OVH account, I do have one; its creation was possible, it’s the payment that I couldn’t complete.
Finally, what is the difference between a VPS and Kimsufi (dedicated server)? Is there any difference in price as well?
About the OTP code, no, the backup codes you mention are for logging into your OVH account when you don’t receive the SMS, not to replace the security code required during card payment. They are separate systems: one is for accessing your client area and the other is a bank verification.
The main difference is that Kimsufi is an entire physical server just for you, with dedicated resources (CPU, RAM, disk) and more predictable performance. A VPS shares the hardware with other users, so performance can vary depending on what your “neighbors” are doing. In price, Kimsufi starts at about €9.99 / month, while a similarly‑spec’d VPS can be cheaper, although if you need the performance guarantee of a dedicated server, Kimsufi is a very competitive option 
Hope this helped you decide.
Sergio Turpín
Hello,
I would add, regarding the answer below, that:
- a Kimsufi or other bare‑metal dedicated server requires server‑management skills, and also you must be prepared to handle a hardware failure (for example a disk crash, or a system that does not reboot after an update, for instance)
- a Kimsufi, compared to the more expensive lines, generally does not have a KVM or IPMI that allows you to take control of your server from the physical keyboard and screen of the server. Example: you change network or firewall settings and lose access to your server. It can be much more complicated to fix in “rescue” mode.
If the usage will be low, just like Sergio I would recommend a VPS instead.
Hello @fritz2cat ,
Thanks for your participation
Does the VPS offer almost the same possibilities as a dedicated server, i.e., the ability to install the applications and services I mentioned above, especially the mail server? Is it accessible via SSH? Is there an option to have Debian as the operating system? Is it actually a virtual machine installed on a physical machine shared by multiple users?
Yes, a VPS offers you practically the same possibilities as a dedicated server for what you need. You can install exactly the same applications and services you mentioned (mail server, Nextcloud, Python, PHP, XMPP, etc.), because you will have full root access to the system and, of course, SSH access.
As for the operating system, OVHcloud lets you install a wide variety of Linux distributions, including Debian, with just a few clicks from the client area.
And yes, a VPS is a virtual machine that runs on a physical server shared with other users. However, the resources (CPU, RAM, disk) that you have allocated are guaranteed and are yours alone, so performance is predictable and does not depend on what others do. It’s a very flexible option and easier to scale than a dedicated server.
For the vast majority of cases, it’s more than enough
Kind regards.
Sergio Turpín
Thank you everyone, your answers have been a great help