Emailed ServInt earlier this week with my list of requirements, asking what they are able to accomodate. The news back from ServInt regarding running Java on a VPS account:

There is generally an issue with using Java (JSP + JVM) on a VPS Account. Unfortunately Java was not designed with a shared environment in mind and it consumes far too many resources to function optimally on an Essential VPS Account. In fact, Java consumes 1 GB of RAM when sitting idle.

Crap! I knew going in that it was a resource hog but didn’t think it would be a problem on a VPS account. From what I currently understand of Java, the server keeps that block of RAM set aside for when it needs to be used making it faster when serving requests. The drawback though is that when there are no requests being served, it’s still hogging that block of memory.

Minimally speaking, this means an Ultimate VPS Package is the only VPS Package capable of running Java. Nonetheless, we do not recommend or support running Java on a VPS account. Instead we recommend considering a managed dedicated server, or a VPSpro package if Java is major requirement for you.

I can get a VPS account and run Java on it but they can’t guarantee it will perform well nor will they support it. Since I would consider myself still new to Java, I don’t think I want to take my chances with running this environment but I don’t want to put my Java learning on hold again. Nor do I want to spend $100 more a month then the $49 I was already balking at having to pay.

Regardless, I still want to learn Java and I still want a VPS account. This venture is about more then just Java. It’s also me getting my hands dirtier with a Unix-based operating system. The question remains as to what setup will accommodate all that I’m wanting: learn JSP/Java, less GUI-based website administration, faster web platform.

After doing a bit of searching online, I have decided to learn JSP starting off on my laptop and once the project is getting ready to go live, will register an account capable of running JSP. I will eventually change from a VPS to dedicated hosting and bring the two accounts together. I can get a JSP reseller account for around the same price as my hosting at Dathorn. The Java aspect is mostly for one project which makes it difficult to justify the extra $100/month when I can host that one site elsewhere.

That leaves me to what I next start doing this weekend. Put in my notice at Dathorn and begin the move!