About LowEndSpirit

MasonMason OGSenpai
edited January 15 in General

Last updated 15 Jan 2026

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Purpose & Vision

LowEndSpirit exists to bring together customers, providers, enthusiasts, and industry professionals to a welcoming marketplace and discussion forum for hosting-related topics. Our main focus here is low end servers and services, preferably self-hosted. "Low end" can be summed up as doing more with less -- maximizing the utility of minimal resources.

History of LES

LowEndSpirit was founded by Anthony Smith of Inception Hosting in 2013 as home for very low-resource, NAT-based VMs. Over the years LowEndSpirit.com has seen many iterations from sales page to support forum. By 2019, LES had evolved into its current form.

The current iteration of LES had Anthony as sole admin of the forum with the intention to build the community to critical mass and then have the community elect members from within to take over in his absence when he felt the time was right.

In February 2021, @Mason and @mikho became co-admins of LES upon Anthony's departure. Ant is still around on occasion under his new moniker @InceptionHosting and always in spirit. More can be read about the backstory of LES in Anthony's lengthy post below:

A year in LES - Reflections, Thoughts, My history and the future for LowEndSpirit.

Staff

@Mason & @mikho are co-owners and co-admins of LowEndSpirit. We are joined by @bikegremlin, @FrankZ & @MichaelCee, who have been appointed moderators of LES.

Donations

NOTE: LES' donation campaign has been temporarily suspended to re-assess our expenditure strategy and fund-management. Existing balance will continue to be used for current and future operating/investment costs.

LES remains an ad-free experience. Our monthly costs are low enough to be self-sustaining. While donations are not at any time expected, they are always welcome and go directly towards the cost to maintain the community. Any excess funds are put towards funding development efforts to add additional functionality and improve the user experience at LES.

Donations link: [removed temporarily]

Our monthly donation target is $35 (see expenditure breakdown below).

Funds & Expenditures

Public Ledger:
Current balance: +$912.38

Monthly breakdown

2024
- January
Note Net $ (+/-) Balance
Previous Balance 912.38



2023
- December
Note Net $ (+/-) Balance
Previous Balance 875.25
Donations via Donorbox +73.69 978.94
Amazon SES (email) -0.24 948.70
Hetzner VMs -14.47 934.23
Porkbun (domain renewals) -21.85 912.38


- November
Note Net $ (+/-) Balance
Previous Balance 1001.75
Donations via Donorbox +38.69 1040.44
Amazon SES (email) -0.85 1039.59
Hetzner VMs -14.34 1025.25
Runcloud -150.00 875.25


- October
Note Net $ (+/-) Balance
Previous Balance 981.03
Donations via Donorbox +35.00 1016.03
Amazon SES (email) -0.20 1015.83
Hetzner VMs -14.08 1001.75


- September
Note Net $ (+/-) Balance
Previous Balance 988.67
Donations via Donorbox +7.00 995.67
Amazon SES (email) -0.23 995.44
Hetzner VMs -14.41 981.03


- August
Note Net $ (+/-) Balance
Previous Balance 899.75
Donations via Donorbox +103.69 1003.44
Amazon SES (email) -0.04 1003.40
Hetzner VMs -14.73 988.67


- July
Note Net $ (+/-) Balance
Previous Balance 906.58
Donations via Donorbox +8.00 914.58
Amazon SES (email) - 0.28 914.30
Hetzner VMs -14.55 899.75


- June
Note Net $ (+/-) Balance
Previous Balance 881.18
Donations via Donorbox +40.00 921.18
Amazon SES (email) -0.29 920.89
Hetzner VMs -14.31 906.58


- May
Note Net $ (+/-) Balance
Previous Balance 883.84
Donations via Donorbox +13.00 896.34
Amazon SES (email) -0.42 895.92
Hetzner VMs -14.74 881.18


- April
Note Net $ (+/-) Balance
Previous Balance 895.80
Donations via Donorbox +3.00 898.80
Amazon SES (email) -0.32 898.48
Hetzner VMs -14.64 883.84


- March
Note Net $ (+/-) Balance
Previous Balance 882.33
Donations via Donorbox +28.00 910.33
Amazon SES (email) -0.33 910.00
Hetzner VMs -14.20 895.80


- February
Note Net $ (+/-) Balance
Previous Balance 879.36
Donations via Donorbox +18.00 897.36
Amazon SES (email) -0.43 896.93
Hetzner VMs -14.60 882.33


- January
Note Net $ (+/-) Balance
Previous Balance 890.62
Donations via Donorbox +38.00 928.62
Mailcheap (Yearly) -35.88 892.74
Amazon SES (email) -0.32 892.42
Hetzner VMs -13.06 879.36



2022
- December
Note Net $ (+/-) Balance
Previous Balance 1053.46
Donations via Donorbox +3.00 1056.46
Amazon SES (email) -2.85 1053.61
Hetzner VMs -12.99 1040.62
Runcloud (Yearly) -150.00 890.62


- November
Note Net $ (+/-) Balance
Previous Balance 974.82
Donations via Donorbox +108.00 1082.82
Amazon SES (email) -2.14 1080.68
Hetzner VMs -12.22 1068.46
Runcloud -15.00 1053.46


- October
Note Net $ (+/-) Balance
Previous Balance 1077.96
Donations via Donorbox +53.00 1130.96
Amazon SES (email) -3.78 1127.18
Hetzner VMs -12.26 1114.92
Runcloud -15.00 1099.92
Content Writer (LES Talk) Payout -125.00 974.82


- September
Note Net $ (+/-) Balance
Previous Balance 1043.62
Donations via Donorbox +63.00 1106.62
Amazon SES (email) -1.26 1105.36
Hetzner VMs -12.40 1092.96
Runcloud -15.00 1077.96


- August
Note Net $ (+/-) Balance
Previous Balance 1078.22
Donations via Donorbox +3.00 1081.22
Amazon SES (email) -0.90 1080.32
Hetzner VMs -12.57 1067.75
Runcloud -15.00 1052.75
Porkbun (domain transfer) -9.13 1043.62


- July
Note Net $ (+/-) Balance
Previous Balance 1078.65
Donations via Donorbox +28.00 1106.65
Amazon SES (email) -0.62 1106.03
Hetzner VMs -12.81 1093.22
Runcloud -15.00 1078.22


- June
Note Net $ (+/-) Balance
Previous Balance 1104.14
Donations via Donorbox +3.00 1107.14
Amazon SES (email) -0.31 1106.83
Hetzner VMs -13.18 1093.65
Runcloud -15.00 1078.65


- May
Note Net $ (+/-) Balance
Previous Balance 1125.03
Donations via Donorbox +8.00 1133.03
Amazon SES (email) -0.52 1132.51
Hetzner VMs -13.37 1119.14
Runcloud -15.00 1104.14


- April
Note Net $ (+/-) Balance
Previous Balance 1101.93
Donations via Donorbox +128.00 1229.93
Amazon SES (email) -1.00 1228.93
Hetzner VMs -13.90 1215.03
Runcloud -15.00 1200.03
LES Talk Payouts -75.00 1125.03


- March
Note Net $ (+/-) Balance
Previous Balance 0.00
Donations via Donorbox +1109.22 1109.22
Donations via PayPal +22.00 1131.22
Amazon SES (email) -0.29 1130.93
Hetzner VMs -14.00 1116.93
Runcloud -15.00 1101.93


- February
Note Net $ (+/-) Balance
Previous Balance 0.00
Donations via PayPal +25.00 25.00
Amazon SES (email) -0.16 24.84
Hetzner VMs -14.00 10.84
Runcloud -15.00 -4.16
Self Funded +4.16 0.00


- January
Note Net $ (+/-) Balance
Previous Balance 0.00
Mailcheap Yearly Renewal (email) -24.00 -24.00
Amazon SES (email) -0.19 -24.19
Hetzner VMs -14.00 -38.19
Runcloud -15.00 -53.19
Self Funded +53.19 0.00


Note: If balance at the end of the month is negative, it gets reset back to zero with funds from my pocket. No transaction or platform fees (Donorbox/Stripe/PayPay/etc.) are included, which I also am taking care of.

Recurring expenditure breakdown:

Product est. $ Purpose
3x Hetzner CPX11 VMs w/ Backups inc. 13/mo VMs for Forum & Assoc. Sites
Amazon SES Email ~2/mo Outbound forum email
Mailcheap Email 36/yr Admin, support, & wordpress email
Runcloud Subscription 150/yr Server/config management + Backups
Domain Renewal 22/yr lowendspirit.com/lowendspirit.net

Planned/Under-Dev Changes

  • Vanilla Upgrade - Upgrade forum software from Vanilla v3.3 to latest. Currently in progress.
  • More TBD

yabs daddy

Comments

  • BoogeymanBoogeyman

    I think Ko-fi could be a better choice for one of donations.

    https://help.ko-fi.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002506494-Does-Ko-fi-Take-a-Fee-

  • _MS__MS_ OGSenpai
    edited April 2022

    It's turning out to be one of the most organized and transparent ways of administrating the forums and managing donations/funds contributed by the community and the administrators themselves.
    :+1: :+1:

    Have you tried turning it off and on again?

  • deankdeank OG

    Just to let people know, whenever you make a donation, 0% goes to Nigh sect.

    ♻ Amitz day is October 21.
    ♻ Join Nigh sect by adopting my avatar. Let us spread the joys of the end.

  • _MS__MS_ OGSenpai

    @deank said: 0% goes to Nigh sect.

    More than enough to keep the cult alive.

    Have you tried turning it off and on again?

  • MasonMason OGSenpai

    @Boogeyman said:
    I think Ko-fi could be a better choice for one of donations.

    https://help.ko-fi.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002506494-Does-Ko-fi-Take-a-Fee-

    Thanks for the suggestion! I'll probably go through all the popular donation platforms at some point and see if switching is worth the hassle. Right now donorbox fees are 1.5%, which won't ever be a huge amount in the end when it comes to LES donations.

    yabs daddy

  • yoursunnyyoursunny OG

    @deank said:
    0% goes to Nigh sect.

    Team push-ups will take a small fee, but only if you select push-ups payment method.

    Daniel fan club 😎 affbrr

  • FrankZFrankZ ModeratorOG

    Really nice to see the transparency of operations cost.
    In my time here I have not had even one of those "That is kind of shady" thoughts that I frequently have in other places. Kudos @Mason & @mikho for running things in Bristol fashion.

  • mikhomikho OG

    @FrankZ said:
    Really nice to see the transparency of operations cost.
    In my time here I have not had even one of those "That is kind of shady" thoughts that I frequently have in other places. Kudos @Mason & @mikho for running things in Bristol fashion.

    “Technology is best when it brings people together.” – Matt Mullenweg

  • SiliCloudSiliCloud Hosting Provider

    Good Forum B)

    Silicon Cloud - OpenStack Iaas Provider
    Cloud vServer/Dedicated vServer, Private Cloud/Colocation, DDoS Mitigation(optional), Managed Service

  • AlwaysSkintAlwaysSkint OGSenpai

    ^ Bad necro. :'(

    In stasis until the shitposting stops/abates.
    Than=compare;then=sequence:brought=bring;bought=buy:staffs=pile of sticks:informations/infos=no plural.
    It wisnae me! A big boy done it and ran away. || NVMe2G for life! until death (the end is nigh).

  • bikegremlinbikegremlin ModeratorOGContent Writer

    Your post count has been doubled!

    🔧 BikeGremlin guides & resources

  • MichaelCeeMichaelCee ModeratorHosting ProviderOGServices Provider
    edited September 2022

    Should just increase the post requirement by 100 for every 1 spam post 😂

    Michael from DragonWebHost & OnePoundEmail

  • bikegremlinbikegremlin ModeratorOGContent Writer

    @MichaelCee said:
    Should just increase the post requirement by 100 for every 1 spam post 😂

    • 100 pushups for every spam post!

    • A "Spammer" tag, just for a good measure.

    At least unti our firing squad is assembled...

    🔧 BikeGremlin guides & resources

  • vyasvyas OGSenpai

    @bikegremlin said:

    @MichaelCee said:
    Should just increase the post requirement by 100 for every 1 spam post 😂

    • 100 pushups for every spam post!

    • A "Spammer" tag, just for a good measure.

    At least unti our firing squad is assembled...

    First squad shoots in the nuts. Second in the butt. Plain and simple.

    blog archives

  • IroniaIronia
    edited May 2023

    Sorry for the necro, but is there any chance this could get updated through March/April?

    I completely understand if people rarely read this and updating the thread every month is more work than gratitude, but the March/April period would be a little more interesting to see than most months since that gives the One Year Later view of what's happened since the... Whatever we want to call it. I think donations were open even before a year ago, but the events and spike and all that.

  • MasonMason OGSenpai

    @Ironia said:
    Sorry for the necro, but is there any chance this could get updated through March/April?

    Thanks for the reminder, no worries about necro on this thread. I'm on work travel right now but will definitely get the ledger updated later this week!

    yabs daddy

  • xleetxleet

    Is there a home for tutorials here? (Just thinking ahead, so I am asking the question.)

  • FrankZFrankZ ModeratorOG
    edited June 2023

    @xleet said: Is there a home for tutorials here? (Just thinking ahead, so I am asking the question.)

    Yes. https://lowendspirit.com/categories/les-talk
    You can make a thread in General and staff will move it as appropriate. Or if you are planning on doing a few DM me to discuss.

  • schismschism

    @xleet said:
    Is there a home for tutorials here? (Just thinking ahead, so I am asking the question.)

    You know for people like me a dedicated are would be cool to browse through.

  • AbdullahAbdullah Hosting ProviderOG

    @schism said:

    @xleet said:
    Is there a home for tutorials here? (Just thinking ahead, so I am asking the question.)

    You know for people like me a dedicated are would be cool to browse through.

    LES Tutorials are posted here https://lowendspirit.com/categories/les-talk

    https://webhorizon.net

  • imxmmimxmm

    New to here!

  • vyasvyas OGSenpai

    Anybody got 🔑 to the 🔒?

    blog archives

  • rootroot OG

    @vyas said:
    Anybody got 🔑 to the 🔒?

    LES has 2FA?

    Cloudcone | Crunchbits | Dartnode | Dedirock | Georgedatacenter | Gigahost | Hostbilby | Host-c | Hostdzire | Hostsailor | Namecrane | Nuyek | Realtoxmedia | Servarica | Terabit | Tnahosting | Virmach

  • vyasvyas OGSenpai

    @root said:

    @vyas said:
    Anybody got 🔑 to the 🔒?

    LES has 2FA?

    lol, if someone has the key to the lock, then can lock this 2x necro'd thread

    blog archives

  • Otus9051Otus9051

    im otus

    youtube.com/watch?v=k1BneeJTDcU

  • nwnuyhsnwnuyhs

    I like LES , and same love with Vanilla

  • angstromangstrom OG

    @nwnuyhs said:
    I like LES , and same love with Vanilla

    Holy necro

    "A single swap file or partition may be up to 128 MB in size. [...] [I]f you need 256 MB of swap, you can create two 128-MB swap partitions." (M. Welsh & L. Kaufman, Running Linux, 2e, 1996, p. 49)

  • somiksomik OG

    @nwnuyhs said:
    I like LES , and same love with Vanilla

    I speak fluent sarcasm and broken logic. | I would agree with you, but thæn we’d both be wrong.

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