# BulkVM LLC - Full Site Documentation
URL: https://bulkvm.com/llms-full.txt

Summary file: https://bulkvm.com/llms.txt

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# Homepage - Storage VPS Hosting
URL: https://bulkvm.com/

## Overview
BulkVM is a storage VPS provider based in Phoenix, Arizona, operating under AS401640. BulkVM owns its hardware, operates its own autonomous system, and holds its own ARIN-assigned IPv4 and IPv6 allocations — it is not a reseller. All VPS plans include ZFS RAIDZ2 HDD storage, SSD boot drives, KVM virtualization, and instant provisioning. No egress fees and no inbound fees — transfer is included in the monthly plan price. Hosting is unmanaged: customers receive root access and are responsible for their own software and configuration.

## VPS Plans

### Starter - $5/month
URL: https://my.bulkvm.com/store/vps/starter
- RAM: 1 GB ECC
- CPU: 1 vCore Intel (shared)
- Boot drive: 10 GB SSD
- Storage: 2 TB ZFS HDD (RAIDZ2)
- Transfer: 10 TB outbound + unmetered inbound
- Network: 1 Gbit port
- IP: 1 IPv4 + /64 IPv6
- Virtualization: KVM with root access and console
- Setup: Instant automated provisioning

### Standard - $10/month
URL: https://my.bulkvm.com/store/vps/standard
- RAM: 2 GB ECC
- CPU: 2 vCore Intel (shared)
- Boot drive: 15 GB SSD
- Storage: 5 TB ZFS HDD (RAIDZ2)
- Transfer: 15 TB outbound + unmetered inbound
- Network: 1 Gbit port
- IP: 1 IPv4 + /64 IPv6
- Virtualization: KVM with root access and console
- Setup: Instant automated provisioning

### Pro - $30/month
URL: https://my.bulkvm.com/store/vps/pro
- RAM: 2 GB ECC
- CPU: 4 vCore Intel (shared)
- Boot drive: 20 GB SSD
- Storage: 15 TB ZFS HDD (RAIDZ2)
- Transfer: 25 TB outbound + unmetered inbound
- Network: 2.5 Gbit port (upgradeable to 10 Gbit)
- IP: 1 IPv4 + /64 IPv6
- Virtualization: KVM with root access and console
- Setup: Instant automated provisioning

## Key Features
- No egress fees, no inbound fees — transfer included in monthly plan price
- ZFS RAIDZ2 on all storage pools, with block-level data integrity checksums
- Separate SSD boot drives (OS does not share the HDD storage pool)
- Full KVM virtualization with root access
- KVM console for emergency access even if SSH is down
- OS reinstall available anytime
- Additional bandwidth at $5 per 5 TB

## Supported Operating Systems
AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, Fedora, Debian, Ubuntu, FreeBSD, Alpine Linux

## Use Cases
- Bulk file storage (backups, archives, media libraries)
- Self-hosted cloud storage (Nextcloud, Seafile)
- Media streaming servers
- Database storage with large datasets
- Log aggregation and data retention
- Development and staging environments
- Seedbox and file distribution

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# ZFS Storage VPS
URL: https://bulkvm.com/storage-vps

## Overview
Primary landing page for the storage VPS product. Targets users searching for a storage VPS, ZFS VPS, or a VPS with large HDD storage. Describes the architecture factually: ZFS RAIDZ2 HDD pools with block-level checksums, SSD boot drives, ECC RAM fleet-wide.

## Plans
All three plans (Starter $5/2TB, Standard $10/5TB, Pro $30/15TB) with ZFS RAIDZ2 storage, SSD boot, ECC RAM, 1 IPv4, /64 IPv6, instant setup. Port speeds: 1 Gbit on Starter and Standard, 2.5 Gbit on Pro, 10 Gbit available as a paid upgrade.

## Use Cases Featured
Offsite backups (rsync, restic, BorgBackup, rclone), self-hosted cloud storage (Nextcloud, Seafile, Immich), S3-compatible object storage (MinIO, Garage), media libraries (Jellyfin, Plex), long-term archives, large working datasets.

## FAQ Covered
Unmanaged hosting (no SLA, 7-day money-back for new customers), no egress or API fees, port speeds, storage VPS vs object storage, supported operating systems.

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# Offsite Backup VPS
URL: https://bulkvm.com/backup

## Overview
Landing page targeting users looking for a cheap offsite backup destination. Positions BulkVM's Starter VPS ($5/month, 2TB ZFS HDD) as the offsite leg of a 3-2-1 backup strategy. Core argument: cloud object storage (S3, etc.) charges ~$0.09/GB for egress — a 2TB restore costs ~$185 on top of storage. BulkVM charges a flat monthly rate with no egress fees.

## Plan Featured
Starter VPS at $5/month (all three plans are also listed):
- 2 TB ZFS HDD storage
- 10 GB SSD boot
- 10 TB transfer + unmetered inbound
- 1 GB ECC RAM, 1 vCore
- KVM + root access, instant setup

## Compatible Backup Tools
rsync, rclone (SFTP backend), restic (SFTP backend), BorgBackup (SSH remote repository), Duplicati (SFTP backend), Proxmox Backup Server (run PBS on the VPS).

## Key Selling Points
- No egress fees — move data in and out at no extra cost
- No API request fees, no minimum storage duration charges
- Flat monthly price, cancel anytime
- Phoenix, AZ — geographically separate from most US-based primary sites

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# Nextcloud VPS Hosting
URL: https://bulkvm.com/nextcloud

## Overview
Landing page targeting users looking to self-host Nextcloud, Seafile, Immich, Jellyfin, MinIO, or similar apps on a Linux VPS with large storage. Core argument: managed Nextcloud hosting charges per user (~$5/user/mo) with storage caps; a BulkVM VPS is a flat rate with unlimited users and multi-terabyte ZFS storage.

## Cost Comparison Featured
Managed Nextcloud (5 users × ~$5/user = ~$25/mo, often storage-capped) vs BulkVM Standard ($10/mo, 5TB, unlimited users, no per-seat cost).

## Compatible Self-Hosted Apps
Nextcloud, Seafile, Immich (photo/video backup), Jellyfin (media server), MinIO (self-hosted S3-compatible storage), Syncthing, Paperless-ngx, Gitea.

## Key Points
- Full Linux VM with root access and ZFS volume pre-mounted
- No per-user pricing — unlimited users at a flat monthly rate
- ZFS RAIDZ2 pools with data integrity checksums
- Separate SSD boot drive keeps app I/O fast; HDD pool is for bulk data
- No egress fees for syncing files to devices

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# Cloud Storage Alternative (S3 / Backblaze B2 / Wasabi)
URL: https://bulkvm.com/cloud-storage-alternative

## Overview
Comparison/landing page targeting users searching for alternatives to cloud object storage (S3, Backblaze B2, Wasabi). Positions BulkVM as a flat-rate alternative for workloads that don't require S3 API or CDN. Includes honest trade-offs — the page explicitly states when object storage is the better choice.

## Cost Comparison (2TB stored, 1TB egress/mo)
- AWS S3: ~$47 storage + ~$92 egress = ~$139/mo
- Backblaze B2: ~$12 storage + ~$10 egress (free via Cloudflare) = ~$22/mo
- Wasabi: ~$14 storage + $0 egress (but 90-day minimum retention policy) = ~$14/mo
- BulkVM Standard: $10/mo flat (5TB storage + 15TB transfer included)

## Where BulkVM Wins
SSH/rsync backups without S3 client, running apps alongside storage, predictable billing, high-egress workloads, no minimum retention period. S3-compatible API available via self-hosted MinIO.

## Where Object Storage Wins (stated honestly on page)
Direct S3-compatible API integration, CDN integration (Cloudflare R2/B2), globally distributed storage, infinite scale, managed infrastructure with no server to maintain.

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# Windows RDP VPS
URL: https://bulkvm.com/rdp

## Overview
Landing page for a Windows Server KVM VPS with unusually large storage. Differentiator: other Windows RDP providers include 50–80 GB SSD only; this plan includes a 50 GB SSD boot drive plus 2 TB ZFS HDD storage at $15/month.

## Plan
Windows RDP — $15/month (single plan):
- 4 GB ECC Memory
- 2 vCPU Intel CPU
- 50 GB SSD boot drive
- 2 TB ZFS HDD storage
- 10 TB transfer + unmetered inbound
- 250 Mbit port
- KVM + full Administrator access
- 1 IPv4 + /64 IPv6
- Windows Server 2025 / 2022 / 2019 Standard (BYOL)
- Instant setup

## BYOL Policy
Bring Your Own License — customers must supply a valid Windows Server license (Microsoft retail, volume licensing, or existing agreement). BulkVM does not supply, resell, or activate Microsoft licenses. Using a counterfeit or unauthorized license violates the AUP and may result in immediate termination without refund.

## Use Cases
Windows-only business software requiring real disk space, large dataset processing on Windows tooling, backup targets and archive storage with Windows access, dev/test environments on Windows with large storage requirements.

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# Network Infrastructure
URL: https://bulkvm.com/network

## Overview
BulkVM operates its own autonomous system (AS401640) with 1.6 Tbps of network capacity routed through enterprise Juniper MX core hardware. The network is located in Phoenix, Arizona. BulkVM holds its own ARIN-assigned IPv4 and IPv6 allocations — IP addresses assigned to customers come from space BulkVM owns, not re-sold from a third party.

## Network Specifications
- ASN: AS401640
- Total capacity: 1.6 Tbps
- Core hardware: Juniper MX series routers
- Datacenter: Phoenix, Arizona
- IP space: ARIN-assigned IPv4 and IPv6 (owned)

## Upstream Providers
- NTT (AS2914)
- TATA Communications (AS6453)
- Cogent (AS174)
- Ninja-IX Phoenix (local peering)

## Available Port Speeds
- 1 Gbit (Starter and Standard plans, default)
- 2.5 Gbit (Pro plan default; $5/mo upgrade on other plans)
- 5 Gbit ($10/mo upgrade)
- 10 Gbit ($15/mo upgrade)
- Ports run at their full rate on BulkVM's side; actual transfer speeds also depend on the remote endpoint and the internet path. Throughput is not guaranteed (see ToS section 10.1)

## Tools
- Looking Glass: https://lg.bulkvm.com/
- BGP and routing lookup, ping, traceroute, and MTR from the BulkVM network

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# Services
URL: https://bulkvm.com/services

## Primary Offerings

### Storage VPS (Core Product)
Unmanaged KVM virtual machines with multi-terabyte ZFS HDD storage on hardware BulkVM owns. No egress fees, no inbound fees — transfer is included in every plan. Built for bulk workloads: backups, archives, media, and anything AWS would bill you hundreds a month to move.
- ZFS RAIDZ2 HDD storage + SSD boot drive
- KVM + full root access, no control panel lock-in
- 1 IPv4 + /64 IPv6 from BulkVM's own ARIN space
- No egress fees. No inbound fees. Flat monthly rate.
- Instant provisioning, month-to-month pricing
- Plans: Starter $5/mo (2 TB), Standard $10/mo (5 TB), Pro $30/mo (15 TB)

### Dedicated Hosting
BulkVM builds a server to the customer's specs and hosts it on BulkVM's infrastructure in Phoenix, AZ. Aimed at software companies, SaaS providers, and service makers who need dedicated performance without managing physical hardware. "We build it, we host it — you run it."
- Custom server build to spec: SuperMicro, Dell, etc. — sourced, assembled, and burn-in tested
- Phoenix, AZ — redundant power and cooling
- Connected to BulkVM's network: 1.6 Tbps via NTT, TATA, Cogent, Ninja-IX
- IPv4 and IPv6 from BulkVM's ARIN allocations
- Remote hands available: drive swaps, reboots, cabling
- Full root access — BulkVM handles the physical layer only
- Pricing: custom quote — contact via bulkvm.com/about

## Additional Services (On Request)

### Hardware Procurement
Enterprise hardware sourced through vendor relationships — SuperMicro, Dell, Juniper, and others.

### Infrastructure Consulting
Architecture review, capacity planning, and technology selection from people who run their own infrastructure.

### Managed Physical
Ongoing monitoring and maintenance for dedicated hosting clients. Not applicable to VPS hosting — VPS hosting is unmanaged.

### Partnership Deals
Open to infrastructure deals with software and service companies. Contact via bulkvm.com/about.

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# About BulkVM
URL: https://bulkvm.com/about

## Overview
BulkVM LLC is a hosting company based in Phoenix, Arizona. It owns its hardware, operates AS401640, and holds ARIN-assigned IP allocations. It is not a reseller. The company is registered with the Arizona Corporation Commission.

## Company Details
- Legal name: BulkVM LLC
- Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Incorporated: Arizona, USA
- Verified: Arizona Corporation Commission
- ASN: AS401640
- Facility: Phoenix, AZ

## What BulkVM Is
BulkVM focuses on ZFS HDD storage VPS — bulk storage for backups, archives, media, and workloads that are too expensive to run on cloud block storage. No egress fees, no inbound fees; transfer is included in every plan. Plans start at $5/mo for 2 TB. Hosting is unmanaged: customers get root access and a KVM console and are responsible for their own configuration and software. BulkVM also offers dedicated hosting: building servers to spec and hosting them on its own infrastructure for software companies and service providers who need dedicated iron.

## Contact
- Contact page: https://bulkvm.com/about
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/bulkvm

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# Definitions and Glossary

## What is a Storage VPS?
A storage VPS is a virtual private server optimized for large-scale data storage rather than raw compute. BulkVM storage VPS plans include multi-terabyte ZFS HDD storage pools alongside a separate SSD boot drive for the operating system. Typical use cases include bulk file storage, backups, media libraries, and self-hosted cloud storage.

## What is ZFS RAIDZ2?
ZFS RAIDZ2 is a software RAID implementation, comparable in parity level to RAID6. BulkVM uses ZFS RAIDZ2 on all HDD storage pools and manages it at the host level. ZFS checksums every block, so silent corruption can be caught during reads and scrubs.

## What is KVM Virtualization?
KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is a full hardware virtualization technology built into the Linux kernel. BulkVM uses KVM for all VPS plans, giving each customer a fully isolated virtual machine with dedicated resources, a KVM console for emergency access, and the ability to install any supported operating system.

## What is an Autonomous System (AS)?
An autonomous system is a collection of IP routing prefixes under the control of a single organization that presents a common routing policy to the internet. BulkVM operates AS401640, meaning it controls its own IP space and peering relationships rather than reselling another provider's network. This provides better routing control, redundancy, and performance compared to providers that re-sell upstream capacity.

## What is Unmetered Inbound Bandwidth?
BulkVM offers unmetered inbound bandwidth on all plans, meaning data received by the VPS (downloads, uploads from clients, incoming backups) does not count toward the monthly transfer limit. Only outbound traffic (data sent from the VPS) is metered against the plan's transfer allowance.

## What is a Looking Glass?
A looking glass is a public network tool that lets users test routing and connectivity from within a provider's network. BulkVM's looking glass at https://lg.bulkvm.com/ allows users to run ping, traceroute, BGP route lookups, and MTR from inside the BulkVM network in Phoenix, Arizona.

## SSD Boot Drive vs HDD Storage Pool
BulkVM VPS plans include two distinct storage components:
- SSD boot drive: Fast solid-state storage where the operating system and applications are installed. Sized 10-20 GB depending on plan.
- ZFS HDD storage pool: Large-capacity spinning disk storage protected by RAIDZ2, sized 2-15 TB depending on plan. Mounted separately for bulk data storage.

This separation means OS performance is not affected by HDD latency, and the large storage pool is available for data without consuming boot drive space.

## What Does Unmanaged Mean?
Unmanaged hosting means BulkVM is responsible for the hardware and network infrastructure — the physical servers, network uptime, and hypervisor. The customer is responsible for everything inside the VPS: the operating system, software, configuration, security, and backups. BulkVM does not provide managed support for software issues, OS configuration, or application troubleshooting.

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# Frequently Asked Questions

## How do I order a VPS?
Visit https://my.bulkvm.com, create an account, select a plan, and complete payment. VPS provisioning is fully automated and completes within minutes of payment confirmation.

## How do I manage my VPS?
Log in to the VPS management panel at https://manage.bulkvm.com to access the KVM console, reinstall the operating system, reboot, and view resource usage.

## Is there a money-back guarantee?
Yes. New customers on their first order are eligible for a 7-day money-back guarantee, subject to usage limits (less than 500 GB total transfer, less than 25% average CPU for more than 1 hour, VPS active less than 7 days). Coupon code orders are not eligible.

## What are the CPU limits?
Customers may burst to 100% CPU for short tasks (compiling, backups, benchmarks). Sustained average CPU usage must not exceed 25% of allocated vCores over any 1-hour period.

## Can I upgrade my plan?
Open a ticket at https://my.bulkvm.com/submitticket.php?step=2 or contact via bulkvm.com/about to discuss plan changes.

## Is reselling allowed?
Yes, no formal reseller program or authorization required. The reseller (account holder) is responsible for their end customers' compliance with BulkVM's Terms of Service and Acceptable Use Policy, and for providing all support and billing to those end customers directly, BulkVM has no relationship with them. Abuse or violations by an end customer can result in suspension or termination of the reseller's entire account. Full terms: https://bulkvm.com/tos#reseller-accounts

## What is prohibited?
Cryptocurrency mining, spam, DDoS attacks, malware hosting, unauthorized access attempts, piracy, and using storage VPS solely as inactive backup storage without an active application. Full list: https://bulkvm.com/aup

## Is there an SLA?
No. BulkVM does not offer uptime guarantees or Service Level Agreements. Support is provided on a best-effort basis.

## What payment methods are accepted?
Payment is processed through the client portal at https://my.bulkvm.com. Contact billing via bulkvm.com/about for payment inquiries.

## How is billing handled?
Services are billed month-to-month. Invoices are sent approximately 10 days before the rebilling date. Services not paid by the billing cycle start date risk suspension.

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# Policy Summaries

## Terms of Service
URL: https://bulkvm.com/tos
- Month-to-month billing, no long-term contract required
- 7-day money-back for new customers on first order (usage limits apply)
- CPU fair-use limit: 25% average sustained over 1 hour
- Additional bandwidth: $5 per 5 TB
- No SLA or uptime guarantees
- Hosting is unmanaged — BulkVM is not responsible for software, OS, or application issues
- Reactivation fee: $25 after suspension for non-payment
- Chargeback fee: minimum $35 plus replacement payment
- IP addresses remain BulkVM property and are assigned per ARIN policy

## Acceptable Use Policy
URL: https://bulkvm.com/aup
- Permitted: web hosting, application hosting, legal file sharing, reselling, development
- Prohibited: spam, DDoS, hacking, malware, cryptocurrency mining, piracy, adult content violating policy, inactive bulk backup storage without active application use
- Unmetered inbound is for legitimate application traffic — intentionally routing attack traffic or engineering high inbound volume to circumvent outbound limits is prohibited
- Violations may result in warning, suspension, termination, or law enforcement referral
- Report abuse: https://bulkvm.com/about

## Privacy Policy
URL: https://bulkvm.com/privacy
- Collects personal information, usage data, and server metrics (CPU, RAM, bandwidth, disk I/O)
- Data used to provide services, process billing, and ensure security
- Not sold or rented to third parties
- California residents have additional rights under CCPA
- Contact for privacy inquiries: https://bulkvm.com/about

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# Blog
URL: https://bulkvm.com/blog/

## Overview
Static HTML blog covering technical topics relevant to storage VPS users: self-hosted software, Linux administration, and storage management.

## Articles

### 6 Self-Hosted Cloud Storage Solutions Worth Running on a VPS
URL: https://bulkvm.com/blog/6-self-hosted-cloud-storage-solutions/
Published: 2026-06-05

Covers six self-hosted applications commonly run on storage VPS instances:
1. **Nextcloud** — Full cloud productivity suite (files, calendar, contacts, office). Requires 2–4 GB RAM. Best on Standard or Pro plan.
2. **Seafile** — File sync/share with chunked deduplication. Faster than Nextcloud at raw sync. 1 GB RAM workable.
3. **Immich** — Google Photos replacement with ML-based face recognition and semantic search. Requires 2–4 GB RAM; ML background workers are CPU-intensive on initial import.
4. **MinIO** — S3-compatible self-hosted object storage. Lightweight (512 MB RAM). Any application that talks to AWS S3 can point at MinIO instead.
5. **Syncthing** — Peer-to-peer file sync. Very light (256 MB RAM). VPS acts as always-online relay node.
6. **Jellyfin** — Open-source media server (Plex alternative). No transcoding = minimal CPU. Heavy transcoding needs 2–4 GB RAM.

Article includes plan recommendations for each application and a section on stacking multiple applications on a single VPS.

### How to Back Up Your Server Offsite with rclone and SFTP
URL: https://bulkvm.com/blog/how-to-back-up-your-server-offsite-with-rclone-and-sftp/
Published: 2026-06-05

Practical guide to automating offsite backups over SFTP using rclone:
1. Generate a dedicated SSH key pair (`ssh-keygen -t ed25519`) and copy the public key to the destination VPS with `ssh-copy-id`
2. Install rclone on the source machine
3. Configure the SFTP remote in `~/.config/rclone/rclone.conf` with host, user, and key_file fields
4. Test with `rclone lsd offsite:`
5. Run first backup: `rclone copy /var/www offsite:/mnt/data/backups/www --progress`
6. Explains `rclone copy` (never deletes) vs `rclone sync` (mirrors, can delete — use `--dry-run` first)
7. Database backup note: dump with mysqldump/pg_dumpall before copying, never copy live DB files
8. Automate with cron + shell script covering multiple directories
9. Verify with `rclone check` and `rclone size`

Converts directly to the /backup plan — article CTA links to bulkvm.com/backup.

### How to Set Up Ransomware-Proof Offsite Backups with BorgBackup
URL: https://bulkvm.com/blog/how-to-set-up-ransomware-proof-offsite-backups-with-borgbackup/
Published: 2026-06-09

Guide to encrypted, deduplicated, append-only offsite backups with BorgBackup over SSH. The core problem it solves: if the source server holds credentials to its backup destination, ransomware or an attacker can delete the backups before encrypting the data. Setup:
1. Install borgbackup (1.2+) on both source and destination
2. Create a dedicated `borg` user on the destination VPS with a `repos` directory
3. Lock the SSH key in `authorized_keys` with `command="borg serve --restrict-to-path /home/borg/repos --append-only",restrict`: the key can only append data, never destroy it
4. Initialize the encrypted repo: `borg init --encryption=repokey-blake2`; export the key with `borg key export` and store key + passphrase off both servers (loss = unrecoverable backups)
5. Nightly `borg create --compression zstd,3` + `borg prune` via cron script
6. Append-only semantics explained: prune/delete from the client are deferred and recoverable via transaction-log rollback; space is only freed when `borg compact` runs locally on the VPS (where the restricted key has no power)
7. Monthly maintenance: sanity-check `borg list` from a trusted machine, then `borg check --repository-only` + `borg compact` on the VPS
8. Restore via `borg extract` or `borg mount` (FUSE)

Requires root on the destination to enforce append-only in SSH config — a differentiator vs plain SFTP storage accounts. Article CTA links to bulkvm.com/backup.

### How to Format and Mount Additional Storage on a Linux VPS: A Step-by-Step Guide
URL: https://bulkvm.com/blog/how-to-format-and-mount-additional-storage-on-linux-vps-a-step-by-step-guide/
Published: 2026-06-05

Step-by-step Linux tutorial for preparing and mounting the HDD data disk on a new storage VPS:
1. Identify the disk: `lsblk`, `fdisk -l /dev/vdb`
2. Create a partition: `fdisk /dev/vdb` → GPT table (g) → new partition (n) → write (w) → result: `/dev/vdb1`
3. Format: `mkfs.ext4 /dev/vdb1`
4. Mount: `mkdir -p /mnt/data && mount /dev/vdb1 /mnt/data`
5. Make persistent: get UUID via `blkid /dev/vdb1`, add to `/etc/fstab` with `nofail` option
6. Set permissions: `chown -R user:user /mnt/data`

Includes a BulkVM-specific note explaining that the underlying storage is a ZFS RAIDZ2 pool on the host — the virtual disk inside the VM is a zvol; `zpool status` and `zfs list` are not available inside the guest. ext4 on the raw block device is the recommended approach for most use cases.

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# Contact Directory

- Contact page: https://bulkvm.com/about
- Support tickets: https://my.bulkvm.com/submitticket.php?step=2
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/bulkvm