Colocation and Hosting

This page outlines the current planning phase for VONet’s future colocation presence and shared hosting platform. These systems are not yet active but are part of our long-term infrastructure vision.

Overview

As VONet grows, we plan to host a full equipment rack at a regional colocation facility. This rack will support core network functions, community hosting, and digital equity efforts.

Our goal is to eventually expand to support broader public-interest infrastructure and not-for-profit digital projects across Las Vegas.

What We’re Planning to Host

In the initial phase, the planned rack would support:

• Core routing infrastructure for the mesh network
• SuperNode services like exit gateways, NAT, and DNS
• Virtual machines for network tools, internal services, and pilot projects
• Route servers to support peering for future IXP participants
• Hosting space for public-interest and nonprofit-aligned services

Platform and Tools

The hosting environment will be built using:

• OpenStack for virtualization and orchestration
• BIRD for IXP Routing Daemon
• IXP Manager for IXP Management
• Hestia Control Panel for easy web and email hosting management

OpenStack will power virtual machines and container workloads, BIRD will be the Internet Routing Daemon for the IXP with IXP Manager for the portal, and HestiaCP will provide a user-friendly dashboard for managing websites, domains, email accounts, and databases.

Future Expansion (Planned)

If the rack proves useful and demand increases, we intend to expand to more racks within the same facility or in other parts of Las Vegas. This would allow:

• More physical hardware and higher capacity
• Community hosting space for nonprofits or digital justice projects
• More resilient infrastructure with greater power and network diversity
• A long-term hub for community-run infrastructure in Southern Nevada

The idea is to create a shared resource that supports open access, not-for-profit hosting, and local control of internet infrastructure.

Shared Hosting Vision

If space and resources allow, we aim to offer basic hosting (virtual machines or control-panel-managed web hosting) to:

• Nonprofits working on education, access, or digital equity
• Civic technology groups and local news or media projects
• Partners aligned with VONet’s mission
• Testbed projects that benefit the broader community

Hosting would be managed transparently, with clear usage policies and lightweight review by the VONet team.

Current Status

This colocation and hosting platform is not live yet. We’re actively planning and exploring partnerships to support the buildout. As services come online, we’ll publish:

• Technical documentation
• Hosting guidelines
• Infrastructure specs
• Application and onboarding details

Want to Help or Get Involved?

If you're interested in future hosting options or colocating with VONet as a nonprofit partner, email support@vonet.org