App Hosting

App Hosting is a premium feature in SonicBit that allows you to install and run various applications directly on SonicBit's infrastructure. This feature transforms your account from simple cloud storage into a versatile application platform.

Overview

SonicBit App Hosting provides dedicated computing resources to power applications from the App Store. Unlike basic file storage that only requires disk space, running applications needs processing power, memory, and specialized storage that's provided through Resource plans.

Key Concepts

• App Store: A curated collection of applications you can install on your SonicBit account
• Resource Plans: Dedicated computing resources (CPU, RAM, storage) required to run applications
• App Hosting Environment: The infrastructure where your applications run, separate from storage

Why App Hosting Needs Resources

Running applications requires several types of computing resources that go beyond simple storage:

1. CPU (Central Processing Unit): Provides the processing power to run application code
2. RAM (Random Access Memory): Provides temporary memory for applications to function
3. App Storage: Dedicated storage space for application files and data
4. Network Bandwidth: Data transfer capacity for application operations

These resources are allocated through Resource plans, which are separate from your storage plans.

Resource Plans

Resource plans provide the computing power needed to run applications from the App Store. They're designed to complement your storage plan by adding application hosting capabilities.

Resource Plan Structure

Each Resource plan includes specific allocations of:

• CPU Cores: The number of virtual CPU cores available to your applications
• RAM: The amount of memory (in GB) available for applications to use
• App Storage: Dedicated storage space (in GB) for application files and data
• Network Bandwidth: The data transfer capacity for your applications

Available Resource Plan Tiers

SonicBit offers a progressive series of Resource plans in increasing order of capacity:

Plan	CPU Cores	RAM (GB)	App Storage (GB)	Price
Ray	2	2	25	$3.95/mo
Bit	2	4	50	$5.45/mo
Shift	4	4	75	$9.45/mo
Flit	4	6	100	$11.95/mo
Flux	6	6	125	$15.95/mo
Spark	6	8	150	$19.95/mo
Flare	8	8	200	$27.95/mo
Blaze	8	10	250	$39.95/mo
Quartz	8	12	300	$49.95/mo

Resource Plan Categories

Resource plans are arranged in progressive tiers, each offering increased performance:

Entry-Level Tiers (Ray, Bit)

• Ray: Our most economical tier at $3.95/month with 2 CPU cores, 2GB RAM, and 25GB storage
• Bit: Upgraded entry tier at $5.45/month with 2 CPU cores, 4GB RAM, and 50GB storage
• Suitable for personal blogs, simple web apps, and basic tools
• Ideal for users new to application hosting or with minimal requirements
• Perfect for: "Lightweight file managers or minimal background tasks. Entry-level users with no heavy multitasking."

Mid-Range Tiers (Shift, Flit, Flux)

• Shift: $9.45/month with 4 CPU cores, 4GB RAM, and 75GB storage
• Flit: $11.95/month with 4 CPU cores, 6GB RAM, and 100GB storage
• Flux: $15.95/month with 6 CPU cores, 6GB RAM, and 125GB storage
• Appropriate for media servers, CMS platforms, and productivity tools
• Sufficient for running multiple small applications simultaneously
• Perfect for: "Multiple moderate-intensity apps like media converters, lightweight databases, or collaborative tools"

High-Performance Tiers (Spark, Flare, Blaze, Quartz)

• Spark: $19.95/month with 6 CPU cores, 8GB RAM, and 150GB storage
• Flare: $27.95/month with 8 CPU cores, 8GB RAM, and 200GB storage
• Blaze: $39.95/month with 8 CPU cores, 10GB RAM, and 250GB storage
• Quartz: $49.95/month with 8 CPU cores, 12GB RAM, and 300GB storage
• Ideal for development environments, databases, and resource-intensive apps
• Multiple CPU cores and substantial RAM allocation for demanding workloads
• Perfect for: "Professionals hosting complex apps like large-scale media servers, data analytics platforms, or collaborative SaaS"

Selecting a Resource Plan

When choosing a Resource plan, consider:

1. Types of applications you plan to run: Different apps have different resource requirements
2. Number of applications: Running multiple apps simultaneously requires more resources
3. Expected usage patterns: High-traffic or intensive processing needs more resources
4. Budget considerations: Higher-tier plans offer more resources at higher price points

Resource Requirements for Apps

Applications in the App Store have varying resource requirements based on their complexity and purpose.

Resource Intensity Ratings

Each application is assigned a resource intensity rating that indicates how demanding it is:

• Low Intensity (1-2): Simple tools, utilities, and lightweight applications
• Medium Intensity (3): Content management systems, development tools, media managers
• High Intensity (4-5): Media servers, databases, complex applications, development environments

These ratings help you determine which Resource plan you need for your applications.

Example Applications and Requirements

Application Type	Resource Intensity	Recommended Tier
WordPress Blog	Medium (3)	Shift or Flit
Plex Media Server	High (5)	Blaze or Quartz
File Manager	Low (1)	Ray or Bit
Development IDE	High (4)	Spark or Flare
Document Viewer	Low (2)	Ray or Bit

Using App Hosting

The App Hosting feature is accessed through the Apps section of the SonicBit dashboard.

Checking Resource Plan Status

Before installing applications, you can check your current Resource plan status:

1. Navigate to your account settings
2. Look for the "Resource" section
3. View details about your current plan including:
   • Resource tier name
   • CPU, RAM, and storage allocations
   • Expiration date
   • Usage statistics

Installing Applications

The process for installing applications depends on your Resource plan status:

If You Have a Resource Plan:

1. Browse the App Store section
2. Select an application you want to install
3. Click the "Install" button
4. Configure any required settings
5. Wait for the installation to complete

If You Don't Have a Resource Plan:

1. When you try to install an application, you'll see a notification explaining that resources are needed
2. Click the "Get Resource" button to navigate to the Upgrade page
3. Select a Resource plan that meets your needs
4. Complete the purchase process
5. Return to the App Store to install applications

Managing Applications

Once applications are installed, you can:

• Start/Stop: Control when applications are running
• Configure: Adjust application settings
• Access: Use applications directly through the SonicBit interface
• Monitor: Track resource usage of your applications
• Uninstall: Remove applications you no longer need

Resource Plan Management

Upgrading Resources

As your needs grow, you can upgrade your Resource plan:

1. Navigate to the Upgrade page
2. Select the "APP HOSTING ONLY" option
3. Choose a higher-tier Resource plan
4. Complete the purchase process

Your applications will continue running with the new resource allocations without interruption.

Monitoring Resource Usage

SonicBit provides tools to monitor how your applications use resources:

• CPU Usage: Track processing power consumption
• RAM Usage: Monitor memory utilization
• Storage Usage: See how much app storage space is being used
• Network Usage: Track data transfer for your applications

This information helps you determine if your current Resource plan is sufficient or if you need to upgrade.

Integration with Storage Plans

App Hosting works seamlessly with your SonicBit storage:

1. Applications can access files stored in your SonicBit storage
2. Media applications can stream content directly from your storage
3. File management applications can organize your storage content
4. Development tools can edit files stored in your account

This integration creates a complete ecosystem where your applications and data work together seamlessly.

Common Use Cases

Media Server

Install media server applications like Plex to:

• Organize your media collection
• Stream videos to any device
• Automatically fetch metadata and artwork
• Share your media library with friends and family

Web Development

Set up development environments to:

• Code directly in your browser
• Build and test websites
• Manage databases
• Deploy web applications

Content Management

Install content management systems to:

• Create and manage websites
• Publish blogs
• Organize digital content
• Collaborate with others

Productivity Tools

Run productivity applications to:

• Edit documents online
• Manage task lists and projects
• Collaborate with team members
• Automate workflows

Conclusion

SonicBit's App Hosting feature transforms your account from simple storage into a versatile application platform. By understanding Resource plans and how they support applications, you can make the most of this powerful feature and expand the capabilities of your SonicBit account.