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Frequently asked questions

What is Whatbox?

Whatbox is an app hosting platform. We let you run popular network apps on high-speed servers that are online and running 24/7. With Whatbox, you get the benefits of self-hosting without worrying about potential hardware failures, troubleshooting, or managing the operating system's security, tuning, and updates.

What can I store with Whatbox?

You can store any file you typically store on your computer on Whatbox. Keeping it on Whatbox speeds up accessing it over the network and simplifies sharing with others.

Are Whatbox servers shared or dedicated?

Whatbox servers are shared. We combine powerful server hardware with a secure, shared environment to provide bare-metal application performance. You get a great experience at an affordable price.

What are the hardware specs of the servers?

The hardware specifications vary depending on the chosen plan, location, and availability. Your server will have a powerful CPU with a Passmark score of at least 30,000, 320 GB of RAM, 40 gigabit networking, and best-in-class datacenter hard drives.

Can I use root?

No, root access is not available.

What apps are supported?

We offer one-click installs for the following apps:

  • rTorrent
  • Deluge
  • Transmission
  • Plex
  • Sonarr
  • Radarr
  • Prowlarr
  • Jackett
  • Syncthing
  • Jellyfin
  • qBittorrent

How do I install a supported app?

You can visit the Apps section of the Manage page for your server to install or enable any supported app. Zero configuration is required.

Can I run my own apps?

Yes, however, this is advanced functionality that you must do via SSH, and our support will be limited. There are some additional guidelines:

  • You can not install software that requires root privileges.
  • Software that negatively impacts other users by burdening the server is not allowed.
  • Cryptographic mining applications are expressly forbidden.
  • You may not use peer-to-peer load balancing applications.
  • Tor nodes are prohibited.

Can I run Java apps?

Yes, however, we cannot assist with the software installation or the Java Runtime Environment. Installation or use will be subject to your acceptance of the Oracle Java EULA and the above guidelines of not running especially resource-intensive tasks that negatively impact other users.

Is Plex supported?

Plex is available as a managed app on all plans. We provide one-click installation and updates, including beta updates for Plex Pass holders.

Do you support the ability to stream 4K media?

All servers support 4K video streaming to devices with suitable network speeds and playback capabilities. You may not transcode 4K HEVC video streams.

Where is my data stored?

Storage location varies based on what country you select during the purchase:

  • Virginia, United States
  • Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Singapore

Can I use FUSE, Google Drive, or other networked filesystems?

Yes, FUSE-based apps are available for use on your slot via SSH. Please be aware that FUSE-based file systems are less reliable, and support may only be able to help with some issues. Occasionally, we will point you to official documentation and community support for FUSE problems.

What happens if I exceed my storage limit?

We will reduce your download speed. You will need to remove some files or upgrade to a larger plan to restore download speeds. Continued overage will result in us temporarily locking your slot.

Under what conditions will you delete my files?

Slots and their files are deleted 7 days after expiration without payment. We provide non-redundant storage, so please backup your files.

How many users share my drive?

Your slot's hard drive may have up to 4 users. Our largest plans always come with a dedicated drive.

How do I change my plan?

Visit the plan change page and select your new plan. We will process your transfer as quickly as inventory allows. At this time, we do not offer à la carte storage.

Can I have multiple slots?

Yes! To purchase another slot for your account, visit our plans page. After checkout, you can access the new slot without changing your existing service.

Is my hosted data secure?

Stored on servers featuring our hardened Linux kernel, your hosted data is secure at Whatbox. When software or hardware exploits arrive, we update our servers to keep you safe. Security is our highest priority, and we take pride in it. Our security rewards program offers up to 15,000 USD in prizes for discovering security problems.

How fast are your servers?

Our servers are connected directly to a 40 gigabit per second fiber connection. We use best-in-class datacenter hard drives and automatic RAM caching. It's hard to quantify but they are pretty fast.

Do you offer re-routing?

Yes! If you are experiencing poor speeds, throughput, or high latency, please let us know in a support ticket so that we can diagnose any connection issues. We fully manage our network and can often route around common areas of congestion.

Can the /etc/hosts file be modified?

No, you can not modify the hosts file.

Do you offer unlimited download traffic?

Yes! Downloading files to your slot's hard drive is completely unlimited.

What counts towards my upload traffic limit?

All upload traffic counts except for the following applications:

  • FTP (on port 21) and SSH/SFTP (on port 22)
  • HTTPS from pre-provided directories
  • OpenVPN
  • Plex
  • Jellyfin

What happens if I exceed my upload traffic limit?

We will limit your upload speed to 100 Megabits per second until your next billing cycle. You can continue using your slot as usual; the limited upload speed will be the only change.

Can I increase my upload traffic limit?

In addition to changing your plan. You can also purchase a one-time or recurring monthly traffic add-on when purchasing or on the Manage page at the “Increase Traffic Allocation” link.

When does my upload traffic reset?

Your upload traffic resets as part of your billing cycle. For example, if you initially purchased your slot plan on November 5th, your traffic would reset on December 5th.

How do I find my slot's IP address?

The IPv4 and IPv6 IP addresses of your slot can be located by heading to your Manage page and selecting the "Info" link located on the upper-right portion of the page.

Do you offer dedicated IP addresses?

Due to the extreme scarcity of IPv4 addresses, we cannot offer users dedicated IPv4 addresses. All servers have static IPv4 and IPv6 addresses shared with all users on that server. We may offer dedicated IPv6 addresses when adoption is more prevalent.

What payment methods do you support?

We support a wide range of payment methods:

  • PayPal
  • Credit card
  • Cryptocurrency (no refunds)
  • Apple Pay or Google Pay
  • Click to Pay (Credit card)
  • Alipay
  • Bancontact
  • EPS
  • iDEAL
  • Przelewy24

We support the following currencies:

  • United States dollars
  • Euros
  • Canadian dollars

Is my payment information secure?

The security of your payment information is paramount. We have partnered with PCI-compliant vendors Stripe and PayPal to process your payments securely. None of your information ever touches our servers. It is transmitted directly to Stripe or PayPal for processing.

Do you offer subscriptions?

We offer automatic subscriptions to make billing easier. Not all payment methods are eligible, however. To get started, head to your Manage page and select the button on the right side of the page that says "Enable Auto-Billing".

What happens if I can't pay on time?

We are happy to work with your schedule. Please open a support ticket before your slot expires, and we will preserve your files.

How do I change my email?

You can change this on the email preferences page.

Can I get SMS alerts?

Yes! To add an SMS number to your account, visit the mobile preferences page.

How can I change what alerts I get?

Head to your notification preference page, where you will be able to modify what alerts you receive, as well as how you receive them.

How do I change my username?

Unfortunately, we are unable to change usernames at this time. You will need to create a new account instead. You can request to transfer any active slots to another account by creating a support ticket for more information.

How do I delete my account?

To permanently delete your account, visit the account deletion page.