If you could host your own SL server...

Would you be interested in hosting your own Second Life server ? Or maybe more (much more) than one server ?

If costs were comparable to running my own web server, and if my SL server was completely independent from LL's control, and if I could easily administrate access to and actions within my sharded SL server, and if I could link to other shards as desired...

... then yes.

I would colocate a server in a heartbeat, and manage it myself if allowed.

I'd be so on that.

Even for a little 4096sqm mini-private-island to do cozy building... yesssssssssssss.

I probably would, although it depends a lot on the costs/terms/hardware spec needed, etc.. and how it would be fitted into the existing map..

I don't mean to hijack, but can I also ask - if people who said they would host a SL shard, did host one, what would they use it for? Personal sandbox? Home and personal social space? Big in-game business? Super-sophisticated scripts and games that require Linden-equivalent powers to run? Or just landscape, parcel, and rent?

(I guess that you'd wind up having to depend on Linden Labs' asset and db server, though, otherwise people couldn't bring their own attachments into your shard and you'd have to establish your own currency...)

I guess they would use it for the same thing they already use land for

If I could export builds made within the private server into the Linden world, then yes. I agree with Psyra. I'd be happy paying 4096 worth of tier on a tiny seperated island. I'm not paying $200 a month for the "luxury" of being able to build without being harassed. I have absolutely no use for that much land.

Then again, I just want an offline prim builder that can export to SL. :\

The general colo fee is easily less than $195/month. But I wonder how much bandwidth we would need to ensure and do we need multiple IPs to operate two servers on a multiprocessor box. I wonder if a Linden will comment?

Then we'd be able to determine if the flexibility of shelling private servers would be worth the cost.

If SL ever becomes more P2P-enabled, like was suggested in "Swarming cache from clients" thread, what about revising Dwell by making it proportional to the amount of data served by your servers, instead ? In return you could pay for land with the Dwell money.

I would do it, it could be like an enhanced webpage just for SL users. Or it could be used as a 3D working environment (I found that creating things in SL is easier than on the web, for example a "todo list".

If I could afford in some way to host my own SL Server, I'd set up a SIM to expand 'The Forest', to make more room for my friends there. Our poor little Sim is too full, and we need room to expand! Having a second island next to the one we are on would be greatly appreciated.

Oh yesssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gimme dat server software! I'll set up my own virtual universe in a flash. MMMM just can't wait

< sneaks round the back of the LL server farm to steal an install disk >

It depends on the costs involved and other details. Right now if you own a private island and the machine craps out, you dont have to buy another. I like that kind of safety net.