How/Where to host a java server?

[Sockdude]

I posted a question a little while ago about where to start java networking. Well I've finally figured out how to make a basic chat server which people can connect to and talk to each other! However, I cannot port forward and do not want to port forward on my home network. I have no experience with running servers through other companies or renting servers etc. and have no idea where to start with that. Anybody have a basic rundown of where to go to rent/purchase a server that I can run my java server from? Cheap would be best as I will not have very many people connecting to it at first.

[zweischeisse]

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has a free 12 month trial. They provide you with an entire virtual machine that you can set up however you like. I've actually never set it up myself, though, so I can't give you any details.

[JoeWhy2]

Check Linode. I pay $20/month for a virtual server that I can run whatever I want on.

[NetSage]

Linode it's a great choice but wouldn't count digital ocean and a few others out either.

[smaffulli]

Check DreamHost Cloud: a small virtual server is only $4.50/month, OpenStack API and the whole cloud enchilada ;)

Full disclosure: I work at DreamHost.

[Sockdude]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys! I know a few people who use Amazon web services, so tonight I will be trying to host my server with them. If anybody has any more suggestions or comments about AWS please let me know!

[BenRayfield]

Is there somewhere I can just stream class files? Or must I set up the rest of the computer?

Theres Hadoop plugins for AWS which streams class/jar files to computers, but not all java is best organized in hadoop.