ShowMyPC hosts 30 percent more users and sees 20 percent real-time load improvement with Linode

ShowMyPC’s immediate connectivity of real-time communication relies on lightning quick server response for extremely complex algorithms. The application’s proper performance requires computational speed, network integrity and remote accessibility, three essential criteria for any infrastructure provider hoping to secure ShowMyPC as a customer. Like most rapidly growing startups, ShowMyPC possessed limited capital and staff early on. As a result, the team found the resource-intensive process of server provisioning notably taxing. The exercise of provisioning with many other cloud-hosts required a great deal of time, with complex billing statements and cost-prohibitive fees that were difficult for the company to absorb on a finite budget. As demand for ShowMyPC grew, the company began searching for an infrastructure provider that was fast and made server provisioning easier with the ability to automate common tasks. ShowMyPC needed the ability to provision servers in an efficient and consistent manner. Unwilling to accept deployment delays, the team grew frustrated with providers that either required a significant time commitment to bring new servers online or had an overly complex system or was expensive. Another challenge faced by ShowMyPC was the requirement for instantaneous data transmission between at least two remote sites. As a result, the team found it difficult to find an infrastructure provider that could maintain reliable communication between two or more devices such as PCs, laptops, smart phones or tablets. And finally the company needed a ready and responsive customer support team. Frustrated by slow-responding hosting providers, where the seemingly straightforward task of rebooting a server required the opening of a new ticket, ShowMyPC insisted on responsive, caring, expert and alert customer support.

ShowMyPC is a company based in Campbell, California, founded in 2002, that provides real-time screen sharing services for its customers. The company’s application is built upon open-source technology that allows users anywhere in the world to benefit from seamless and immediate collaboration across multiple devices. Users of ShowMyPC enjoy real-time interaction through tools like Remote PC access, Desktop (file) Sharing, Screen Sharing, and Monitoring that are available free of charge. Premium services are available for a fee. All ShowMyPC apps can be run over the Internet or within private networks. ShowMyPC’s co-founder Swati Tewari graciously responded to Linode’s request for a case study with examples of performance improvements and reliability.