No-logs policy
A provider’s commitment not to record which sites you visit, when you connected, or what address you connected from.
Glossary
RAM-only server
Also called: Diskless server
What is RAM-only server?
RAM-only server is a server that runs entirely from volatile memory, so a reboot or a seizure leaves nothing behind on disk. It converts a policy promise into a physical property. A provider that cannot write logs to disk cannot be compelled to produce logs from disk.
Why it matters
It converts a policy promise into a physical property. A provider that cannot write logs to disk cannot be compelled to produce logs from disk.
What most explanations leave out
It protects against data at rest, not data in flight. A server running from RAM can still be instrumented while it is running, and the operating image is loaded from somewhere. It is a meaningful control and it is not the same as being unsurveillable.
Related terms
Server seizure
Physical confiscation of a VPN server by authorities, usually at the datacentre rather than from the provider.
Questions
- What is RAM-only server?
- A server that runs entirely from volatile memory, so a reboot or a seizure leaves nothing behind on disk.
- Why does RAM-only server matter when choosing a VPN?
- It converts a policy promise into a physical property. A provider that cannot write logs to disk cannot be compelled to produce logs from disk.
- What do most explanations of RAM-only server leave out?
- It protects against data at rest, not data in flight. A server running from RAM can still be instrumented while it is running, and the operating image is loaded from somewhere. It is a meaningful control and it is not the same as being unsurveillable.
Terms are defined here because they appear in our scoring rubric or in provider reviews, not to fill a glossary.