Assume a Linux/Apache/MySQL/PHP application for a small base of registered users. With small userbase, there are no traffic peaks so the scalability that cloud platforms offer is not imperative. But the system is mission-critical, so availability is the primary goal. Users are also distributed across Asia, Europe, and US, so multiple server locations that minimize users' network hops would be highly desirable.
The dream: a managed VPS platform where we would configure a single server (uploading PHP and other files, manipulating database, etc.), and the platform would automatically mirror the server in a handful of key places around the world (say one on each US coast, one in Europe, one in east Asia). File system synchronization and MySQL replication would happen automatically. Core operating system is managed, so we don't need to do full system administration and security, and low-level backups are also done by service provider, though we also do our own backups as well. Couple this with some sort of DNS geo-detection, so users are routed to the nearest operational server... with support for https, of course.
Does such a dream exist? If not, what are some approaches to accomplish the same end with minimal time investment and minimal monthly hosting costs?
