Forum Moderators: open
I've suffered numerous downtimes over the last three years. The latest (cureently trying to fix) started about 5 hours ago and judging from the response from their admin support team, It'll probably be down all day, they are really hopeless and it's costing me a fortune to call them from my current location in Laos.
The worst thing is that the site is completely down and returning 403 forbidden headers. What effect ids this likely to have on my search engine position... I'm really worrying about this.
I am so angry at all the downtimes and poor service, I have now cancelled my package and set up domain tranfers to my new registrar... I am still entitled to be using my current server until the 9th of March. However, my current host are now claiming that the server is down because I cancelled the package. In spite of the fact that I said I only cancelled 30 minutes ago and the reason I cancelled was because they won't help me get my server back up and running, they still claim I am to blame.
It looks like my site could be down for a week while I get this tranfer done.... Is this going to ruin me?
General HTTP error: HTTP 403 error (Forbidden)
I can't even got to my server via SSH, FTP or with PuTTY to change to a 503 header. It's a bank holiday where my subsidiary of the host are based, so I don't expect any help anytime soon.
[edited by: Asia_Expat at 8:09 am (utc) on Mar. 26, 2008]
I have a small shared hosting plan with antother host that I use for a little hobby site. I could set the domain's nameservers to point to that host and serve a 503 error for a week or so until I can get my new server up and running... but this will mean search engines see two IP changes in the space of a week... is this a wise move? I really want to get rid of that 403 response.
[edited by: Asia_Expat at 9:51 am (utc) on Mar. 26, 2008]
Jim
This is really heartbreaking. I can see this going very bad. I have no access to the server and no way of preventing the 403. It is likely to be there for days.
[edited by: Asia_Expat at 1:08 pm (utc) on Mar. 26, 2008]
Forget about your previous host, and concentrate solely on getting the new server up -- Review your local site 'image' files, write and review your upload and configuration plan, and make sure that everything is ready to upload to the new server as soon as you get an IP address assigned for it.
Jim
[Removed Email Quote]
... but frankly, a 16 hour response time (only received because of my 9th call) is just not good enough for a managed server... and my site is still down... but at least it's just timing out now, rather than serving 403's.
[edited by: Asia_Expat at 4:41 pm (utc) on Mar. 26, 2008]
[edited by: pageoneresults at 4:48 pm (utc) on Mar. 26, 2008]
[edit reason] Removed Email Quote - Please Refer to TOS [/edit]
Once you *do* leave you will find that there is no way of blanking out your credit card information. It just sits there.
plumsauce: I already tried removing my CC details today... it's impossible.
The domain transfer from 1and1 is actually quite straightforward... IF you can figure it out!
I was a newbie once.... only newbies use this host.
[edited by: caveman at 6:21 pm (utc) on Mar. 26, 2008]
Most don't appreciate how important they really are until tech issues pop up, hacks take place, confusing dns/domain issues arise, email complaints are filed against you, and hundreds if not thousands of other issues.
For now, just do as Jim suggests. Chances are that if the exact same content goes back up on the exact same URL's, that you should be fine...perhaps with some short term rankings dips. Focus on the site getting back up.
My website is back online right now at the old host. I already have 141 unique visitors in the last 36 minutes.
[edited by: caveman at 7:26 pm (utc) on Mar. 26, 2008]
Not to take back what I said above, but do take advantage of this to post a notice that you're experiencing severe problems with your server, and that if you go off-line, you *will* be back in at most (three or four days?).
Jim
Well that IS good news. You'll be fine, and so will your site. Consider this an important wake up call.
Now, take a deep breath, go for a walk, and come back ready to enhance not only the contents of your site, but also the stability of your site. ;-)
Today, webmastertools started showing about 150 '403 Forbidden errors'. Also, the site:mydomain.com/*? also started showing a corresponding reduction, although this might be a coincidence. I have seen a 30% drop in Google traffic... but oddly, a marked drop in page views per visitor.
I'm still waiting for the domains to complete their transfer to my new registrar. My main domain is showing 'Domain registration error' in the control panel of my old host, where my website still lives.
I'll have access to my new server in Singapore on Monday. I was most impressed to get a courtesy call from the new host to keep me informed.
[edited by: Asia_Expat at 4:00 pm (utc) on Mar. 29, 2008]
