Forum Moderators: phranque
My total monthy costs for hosting are near $150. I think I am almost to the price point of getting a dedicated server.
I'm very comfortable with my admin panel for my virtual server and sometimes edit conf files by hand.
I am totally clueless when it comes to hardcore unix stuff like installing updates, patches, backups and things like VI or just about any other task I would have to use ssh for.
Some of my clients have FTP & POP access. All the sites are rather plain with some Perl/PHP with no databases.
Are there any additional monthly costs for extra domains like on a virtual host? I'd love to be able to add additional domains for nothing more than the cost of registering.
Do you have any recommendations? Is it that much harder to run a dedicated server? Seems like the control panel of choice is CPanel, which apparently makes updates a snap.
Thanks,
But there are always problems with dedicated servers and you will find you have to learn quickly!
For one thing many cheap ones come without a control panel or mail handler so you have to find and install these and then bang your head against a brick wall for a week while you get around the eccentricities (and of course this may be the case if a control panel is already installed). You will also probably need to learn about installing patches etc (don't know how easy it is - I use a Windows server and it's easy on that).
However, it is great to have full control over your own server and there are all kinds of things that suddenly become possible. On balance I would recommend it, but allow at least a month of account crossover time so you can iron out any bugs. Allow that even if cpanel is as good as they say it is.
I don't want to bother with patches and everything so I have a managed dedicated server which gets rid of a lot of the hassle.
It's a matter of what your specific requirements are. I personally like to keep it simple, and like the ability to switch hosts without TOO much hassle if need be.
Just for some input if the level of effort is that much greater for dedicated hosting compared to virtual.
we have done exactly that and you have to be prepared for a good 4-6 weeks of intense learning whilst you get the dedicated set up.
in hindsight i am really glad that we did it, as it has been a very important learning experience and i love having the peace of mind knowing exactly who is on my IP and what is running on the server. of course we save money too. the $$$ we were paying to the virtual hosters are now ours.
but if the traffic doesn't warrant it, or you don't have time on your hands to get stuck into the *nix stuff, then beware ;-)
p.s. without these forums this would have been impossible, so if you do want to take the plunge then all the help you will need is right here ;-)
<added>a nice entry server might be a cobalt raq - all the advantages of a dedicated server but with an easy admin interface</added>
I do not find running a dedicated server more difficult. I don't really run it - they just set them up for me and give me the login info.
That being said - depending on how those domains are used - you don't need a dedicated server in most cases. I have hundreds of domains in several virtual accounts. Some get some decent traffic.
If you look for servers in the adult field - you will find almost all don't charge for extra domains and stuff like that. $150 is pretty high for basic hosting. And of course - you don't need to use them to host adult sites.
I pay $250 per server for "managed dedicated" (bandwidth over 30GB is extra) and it is worth every penny. The difference in performance, convenience and support for dedicated is unreal.
I still have a few sites on virtual hosting, but I can't wait to get them over to a dedicated server.
Virtual hosting is a nightmare IMHO...bad scripts installed by bad neighbors causing numerous problems, poor support, all sorts of network issues, all sorts of security issues...all out of your control....never again!
AAnnAArchy, Getting additional IP's can be an issue (especially if you want more than 16), ARIN have determined the limits here, not the hosting company. There is no reason to worry about IP's, SE's don't care. I have several hundred sites on one IP, it all works just fine.....even if you cross link them!
They say no adult hosting, but even so there has to be a
catch on the 450GB bandwidth bit.
I'm meeting the sales guys of their parent company at Internet World in London today, so i'm going to find out what the deal is.
I only found out about them when my account manager emailed me with the wrong email address.... DOH!
major problems in the non managed as it's been outlined above are in the mail and mostly in security
plus hosting virtual on your dedicated calls for a decent server knowledge even more if running on Unix/Linux
which is my environment.
cheers
and how one will learn if not hand on?
