Need a new hosting company

Any suggestions?

[Stefan]

My current hosting company, (starts with a D and is the same outfit that makes a lot of the computers out there), has a problem supplying log files. They keep my site online well, better than 99.9%, but the first 10 days of October they couldn't generate log files and I've now gone 3 days without any, (none since Nov 25 - they zip them once a day and stick them in a folder). I can't get any info on when they'll have the problem resolved.

I'm looking for another shared host that has excellent uptime and can also manage to supply logs. I'm currently only paying 20 US$/month, and get 15 GB of bandwidth, which is plenty. I don't mind paying a bit more than 20 US$ as long as the uptime is very good. I'd prefer a North American company.

If anyone has any advice, could they sticky it? I'd like to make the change on Monday.

[figment88]

If that's the worst your hosting company has done, I'd say stick with them.

If you are willing switch because they lost some logfiles, I do not think you'll be happy anywhere.

[Stefan]

Hmm... it's that bad out there is it?

This is just my second company. The first was only online about 95% of the time but was great with the log files. I could very nicely see where the servermonitor would cut out.

figment88, is it your experience that all the companies have problems? I was hoping that somewhere there was an outfit that was genuinely excellent.

[figment88]

The basic problem is that good hosting companies attrack more customers and tend to add less qualified employees to service them. So, there is absolutely no guarantee that a firm good today will remain so tomorrow.

There is a very active forum devoted to hosting issues. I'll sticky you the URL.

[CNibbana]

Good greef. $20 a month and you're only getting 15gb and problems to boot? I guess I've never realized how good I have it. My host is a North American company, $5.75 a month with 500mb storage and 50gb monthly transfer. I've never ever had a problem with downtime and they respond to my e-mails quickly and answer the phone too! LOL And greedy me has been looking at a different host because I need more space so start hosting video. Grass is always greener I guess...

[Stefan]

Well, I still have no log files... four days missing now. It's frustrating, our site didn't budge in Florida but I haven't seen any freshtags for it since Nov 25; we used to have them almost daily for at least the index. I can't check to see if googlebot is dropping by or not. I run a little server-monitor program on my computer that checks the header for the index every 10 minutes... the site has been online the whole time.

Tomorrow, if there are still no log files, the domain is moving somewhere else. Maybe I'll try the company Brett uses. If their shared hosting is as good as the dedicated server for WW, (I don't think WW is on shared hosting :-)), then that will be fine.

[calimehtar]

Figment, I'm also looking for answers to hosting questions. Can you send me that url (or perhaps post for the benefit of the community?)

[figment88]

I stickied you.

I do not think I'm allowed to post url's to somewhat competing forums.

[zulufox]

can you sticky it to me...

[scatchon]

hostforweb.com is good we do reseller there with over 60 sites and no complaints. excellent uptime. the tech support is top-notch.

just my humble..

[Stefan]

Thanks for the suggestions you guys, I've bookmarked them and intend to be ready to go if I get into it again.

My current hosting company, (starts with a D and made both my computers), finally caught up with the log files last night. Because the uptime is very good, I'm giving them one more chance, but if I go more than 3 days again, (4 this time, 10 last time), I'm moving it.

I need those log files: I've found people who have linked to us, in ways I don't allow, in the referer; I can find if I've typo'ed a new internal link by seeing the 404; I see what good bots, and scumbots, are hitting us; it tells me if someone has linked to one of our jpgs in a forum and is stealing bandwith, and it helps me to fine-tune things for the SE's. Because I'm adding content and tweaking everyday, 10 days at a time without logs is unacceptable.

Thanks again for the advice and the stickies. They're all on file.

Jah guide
Stefan