Vitual Server Hosting

[doc1975 +]

How imperative would it be for me to use a managed virtual server host, versus an unmanaged vitual server host. The cost per month are quite considerable. Pretty much, canaca.com is offering some pretty good prices for their vitual server hosting packages, but with the diclaimer that they are unmanaged and the only support you will receive is if you need to to wipe the slate clean on the server itself...

Also, what requirements should i be looking for when selecting a host, not in regards to linux, or the capability to use ioncube loaders. I am referring to the aspects such as, bandwidth, memory available, cpu usage, physical disc storage space, and so forth... how do i know what i would need most.

I basically would like to run a classifieds site, and also merge a photo gallery which will be available to post only to registered users, and with an allocated amount of space for each user, but the gallery will be viewable by all who visit the site, even nonregistered visitors. I will also be incorporating such things as banner advertisment with the help of either maffos banner mod or adpeeps...

My main concern really is how do i select a host package which will benefit me most?

[Eric Barnes]

Very good questions and I am not sure if their is a right answer.

How imperative would it be for me to use a managed virtual server host, versus an unmanaged vitual server host.

If you use a managed host then they will upgrade apache, php, mysql etc and keep the server running as well as doing any server maintenance. If you are not familiar working with a server I would recommend going this route or finding a reseller account through some company.

I am referring to the aspects such as, bandwidth, memory available, cpu usage, physical disc storage space, and so forth... how do i know what i would need most.

A lot of these depends on how popular your site is or going to be. Of course you can start small and always upgrade later.

One of our sites that has a lot of images uploaded currently uses
703 MB of disk usage. The most popular site has 3,405 MB/Month of traffic.

Someone else may be able to give you better details on specifics.

[doc1975 +]

What do you think of these specs, will the be sufficient...

$ = Inquire, Yes = Included, No = Not Supported

Server
Processors 2.8 Xeon
Dedicated RAM 256 MB
Operating RedHat
System Fedora
Choices Debian
Hard Disk Space 20 GB
Resources
Network Rate Unlimited
Monthly 400 GB
Bandwidth
Included IP Addresses 2
Guaranteed Resources Fair Share
Administration
Root Access Yes
Plesk Domain 100
License $15.00
Virtuozzo Power Panel Yes
Service Restarts Yes
Reboots Yes
Full DNS Management Yes
Full IP Management Yes
Backup Management Yes
Remote Connection Yes
Services
Web Server Yes
DNS Yes
FTP Yes
SSL $
MySQL Yes
Microsoft SQL Server No
Microsoft SQL Express No
Scripting
PHP Yes
Perl Yes
Mod_Perl Yes
CGI Yes
Python Yes
ASP No
ASP.NET No
Cold Fusion No
Applications
Webalizer Yes
(Traffic Stats)
Web Based FTP Yes
phpMyAdmin Yes
(MySql Tool)
Mail Server Yes
Web Mail Yes
Plesk Power Pack $
JRE 1.4.2_05 Yes
SpamAssassin 2.64 Yes
phpBB 2.0.16 Yes
AWstats 6.4 Yes
Credit Card Verifier 1.02 Yes
Tomcat 4.1.30 Yes
IMP WebMail 3.2.5 Yes
Web statistic analyzer Yes
Mambo 4.5_1.0.9 Yes
EveryAuction 1.53 Yes
Majordomo 1.94.5 with Autoresponder 1.16.7 Yes
Open WebMail 2.51 Yes
phpGallery 1.4.4pl2 Yes
phpAdsNew 2.0 Yes
JDK 1.4.2_05 Yes
SimpleSearch 1.0 Yes
PostNuke 0.726-3 Yes
ZendOptimizer 2.5.10 Yes
bbClone 0.4.3 Yes
SSL for Apache 2.0.51 Yes
JRun4 4.0 Yes
Webmin 1.160 Yes
osCommerce 2.2ms2 Yes
Apache mod_perl 1.99_12 Yes
phpBook 1.3.2 Yes
phpMyAdmin 2.6.1pl3 Yes
Sl Webalizer Fc2 2.01_10 Yes
Mailman, the GNU Mailing List Manager 2.1.5 Yes
phpPgAdmin 3.4.1 Yes
PostgreSQL 7.4.7 Yes
Support
Customer Service Center Yes
24x7x365 Support Tickets Yes
Toll Free Telephone Yes
LiveChat Yes
Online Help and User Manuals Yes

[Maffo +]

Just my advice, dont go for the cheapest you can find. I got screwed the other week. The server went down, I had no warnings, emails, nothing. Luckily I had most things backed up but the grief it caused me was unreal. It went off two days before the football (football with feet) season kicked off. I run a football site, (built with 68) and the results were stressful to say the least.

I am currently with a very good company who have been very supportive. They are called streamline.net, they are very good for money.

I also have an account with Rackspace, this is for my job. This is a lot more expensive, but shoud the **** the fan, these guys are good.

[doc1975 +]

Maffo, thanks for the reply/information. My primary concern is not the price, but really what I will require as far as disc space, bandwidth, and all other aspects. Will I need ASP or ASP.NET? And so forth... Basically, I have been doing quite a bit of research, and it's quite overwhelming. Here is a list of some hosts I am considering...

canaca.com - unmanaged though
infoquest.com - Does not support MS SQL, MS SQL Express, ASP, or ASP.Net
startlogic.com
vpsland.com
dotster.com
hostdime.com
ipower.com

Really not to concerned on pricing but as far as quality, and necessary software support. If anyone has any advice, it would be appreciated.

Also, would I need ASP or ASP.Net?

[Lhotch +]

Everything you need is outlines on the main 68classifieds site...ie

* Unix/Linux Server
* PHP Version 4.1 or above
* MySQL 3.23 or above
* Either GD, GD2, or Netpbm for the image upload and resize functions.
* ionCube Loaders

Ioncube loaders if not allready installed on your host usually isnt a problem because they come with 68c and can be dynamically loaded.

You do not need ASP or ASP.net thats for a whole different form of scripting.

How much disk space and bandwidth you need will depend on how many ads you have and how much traffic your site gets. Since this can be hard to predict, look for a site that will allow you to upgrade accounts and get more bandwidth or diskspace.

Aside from whats listed its a very good idea to find a host that does not impose max_question limit to your mysql use. Max_questions basically limits the amount of requests any database user can make to the database in an hour and exceeding this threashhold basically locks the database.

[doc1975 +]

Originally Posted by Lhotch

Aside from whats listed its a very good idea to find a host that does not impose max_question limit to your mysql use. Max_questions basically limits the amount of requests any database user can make to the database in an hour and exceeding this threashhold basically locks the database.

Thank you very much for your reply, this comment here is basically information that I was looking for. Just some advice from experienced users that may have ran into some problems and can give suggestions so that others like myself will not repeat the same mistakes.

From experience, about how large a base could I support with a 15gb - 20gb disc space?

Thanks.

[Lhotch +]

Originally Posted by doc1975

Thank you very much for your reply, this comment here is basically information that I was looking for. Just some advice from experienced users that may have ran into some problems and can give suggestions so that others like myself will not repeat the same mistakes.

From experience, about how large a base could I support with a 15gb - 20gb disc space?

Thanks.

It really does vary. Things like number of images you allow per ad, size of images you allow and number of fields you have for your ads will all have an effect on the space used.

Actual image size can also vary depending on the quality of the compressed image saved or if its even a compressed image. The whole image resolution, pixel size, DPI or PPI, compressed sinze and uncompressed size mean very little to most surfers.

Many people dont even know how to resize a pic from there camera which means the classifieds will have to resample and shrink the image prior to storage. A 750x350 jpg image will run appxo 80k depending on how compressed it is. When resized down to 400x180 or so it will be about 20kb.

The classifieds themselves are approx 10mb so 15-20 gig of disk space will go a long way. Most hosts will let you add disk space at a minimal cost. I would be more worried about bandwidth myself. Some hosts have a rather steep charge if you go over. Some simply cut off your service if you go over.

[doc1975 +]

Originally Posted by Lhotch

It really does vary. Things like number of images you allow per ad, size of images you allow and number of fields you have for your ads will all have an effect on the space used.

Actual image size can also vary depending on the quality of the compressed image saved or if its even a compressed image. The whole image resolution, pixel size, DPI or PPI, compressed sinze and uncompressed size mean very little to most surfers.

Many people dont even know how to resize a pic from there camera which means the classifieds will have to resample and shrink the image prior to storage. A 750x350 jpg image will run appxo 80k depending on how compressed it is. When resized down to 400x180 or so it will be about 20kb.

The classifieds themselves are approx 10mb so 15-20 gig of disk space will go a long way. Most hosts will let you add disk space at a minimal cost. I would be more worried about bandwidth myself. Some hosts have a rather steep charge if you go over. Some simply cut off your service if you go over.

So then, aside from disc space, my greatest concern would be bandwidth, how will 1000GB work?

[rhuian]

1000gb is almost a TB , it should do for a new site.