Web hosting hell - what to do? [modified]
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For the second time in a dozen years a web host we use that was previously good and got good ratings etc has been bought out or merged and service and support has gone to hell. (Hypermart years ago, now Netnation). In both cases they were humming along nicely, we never had any issues, then all of the sudden we start losing email, our websites get restored from old backups without warning, tech support can't seem to pin down major problems like we can't connect to our mail server etc. Curiously this happened in both cases just after a buyout or a merger of the hosting company. I'm checking for web hosts on "the google" and I find a billion plus a zillion web host review sites and other thinly veiled marketing scams and little else in the way of objective information. How in the world are you supposed to find a web host, are there any objective sources of information? Are there any web hosts that *don't* try to be the cheapest any more but focus instead on uptime and reliability and good customer service? Is there anyone big enough that they won't get bought out or merged? -- modified at 16:48 Friday 6th April, 2007 Thank you to everyone that responded, I've checked them out and Server Beach seems to be the closest match for our requirements. Now I just have to decide if it's worth the time and effort to learn how to setup what we need and the ongoing maintenance.
"110%" - it's the new 70%
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For the second time in a dozen years a web host we use that was previously good and got good ratings etc has been bought out or merged and service and support has gone to hell. (Hypermart years ago, now Netnation). In both cases they were humming along nicely, we never had any issues, then all of the sudden we start losing email, our websites get restored from old backups without warning, tech support can't seem to pin down major problems like we can't connect to our mail server etc. Curiously this happened in both cases just after a buyout or a merger of the hosting company. I'm checking for web hosts on "the google" and I find a billion plus a zillion web host review sites and other thinly veiled marketing scams and little else in the way of objective information. How in the world are you supposed to find a web host, are there any objective sources of information? Are there any web hosts that *don't* try to be the cheapest any more but focus instead on uptime and reliability and good customer service? Is there anyone big enough that they won't get bought out or merged? -- modified at 16:48 Friday 6th April, 2007 Thank you to everyone that responded, I've checked them out and Server Beach seems to be the closest match for our requirements. Now I just have to decide if it's worth the time and effort to learn how to setup what we need and the ongoing maintenance.
"110%" - it's the new 70%
John Cardinal wrote:
Are there any web hosts that *don't* try to be the cheapest any more but focus instead on uptime and reliability and good customer service? Is there anyone big enough that they won't get bought out or merged?
Yes, but you usually will pay for that reliability (and more). One of my customers just got a quote from Orcsweb[^]. I know they're good (they host most of Microsoft's external sites), and I know the guys that run it. I didn't see the quote, but I know the reaction was "Wow.". Looking at their site, it seems to run up to $1k/month for dedicated. On a different note, I was pretty happy with Server Intellect[^] when I was on them. As for your last question, I think you know the answer...
-------------- TTFN - Kent
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For the second time in a dozen years a web host we use that was previously good and got good ratings etc has been bought out or merged and service and support has gone to hell. (Hypermart years ago, now Netnation). In both cases they were humming along nicely, we never had any issues, then all of the sudden we start losing email, our websites get restored from old backups without warning, tech support can't seem to pin down major problems like we can't connect to our mail server etc. Curiously this happened in both cases just after a buyout or a merger of the hosting company. I'm checking for web hosts on "the google" and I find a billion plus a zillion web host review sites and other thinly veiled marketing scams and little else in the way of objective information. How in the world are you supposed to find a web host, are there any objective sources of information? Are there any web hosts that *don't* try to be the cheapest any more but focus instead on uptime and reliability and good customer service? Is there anyone big enough that they won't get bought out or merged? -- modified at 16:48 Friday 6th April, 2007 Thank you to everyone that responded, I've checked them out and Server Beach seems to be the closest match for our requirements. Now I just have to decide if it's worth the time and effort to learn how to setup what we need and the ongoing maintenance.
"110%" - it's the new 70%
A lot depends on what your needs happen to be. I have been using Server Beach for a dedicated server for four years or so with hardly any issues. Of course, it is a dedicated server so they have considerable cost (my current server is $118 per month), but you have a full Windows 2003 server (not web version) box without any retrictions other than your bandwidth which is currently 2,000 GB per month. You can host as many sites as you wish and install any kind of software you wish. They recently bought out by Peer1, but it has meant mostly good things. I personally am not a fan of shared hosting!
Rocky <>< Latest Code Blog Post: OpenID - More thought - Great system if.. Latest Tech Blog Post: Frustrated Total Internal Reflection-FTIR = Cool!
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For the second time in a dozen years a web host we use that was previously good and got good ratings etc has been bought out or merged and service and support has gone to hell. (Hypermart years ago, now Netnation). In both cases they were humming along nicely, we never had any issues, then all of the sudden we start losing email, our websites get restored from old backups without warning, tech support can't seem to pin down major problems like we can't connect to our mail server etc. Curiously this happened in both cases just after a buyout or a merger of the hosting company. I'm checking for web hosts on "the google" and I find a billion plus a zillion web host review sites and other thinly veiled marketing scams and little else in the way of objective information. How in the world are you supposed to find a web host, are there any objective sources of information? Are there any web hosts that *don't* try to be the cheapest any more but focus instead on uptime and reliability and good customer service? Is there anyone big enough that they won't get bought out or merged? -- modified at 16:48 Friday 6th April, 2007 Thank you to everyone that responded, I've checked them out and Server Beach seems to be the closest match for our requirements. Now I just have to decide if it's worth the time and effort to learn how to setup what we need and the ongoing maintenance.
"110%" - it's the new 70%
I highly recommend pair.com, I use it for my business web sites. The same guy has been running the company for years, he's not going anywhere.
--Mike-- Visual C++ MVP :cool: LINKS~! Ericahist | PimpFish | CP SearchBar v3.0 | C++ Forum FAQ Ford, what's this fish doing in my ear?
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A lot depends on what your needs happen to be. I have been using Server Beach for a dedicated server for four years or so with hardly any issues. Of course, it is a dedicated server so they have considerable cost (my current server is $118 per month), but you have a full Windows 2003 server (not web version) box without any retrictions other than your bandwidth which is currently 2,000 GB per month. You can host as many sites as you wish and install any kind of software you wish. They recently bought out by Peer1, but it has meant mostly good things. I personally am not a fan of shared hosting!
Rocky <>< Latest Code Blog Post: OpenID - More thought - Great system if.. Latest Tech Blog Post: Frustrated Total Internal Reflection-FTIR = Cool!
I agree, I've used Server Beach for the last couple years... my current server there is $189 a month... but it is worth every penny since I have total control and lots of bandwidth. The downside is administration and maintenance -- if you don't know how to properly admin and lock down a server, don't get a dedicated one or you will be in a pickle very shortly.
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For the second time in a dozen years a web host we use that was previously good and got good ratings etc has been bought out or merged and service and support has gone to hell. (Hypermart years ago, now Netnation). In both cases they were humming along nicely, we never had any issues, then all of the sudden we start losing email, our websites get restored from old backups without warning, tech support can't seem to pin down major problems like we can't connect to our mail server etc. Curiously this happened in both cases just after a buyout or a merger of the hosting company. I'm checking for web hosts on "the google" and I find a billion plus a zillion web host review sites and other thinly veiled marketing scams and little else in the way of objective information. How in the world are you supposed to find a web host, are there any objective sources of information? Are there any web hosts that *don't* try to be the cheapest any more but focus instead on uptime and reliability and good customer service? Is there anyone big enough that they won't get bought out or merged? -- modified at 16:48 Friday 6th April, 2007 Thank you to everyone that responded, I've checked them out and Server Beach seems to be the closest match for our requirements. Now I just have to decide if it's worth the time and effort to learn how to setup what we need and the ongoing maintenance.
"110%" - it's the new 70%
Have you looked at Web Hosting Talk[^]? It's a real forum (as opposed those marketing scams) where people talk about hosting companies. If you have a quick look through there you should find a few recommended hosts (or get totally disillusioned that one exists!)
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A lot depends on what your needs happen to be. I have been using Server Beach for a dedicated server for four years or so with hardly any issues. Of course, it is a dedicated server so they have considerable cost (my current server is $118 per month), but you have a full Windows 2003 server (not web version) box without any retrictions other than your bandwidth which is currently 2,000 GB per month. You can host as many sites as you wish and install any kind of software you wish. They recently bought out by Peer1, but it has meant mostly good things. I personally am not a fan of shared hosting!
Rocky <>< Latest Code Blog Post: OpenID - More thought - Great system if.. Latest Tech Blog Post: Frustrated Total Internal Reflection-FTIR = Cool!
After my recent experience with 1&1, I'm no fan of shared hosting either! Not that I was a total fan to begin with, but... If I had $100 a month to spare on a web server, I'd do that. It's really the only way to get a website to do _exactly_ what you want. Especially if you want to take full advantage of ASP.NET... Mike
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For the second time in a dozen years a web host we use that was previously good and got good ratings etc has been bought out or merged and service and support has gone to hell. (Hypermart years ago, now Netnation). In both cases they were humming along nicely, we never had any issues, then all of the sudden we start losing email, our websites get restored from old backups without warning, tech support can't seem to pin down major problems like we can't connect to our mail server etc. Curiously this happened in both cases just after a buyout or a merger of the hosting company. I'm checking for web hosts on "the google" and I find a billion plus a zillion web host review sites and other thinly veiled marketing scams and little else in the way of objective information. How in the world are you supposed to find a web host, are there any objective sources of information? Are there any web hosts that *don't* try to be the cheapest any more but focus instead on uptime and reliability and good customer service? Is there anyone big enough that they won't get bought out or merged? -- modified at 16:48 Friday 6th April, 2007 Thank you to everyone that responded, I've checked them out and Server Beach seems to be the closest match for our requirements. Now I just have to decide if it's worth the time and effort to learn how to setup what we need and the ongoing maintenance.
"110%" - it's the new 70%
I've been working with www.Appliedi.net[^] for around 6 years now. They're large enough to have a hurricane proof data center (I had zero down time when cat 5 hurricanes romped across south Florida), but they're small enough that I know them as people. Their service is the main reason I've stayed with them. Had enough of nameless, faceless corporations. Tell 'em I sent you. If they don't hang up on you after that, I think you'll enjoy working with them. :)
Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalStrategyConsulting.com
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After my recent experience with 1&1, I'm no fan of shared hosting either! Not that I was a total fan to begin with, but... If I had $100 a month to spare on a web server, I'd do that. It's really the only way to get a website to do _exactly_ what you want. Especially if you want to take full advantage of ASP.NET... Mike
Well, you can always find others to share one with you. From all the posts here in CP looking for web hosts, you might be able to team up with a dozen other CPians and split the cost. It would cost each of you about $10 or so. Not bad to be one a server only shared with 11 others ;) For about $20 extra you can get the Plesk or Helm control panels to run the server as a professional hosting server and just host out a few accounts. Currently, there cheapest Windows 2003 server (not web version) is only $115 per month with the control panel (all Windows servers allow you full access via terminal services, the control panel is for clients).
Rocky <>< Latest Code Blog Post: OpenID - More thought - Great system if.. Latest Tech Blog Post: Frustrated Total Internal Reflection-FTIR = Cool!
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For the second time in a dozen years a web host we use that was previously good and got good ratings etc has been bought out or merged and service and support has gone to hell. (Hypermart years ago, now Netnation). In both cases they were humming along nicely, we never had any issues, then all of the sudden we start losing email, our websites get restored from old backups without warning, tech support can't seem to pin down major problems like we can't connect to our mail server etc. Curiously this happened in both cases just after a buyout or a merger of the hosting company. I'm checking for web hosts on "the google" and I find a billion plus a zillion web host review sites and other thinly veiled marketing scams and little else in the way of objective information. How in the world are you supposed to find a web host, are there any objective sources of information? Are there any web hosts that *don't* try to be the cheapest any more but focus instead on uptime and reliability and good customer service? Is there anyone big enough that they won't get bought out or merged? -- modified at 16:48 Friday 6th April, 2007 Thank you to everyone that responded, I've checked them out and Server Beach seems to be the closest match for our requirements. Now I just have to decide if it's worth the time and effort to learn how to setup what we need and the ongoing maintenance.
"110%" - it's the new 70%
I like DiscountASP.NET (www.discountasp.net) for shared hosting. 1. Affordable ($10/month for the basic package) 2. Support is really good (usually I get a reply to technical questions within a few hours, it has never taken more than 12 hours) 3. Always running the latest stuff (they already have .NET 3.0 and you can try IIS 7.0 beta if you like) 4. Lots of free ASP.NET components, making it a great hosting provider if you are an MS developer. Their KB has many dev samples, too. 5. I've never had any reliability issues for 4 years. They warn you far in advance if there is update to email service or maintenance of anything like that. Roel
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For the second time in a dozen years a web host we use that was previously good and got good ratings etc has been bought out or merged and service and support has gone to hell. (Hypermart years ago, now Netnation). In both cases they were humming along nicely, we never had any issues, then all of the sudden we start losing email, our websites get restored from old backups without warning, tech support can't seem to pin down major problems like we can't connect to our mail server etc. Curiously this happened in both cases just after a buyout or a merger of the hosting company. I'm checking for web hosts on "the google" and I find a billion plus a zillion web host review sites and other thinly veiled marketing scams and little else in the way of objective information. How in the world are you supposed to find a web host, are there any objective sources of information? Are there any web hosts that *don't* try to be the cheapest any more but focus instead on uptime and reliability and good customer service? Is there anyone big enough that they won't get bought out or merged? -- modified at 16:48 Friday 6th April, 2007 Thank you to everyone that responded, I've checked them out and Server Beach seems to be the closest match for our requirements. Now I just have to decide if it's worth the time and effort to learn how to setup what we need and the ongoing maintenance.
"110%" - it's the new 70%
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gilabite wrote:
Run your own webserver.
IMO, that it the most expensive solution.
Ericos Georgiades
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A lot depends on what your needs happen to be. I have been using Server Beach for a dedicated server for four years or so with hardly any issues. Of course, it is a dedicated server so they have considerable cost (my current server is $118 per month), but you have a full Windows 2003 server (not web version) box without any retrictions other than your bandwidth which is currently 2,000 GB per month. You can host as many sites as you wish and install any kind of software you wish. They recently bought out by Peer1, but it has meant mostly good things. I personally am not a fan of shared hosting!
Rocky <>< Latest Code Blog Post: OpenID - More thought - Great system if.. Latest Tech Blog Post: Frustrated Total Internal Reflection-FTIR = Cool!
What kind of box do you get for $118 and do you have full control over it including wiping and reinstalling it?
regards, Paul Watson Ireland & South Africa
Shog9 wrote:
And with that, Paul closed his browser, sipped his herbal tea, fixed the flower in his hair, and smiled brightly at the multitude of cute, furry animals flocking around the grassy hillside where he sat coding Ruby on his Mac...
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Still got to host it in a datacenter (under your desk doesn't cut it unless your desk is in a datacenter) and datacenters have support problems too :(
regards, Paul Watson Ireland & South Africa
Shog9 wrote:
And with that, Paul closed his browser, sipped his herbal tea, fixed the flower in his hair, and smiled brightly at the multitude of cute, furry animals flocking around the grassy hillside where he sat coding Ruby on his Mac...
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For the second time in a dozen years a web host we use that was previously good and got good ratings etc has been bought out or merged and service and support has gone to hell. (Hypermart years ago, now Netnation). In both cases they were humming along nicely, we never had any issues, then all of the sudden we start losing email, our websites get restored from old backups without warning, tech support can't seem to pin down major problems like we can't connect to our mail server etc. Curiously this happened in both cases just after a buyout or a merger of the hosting company. I'm checking for web hosts on "the google" and I find a billion plus a zillion web host review sites and other thinly veiled marketing scams and little else in the way of objective information. How in the world are you supposed to find a web host, are there any objective sources of information? Are there any web hosts that *don't* try to be the cheapest any more but focus instead on uptime and reliability and good customer service? Is there anyone big enough that they won't get bought out or merged? -- modified at 16:48 Friday 6th April, 2007 Thank you to everyone that responded, I've checked them out and Server Beach seems to be the closest match for our requirements. Now I just have to decide if it's worth the time and effort to learn how to setup what we need and the ongoing maintenance.
"110%" - it's the new 70%
In South Africa the better overseas companies invest here first. The hosting firm Hetzner (from Germany) started here a few years ago. These guys have cheap packages, but the price refects the customer services and features. In 4 years we had no downtime dispite South Africa's questionable communication infrastructure.
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For the second time in a dozen years a web host we use that was previously good and got good ratings etc has been bought out or merged and service and support has gone to hell. (Hypermart years ago, now Netnation). In both cases they were humming along nicely, we never had any issues, then all of the sudden we start losing email, our websites get restored from old backups without warning, tech support can't seem to pin down major problems like we can't connect to our mail server etc. Curiously this happened in both cases just after a buyout or a merger of the hosting company. I'm checking for web hosts on "the google" and I find a billion plus a zillion web host review sites and other thinly veiled marketing scams and little else in the way of objective information. How in the world are you supposed to find a web host, are there any objective sources of information? Are there any web hosts that *don't* try to be the cheapest any more but focus instead on uptime and reliability and good customer service? Is there anyone big enough that they won't get bought out or merged? -- modified at 16:48 Friday 6th April, 2007 Thank you to everyone that responded, I've checked them out and Server Beach seems to be the closest match for our requirements. Now I just have to decide if it's worth the time and effort to learn how to setup what we need and the ongoing maintenance.
"110%" - it's the new 70%
I've just started using www.netfirms.com...any comments, good or bad?
73
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For the second time in a dozen years a web host we use that was previously good and got good ratings etc has been bought out or merged and service and support has gone to hell. (Hypermart years ago, now Netnation). In both cases they were humming along nicely, we never had any issues, then all of the sudden we start losing email, our websites get restored from old backups without warning, tech support can't seem to pin down major problems like we can't connect to our mail server etc. Curiously this happened in both cases just after a buyout or a merger of the hosting company. I'm checking for web hosts on "the google" and I find a billion plus a zillion web host review sites and other thinly veiled marketing scams and little else in the way of objective information. How in the world are you supposed to find a web host, are there any objective sources of information? Are there any web hosts that *don't* try to be the cheapest any more but focus instead on uptime and reliability and good customer service? Is there anyone big enough that they won't get bought out or merged? -- modified at 16:48 Friday 6th April, 2007 Thank you to everyone that responded, I've checked them out and Server Beach seems to be the closest match for our requirements. Now I just have to decide if it's worth the time and effort to learn how to setup what we need and the ongoing maintenance.
"110%" - it's the new 70%
John, I've been using ixwebhosting (www.ixwebhosting.com) for at least 3 years now. The prices are excellent as is their service. HTH, -CB :)
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A lot depends on what your needs happen to be. I have been using Server Beach for a dedicated server for four years or so with hardly any issues. Of course, it is a dedicated server so they have considerable cost (my current server is $118 per month), but you have a full Windows 2003 server (not web version) box without any retrictions other than your bandwidth which is currently 2,000 GB per month. You can host as many sites as you wish and install any kind of software you wish. They recently bought out by Peer1, but it has meant mostly good things. I personally am not a fan of shared hosting!
Rocky <>< Latest Code Blog Post: OpenID - More thought - Great system if.. Latest Tech Blog Post: Frustrated Total Internal Reflection-FTIR = Cool!
I am not a fan of shared hosting either, but for some of my smaller clients, they need the shared hosting especially if their not digging into the bigger development solutions. I had a big problem with gate.com a while back and I posted a bad review about them on my blog. If I were referring someone on shared hosting, I would push for GoDaddy, they seem to be a little bit safer although shared control of the hosting space is not all that impressive. But then again, I'm talking about shared hosting, not dedicated. John Wooton Professional ASP.net developer Check out my blog
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I agree, I've used Server Beach for the last couple years... my current server there is $189 a month... but it is worth every penny since I have total control and lots of bandwidth. The downside is administration and maintenance -- if you don't know how to properly admin and lock down a server, don't get a dedicated one or you will be in a pickle very shortly.
achimera wrote:
if you don't know how to properly admin and lock down a server, don't get a dedicated one
What's the best way to learn? Any books you'd recommend?
David Veeneman www.veeneman.com
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For the second time in a dozen years a web host we use that was previously good and got good ratings etc has been bought out or merged and service and support has gone to hell. (Hypermart years ago, now Netnation). In both cases they were humming along nicely, we never had any issues, then all of the sudden we start losing email, our websites get restored from old backups without warning, tech support can't seem to pin down major problems like we can't connect to our mail server etc. Curiously this happened in both cases just after a buyout or a merger of the hosting company. I'm checking for web hosts on "the google" and I find a billion plus a zillion web host review sites and other thinly veiled marketing scams and little else in the way of objective information. How in the world are you supposed to find a web host, are there any objective sources of information? Are there any web hosts that *don't* try to be the cheapest any more but focus instead on uptime and reliability and good customer service? Is there anyone big enough that they won't get bought out or merged? -- modified at 16:48 Friday 6th April, 2007 Thank you to everyone that responded, I've checked them out and Server Beach seems to be the closest match for our requirements. Now I just have to decide if it's worth the time and effort to learn how to setup what we need and the ongoing maintenance.
"110%" - it's the new 70%
Well I did type out a large recommendation for Rackspace.com but the message wasn't posted. The short of it is: 1. they take care of all the hardware and software stuff. 2. will assist you on anything under the sun. 3. Are there 24/7/356, by phone, email, and perfect helpdesk. 4. Multiple locations, Multiple backbones...etc. 5. Every thing is under your control,you are the boss. 6. you can be up and running in 24 hours. 7. Contracts range from 6 months, to 2 years and you can go on month to month are the contract ends. Give them a Call