what should you do when your servers get old? - GoFuckYourself.com

zentz · 05-16-2008, 04:35 PM

would you ask your host to upgrade them and would they charge you anything in that case?

i have a couple of dedicated servers and most of them are p4's so im not sure if i should ask my host to upgrade them or not and if that would cost me money. i didnt notice any problems with the servers though, but i also dont know if i would get a better performance with the new servers...

Sly · 05-16-2008, 04:38 PM

Typically many companies would charge you an upgrade fee because the monthly price that you pay is more for service and bandwidth than hardware. Anyway, if you don't see a reason to upgrade, then there really is no point in doing it.

Now if you own your servers... you could always use older servers for less intensive tasks. There are all sorts of applications.

sicone · 05-16-2008, 04:41 PM

If it's not broke, why fix it

rowan · 05-17-2008, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sly

Typically many companies would charge you an upgrade fee because the monthly price that you pay is more for service and bandwidth than hardware. Anyway, if you don't see a reason to upgrade, then there really is no point in doing it.

I've seen hosts say the exact opposite, that they're basically a hardware leasing company that also happen to offer bw and support.

One thing to consider is that today's price for a higher spec server could be close to a grandfathered price for a P4 anyway.

I had one host that quietly reduced their monthly fee for the same hw without telling their existing, loyal clients. Discovered it about 14 months and $700 extra later.

rowan · 05-17-2008, 03:52 AM

Oh, also from the host's POV, I would guess that cancelling an older server would be something they'd rather not do, since it will be harder to sell to another client.

From the customer POV, it won't hurt to ask if they can offer you an upgrade path OR a discount on your existing server for being a loyal customer... the hardware has surely paid for itself several times over by now...

rowan · 05-17-2008, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sicone

If it's not broke, why fix it

One more reply...

I've never had a host offer to do any preventative maintenance such as replacing fans, cleaning out dust from heatsinks, etc. Does that mean an older server may be more likely to "break"?....

Oracle Porn · 05-17-2008, 04:03 AM

if you want a newer server that what your hosts gave your 2-3 years ago you should ask him, if not im pretty sure other hosting companies will give you a newer server for the same price as you current host if not for less.

Jon Clark - BANNED FOR LIFE · 05-17-2008, 04:06 AM

Hit me up if they try to charge you for the upgrade.. I have a few of these,

Dell PowedEdge Server
Dual Quad Core Xeon
4GB RAM (Up To 16GB)
2x250gb hd's
Starting at $249 + Bandwidth

farkedup · 05-17-2008, 07:25 AM

depends on how many sites you have really, a dozen big sites are actually easier to move than 100+ little sites (unless they're super small and you can use the WHM built in moving tool)

for the most part you could merge entire servers. Depending on bandwidth usage you may be able to cut your hosting costs in at least half by realizing that current servers can handle twice the load the servers from 2-3 years ago could. Hard drive access speed is still pretty much the same limitation it used to be but has improved maybe a good 30% but using linux you can simply put things like your log files onto a different drive and do a few tricks to spread hard drive access across several drives. I generally put log files on 1 drive, DB's on another drive and site contents on 1 or 2 other drives.

You might also want to ask around about "private networks" and have something like 1 dedicated DB box with a private LAN setup between all the servers. Some hosts simply charge WAY too much for things like that though.

rowan · 05-17-2008, 12:43 PM

Rather than individually shifting sites.......

If your hard drive is a standard size that is still currently available (ie bigger than about 60-80GB) then one possible easy upgrade path is to clone that drive onto a new one which is then installed into the new server.

You could also continue to use the old hard drive, of course.

ztik · 05-17-2008, 01:07 PM

I left my last hosting company that I had for 8 years because they wouldn't upgrade my damn server. The thing was so fucking old. Cheap bastards.

baddog · 05-17-2008, 03:19 PM

Having spent many years working on mainframe computers prior to getting into adult I will say that replacing hardware just because it is old is a pretty sure way of replacing reliable hardware with an unknown.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

WiredGuy · 05-17-2008, 03:28 PM

If your host won't upgrade them, get a new server and ask the host to mirror the HD of your old one.
WG

05-16-2008, 04:35 PM	#1
zentz Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 8,053	what should you do when your servers get old? would you ask your host to upgrade them and would they charge you anything in that case? i have a couple of dedicated servers and most of them are p4's so im not sure if i should ask my host to upgrade them or not and if that would cost me money. i didnt notice any problems with the servers though, but i also dont know if i would get a better performance with the new servers... __________________ Programs that owe me money ---- Epassporte.com ~ $2700 \| Protraffic.com ~ $2600 \| XonDemand.com ~ $3000 Email: [email protected]

05-16-2008, 04:38 PM	#2
Sly Let's do some business! Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 31,328	Typically many companies would charge you an upgrade fee because the monthly price that you pay is more for service and bandwidth than hardware. Anyway, if you don't see a reason to upgrade, then there really is no point in doing it. Now if you own your servers... you could always use older servers for less intensive tasks. There are all sorts of applications. __________________ Vacares - Web Hosting, Domains, O365, Security & More - Paxum and BTC Accepted Windows VPS now available Great for TSS, Nifty Stats, remote work, virtual assistants, etc. Click here for more details.

05-16-2008, 04:41 PM	#3
sicone Retired Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sac Posts: 18,453	If it's not broke, why fix it __________________

05-17-2008, 04:03 AM	#7
Oracle Porn Affiliate Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Icq: 94-399-723 Posts: 24,433	if you want a newer server that what your hosts gave your 2-3 years ago you should ask him, if not im pretty sure other hosting companies will give you a newer server for the same price as you current host if not for less. __________________

05-17-2008, 07:25 AM	#9
farkedup Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 2,490	depends on how many sites you have really, a dozen big sites are actually easier to move than 100+ little sites (unless they're super small and you can use the WHM built in moving tool) for the most part you could merge entire servers. Depending on bandwidth usage you may be able to cut your hosting costs in at least half by realizing that current servers can handle twice the load the servers from 2-3 years ago could. Hard drive access speed is still pretty much the same limitation it used to be but has improved maybe a good 30% but using linux you can simply put things like your log files onto a different drive and do a few tricks to spread hard drive access across several drives. I generally put log files on 1 drive, DB's on another drive and site contents on 1 or 2 other drives. You might also want to ask around about "private networks" and have something like 1 dedicated DB box with a private LAN setup between all the servers. Some hosts simply charge WAY too much for things like that though. __________________ -- QUOTE ME IT MAKES ME FEEL SPECIAL --

05-17-2008, 03:52 AM	#5
rowan Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 17,393	Oh, also from the host's POV, I would guess that cancelling an older server would be something they'd rather not do, since it will be harder to sell to another client. From the customer POV, it won't hurt to ask if they can offer you an upgrade path OR a discount on your existing server for being a loyal customer... the hardware has surely paid for itself several times over by now...

05-17-2008, 04:06 AM	#8
Jon Clark - BANNED FOR LIFE North Coast Pimp Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: 304-534-757 Posts: 9,395	Hit me up if they try to charge you for the upgrade.. I have a few of these, Dell PowedEdge Server Dual Quad Core Xeon 4GB RAM (Up To 16GB) 2x250gb hd's Starting at $249 + Bandwidth

05-17-2008, 12:43 PM	#10
rowan Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 17,393	Rather than individually shifting sites....... If your hard drive is a standard size that is still currently available (ie bigger than about 60-80GB) then one possible easy upgrade path is to clone that drive onto a new one which is then installed into the new server. You could also continue to use the old hard drive, of course.

05-17-2008, 01:07 PM	#11
ztik Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Nomad Posts: 5,196	I left my last hosting company that I had for 8 years because they wouldn't upgrade my damn server. The thing was so fucking old. Cheap bastards. __________________ .

05-17-2008, 03:19 PM	#12
baddog So Fucking Banned Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: the beach, SoCal Posts: 107,089	Having spent many years working on mainframe computers prior to getting into adult I will say that replacing hardware just because it is old is a pretty sure way of replacing reliable hardware with an unknown. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

05-17-2008, 03:28 PM	#13
WiredGuy Pounding Googlebot Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 34,482	If your host won't upgrade them, get a new server and ask the host to mirror the HD of your old one. WG __________________ I play with Google.