gigabytes vs megabits
 

If you pay for hosting by the gigabyte, I am curious how your ISP determines how much data you have transferred over your pipe in actual bytes, rather than mbits.

Do you send them your http access_log so they can count every byte served and bill you for that?

Or do they run a calculation on the number of mbits you use on your pipe to calculate your average gigabyte transfer rate per month.

let me see if i can simplify.

If I am looking for dedicated hosting by the gigabyte, and they are offering a plan of $1.25 per gigabyte transfer a month, without looking at your access logs how do they know EXACTLY how much data you have transferred?

if you're on a dedictated they calculate tranfer in Mbits and in gigabytes at the router.

If you're on a virtual it's by access logs.

Usually that's done at the switch.

imagine how easy a host could scew you by selling you per gigabyte by modifying the stats the switch reports lol :)

buy per mbps if you can afford it.