About Hosting... - GoFuckYourself.com

Bourd · 11-17-2003, 11:44 AM

**First of all, please don't spam me with your hosting services, I'm looking for advice here! I will contact you when I'm ready!**

This is my first experience with a pay host. I'd like to get a dedicated server for a 20k visitors/day (and growing) thumb preview tgp. I need around 250 gig/month but I also want to host a few galleries and sites on it... So I guess 500 gigs/month or so should be fine. Here's a few questions for you...

1. What should I be looking for to make it a fast server. Is 512mb RAM enough? I was looking at an "Intel Pentium 4, 2.0" 7200RPM. Should I go with 1GB RAM?

2. What is Cogent bandwidth? What is level 3 bandwidth?

3. Unmanaged servers are affordable but I've only installed a few php, mySQL and CGI scrpits on Revshare hosting. Do you think I could set up an unmanaged dedicated server by myself, just by reading and learning on forums? I only want to set up thumbnail preview scripts and other basic scripts...

4. What do you recommend (easier to configure and general use):
Plesk 6.0
Ensim Pro 250
cPanel
Plesk 5.0
Ensim Basic
Red Hat 9
Red Hat 7.3

Any answers and advices are appreciated... Thanks!

dougeetx · 11-17-2003, 11:49 AM

1) Max out on the ram for the system. The max will depend on the server that you get.
2) STAY AWAY FROM COGENT! COGENT = BAD!
3) If you can't install an RPM or install perl mods, get a managed server or hire Easy Server Management to manage it for you. Getting them and an unmanaged box will cost less than getting a managed box.
4) Ensim Pro definitely!! Ensim Basic doesn't have DNS capabilities. Cpanel is like working on a MAC. If you haven't done anything but installed a few php scripts, YOU DEFINITELY CAN'T USE A PLAIN REDHAT BOX! Plesk is also cool but it's to MacIntosh looking and feeling, also.

Doug
DarkSideHosting.com

liquidmoe · 11-17-2003, 11:52 AM

512mb of ram is more than enough for 500 gigs of traffic even with php/perl/sql running.

Cogent bandwidth has worse latency than other networks such as level3.

I would recommend that you just get a host that will take care of all of your tech support needs for you so you dont even have to worry about any of that stuff at all. They'll setup your daemons, install your scripts and take care of the other duties so you can just focus on your traffic.

PbG · 11-17-2003, 07:14 PM

Considering we are discussing a production server I think you should get 1GB RAM. A P4 2.0+ with 7200RPM will server you do well and allow you to grow your ideas/enterprise.

Cogent is regarded as poor bandwidth. Often it performs poorly and has high latency over many if not all of it's hops.

Of the control panels you listed I would go with Cpanel first and plesk second. I also think you should consider a managed deal for your first server. Perhaps from a provider willing to provide that extra service needed to explain the intricacies of server maintenance.

Feel free to email me/us if you have more questions:
[email protected] | [email protected]
Photography by Gus | Uncensored-Hosting

Bourd · 11-17-2003, 08:37 PM

Thanks a lot for the great info... and keep it coming!

From what I've read, I shouldn't go for unmanaged and will try to find something not too expensive yet reliable.

I might go with semi-managed hosting which would allow me to learn a bit about it and later move to an unmanaged server. Anybody heard good or bad from these guys http://www.servermatrix.com/ ?

Is there any way to know what kind of bandwidth (cogent, level3, etc.) I will get from my host? I have noticed that those providing level3 bandwidth usually promote it. Does this means that the rest have Cogent bandwidth? Sorry if this sounds stupid..

Any more comments or suggestions are appreciated.

Thank you all!

fris · 11-18-2003, 02:08 AM

ya i totally agree, cogent, is bad bad, they have no backup, so if they go down, you are shit out of luck, plesk for control panel is just garbage, no features at all. i dont mind cpanel. but if you dont know how to use it and the support is not there, you might as well give up. so ensim is the right path to go.

Donnie Gangsta · 11-21-2003, 01:00 AM

1. What should I be looking for to make it a fast server. Is 512mb RAM enough? I was looking at an "Intel Pentium 4, 2.0" 7200RPM. Should I go with 1GB RAM?

To be honest, they're all the same. 2.4 GHz with 512 MB is enough for what you're doing. 1 GB isn't much more if it really botheres you.

2. What is Cogent bandwidth? What is level 3 bandwidth?

Cogent is a cheap bandwidth provider who is unreliable. Hosting companies can buy bandwidth from cogent wholesale for as little as $15-$20/per mbit, or per 320 Gigs per month.

Level3 is a Tier 1 backbone that actually owns a lot of fiber in the world. www.level3.com for more details about them. Their bandwidth is infinitely better than Cogent's, but is also a lot more expensive.

3. Unmanaged servers are affordable but I've only installed a few php, mySQL and CGI scrpits on Revshare hosting. Do you think I could set up an unmanaged dedicated server by myself, just by reading and learning on forums? I only want to set up thumbnail preview scripts and other basic scripts...

You should set up a managed server, and play around with it at the same time to learn about it. I know of a hosting company (very good network) that charges the same for managed/unmanaged at a reasonable price.

4. What do you recommend (easier to configure and general use):
Plesk 6.0
Ensim Pro 250
cPanel
Plesk 5.0
Ensim Basic
Red Hat 9
Red Hat 7.3

Get a managed server so you dont have to worry about it. I won't mention hosting company because I don't want to spam you.. they are dear friends and spent hundreds of thousands on their network infrastructure, and have 24/7 support staff actually in the data center. Even the night people know what they're doing. If interested, post here.

11-17-2003, 11:44 AM	#1
Bourd Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Quebec city Posts: 88	About Hosting... First of all, please don't spam me with your hosting services, I'm looking for advice here! I will contact you when I'm ready! This is my first experience with a pay host. I'd like to get a dedicated server for a 20k visitors/day (and growing) thumb preview tgp. I need around 250 gig/month but I also want to host a few galleries and sites on it... So I guess 500 gigs/month or so should be fine. Here's a few questions for you... 1. What should I be looking for to make it a fast server. Is 512mb RAM enough? I was looking at an "Intel Pentium 4, 2.0" 7200RPM. Should I go with 1GB RAM? 2. What is Cogent bandwidth? What is level 3 bandwidth? 3. Unmanaged servers are affordable but I've only installed a few php, mySQL and CGI scrpits on Revshare hosting. Do you think I could set up an unmanaged dedicated server by myself, just by reading and learning on forums? I only want to set up thumbnail preview scripts and other basic scripts... 4. What do you recommend (easier to configure and general use): Plesk 6.0 Ensim Pro 250 cPanel Plesk 5.0 Ensim Basic Red Hat 9 Red Hat 7.3 Any answers and advices are appreciated... Thanks!

11-17-2003, 11:49 AM	#2
dougeetx Confirmed User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 6,163	1) Max out on the ram for the system. The max will depend on the server that you get. 2) STAY AWAY FROM COGENT! COGENT = BAD! 3) If you can't install an RPM or install perl mods, get a managed server or hire Easy Server Management to manage it for you. Getting them and an unmanaged box will cost less than getting a managed box. 4) Ensim Pro definitely!! Ensim Basic doesn't have DNS capabilities. Cpanel is like working on a MAC. If you haven't done anything but installed a few php scripts, YOU DEFINITELY CAN'T USE A PLAIN REDHAT BOX! Plesk is also cool but it's to MacIntosh looking and feeling, also. Doug DarkSideHosting.com __________________ Coming Soon! A NEW revolution in black adult social networking!

11-17-2003, 07:14 PM	#4
PbG Confirmed User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 1,025	Considering we are discussing a production server I think you should get 1GB RAM. A P4 2.0+ with 7200RPM will server you do well and allow you to grow your ideas/enterprise. Cogent is regarded as poor bandwidth. Often it performs poorly and has high latency over many if not all of it's hops. Of the control panels you listed I would go with Cpanel first and plesk second. I also think you should consider a managed deal for your first server. Perhaps from a provider willing to provide that extra service needed to explain the intricacies of server maintenance. Feel free to email me/us if you have more questions: [email protected] \| [email protected] Photography by Gus \| Uncensored-Hosting __________________ Uncensored-Hosting \| Photography by Gus

11-18-2003, 02:08 AM	#6
fris Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 55,668	ya i totally agree, cogent, is bad bad, they have no backup, so if they go down, you are shit out of luck, plesk for control panel is just garbage, no features at all. i dont mind cpanel. but if you dont know how to use it and the support is not there, you might as well give up. so ensim is the right path to go. __________________ Since 1999: 69 Adult Industry awards for Best Hosting Company and professional excellence.

11-17-2003, 11:52 AM	#3
liquidmoe Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: NY Posts: 4,994	512mb of ram is more than enough for 500 gigs of traffic even with php/perl/sql running. Cogent bandwidth has worse latency than other networks such as level3. I would recommend that you just get a host that will take care of all of your tech support needs for you so you dont even have to worry about any of that stuff at all. They'll setup your daemons, install your scripts and take care of the other duties so you can just focus on your traffic.

11-17-2003, 08:37 PM	#5
Bourd Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Quebec city Posts: 88	Thanks a lot for the great info... and keep it coming! From what I've read, I shouldn't go for unmanaged and will try to find something not too expensive yet reliable. I might go with semi-managed hosting which would allow me to learn a bit about it and later move to an unmanaged server. Anybody heard good or bad from these guys http://www.servermatrix.com/ ? Is there any way to know what kind of bandwidth (cogent, level3, etc.) I will get from my host? I have noticed that those providing level3 bandwidth usually promote it. Does this means that the rest have Cogent bandwidth? Sorry if this sounds stupid.. Any more comments or suggestions are appreciated. Thank you all!

11-21-2003, 01:00 AM	#7
Donnie Gangsta Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,104	1. What should I be looking for to make it a fast server. Is 512mb RAM enough? I was looking at an "Intel Pentium 4, 2.0" 7200RPM. Should I go with 1GB RAM? To be honest, they're all the same. 2.4 GHz with 512 MB is enough for what you're doing. 1 GB isn't much more if it really botheres you. 2. What is Cogent bandwidth? What is level 3 bandwidth? Cogent is a cheap bandwidth provider who is unreliable. Hosting companies can buy bandwidth from cogent wholesale for as little as $15-$20/per mbit, or per 320 Gigs per month. Level3 is a Tier 1 backbone that actually owns a lot of fiber in the world. www.level3.com for more details about them. Their bandwidth is infinitely better than Cogent's, but is also a lot more expensive. 3. Unmanaged servers are affordable but I've only installed a few php, mySQL and CGI scrpits on Revshare hosting. Do you think I could set up an unmanaged dedicated server by myself, just by reading and learning on forums? I only want to set up thumbnail preview scripts and other basic scripts... You should set up a managed server, and play around with it at the same time to learn about it. I know of a hosting company (very good network) that charges the same for managed/unmanaged at a reasonable price. 4. What do you recommend (easier to configure and general use): Plesk 6.0 Ensim Pro 250 cPanel Plesk 5.0 Ensim Basic Red Hat 9 Red Hat 7.3 Get a managed server so you dont have to worry about it. I won't mention hosting company because I don't want to spam you.. they are dear friends and spent hundreds of thousands on their network infrastructure, and have 24/7 support staff actually in the data center. Even the night people know what they're doing. If interested, post here.