Do you have a view on VPS ?

[Simplyeasier]

Hi

 

I am fed up to the backteeth with shared servers and unresponsive hosts.

 

I have been looking at VPS as an alternative and would like to hear pro's and con's from users of this hosting model

 

Thanks

 

Charles

[GraphicsGuy]

I am spoiled with a full dedicated server, but a VPS has most of the advantages of a dedicated. One thing to keep in mind is that you are still sharing a physical server with others so network and processor bandwidth is still shared. Depending on how many users the host sets up on the server it can be good or bad.

 

On the other hand, just like a dedicated, if it is unmanaged (doing away with the unresponsive host issue), then you must spend time each week (preferably each day) maintaining security.

 

So best of both, worst of both. For myself, I am glad I went full dedicated. I used to host some friends sites on it as well to help cover the cost but that was more trouble than what I felt it was worth.

[Simplyeasier]

I am spoiled with a full dedicated server, but a VPS has most of the advantages of a dedicated.? One thing to keep in mind is that you are still sharing a physical server with others so network and processor bandwidth is still shared.? Depending on how many users the host sets up on the server it can be good or bad.

 

On the other hand, just like a dedicated, if it is unmanaged (doing away with the unresponsive host issue), then you must spend time each week (preferably each day) maintaining security.

 

So best of both, worst of both.? For myself, I am glad I went full dedicated.? I used to host some friends sites on it as well to help cover the cost but that was more trouble than what I felt it was worth.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Thanks for this Graphics guy - can you tell me

 

a) How much time you spend each week on server management

b ) An idea as to the kind of things server management involves (you mention server security - what else ?

 

I have been in touch with hosts who will offer varying levels of server management - and I am thinking that depending on your answers to a and b above I might pay for hand holding for a while to understand the server management tasks and then go on my own.

 

Charles

[GraphicsGuy]

Most of the time I spend about an hour a week managing the server. But there have been times I spent all night working on it after I tried something new, screwed it up and ultimately had to order an operating system restore and then re-secure it and restore site backups. This can happen with VPS too.

 

Securing it involves a series of installations of various security applications and applying patches, updates, tweaks, etc. to the operating system and other system applicatoins (like mySQL, PHP, etc.).

 

It can be a steep learning curve and the risk of getting broken into is always high if it is not properly secured. So I would reccomend paying for someone to set it up and perhaps the first couple months of maintenance while you get up to speed on it. There are a number of 3rd party server management operators that you can get without being limited to hosts that do managed hosting packages. That way you can shop around independently for a good deal on hosting.

[GraphicsGuy]

One good way to learn the skills to manage your own server is to take an old PC, even an old 400MHz Pentium II will do, reformat the drive and install a version of Linux similar to the one for the server you are considering. Make a backup of it once you have it set up so it is easy to restore as often as needed. Then you can experiment and learn as much as you want. This will then also be a great way to maintain development versions of your osc stores.

[Guest]

I don't know if this would be any manner of use, but I popped for a "semi-managed" server. I had it configured with the hardware arrangement I wanted. It runs Linux/Apache, and I had it configured for "web hosting." Every time I think I'm going to need something, I find by checking that it's already on there. The latest was OpenSSL--needed it, hunted it down, prepared for the worst, and found it was already installed.

 

Most, if not all, of the daily/weekly/periodic maintenance chores are automated. For those that aren't, if I screw something up, there are technicians available to help me out. Actually, I've had it since September, found myself calling on them frequently at first for this little detail or that, but I haven't spoken to anyone there since well before Christmas. I check the logs compulsively, but they only seldom contain an action I need to take.

 

I lease site spaces on the server to my web design clients, most of whom have an "I don't want to fool with it" attitude. It's very pleasant; I provide and charge them for services, and they pay me. :) I don't make a profit on the server, but I'm not losing money either. I allocate time for them each week for e-mail maintenance, their database backups, and wheatever else they need.

 

I selected a small co-location and services company in Atlanta. I know them, and my impression is that they have a good understanding of those two little words, "Customer Service" that are so alien to the hosting companies. By contrast, the company I used prior to this permitted a 36-hour outage over the summer without a word of explanation or apology--and wanted their full payment as well. I'm happy being able to control my server. It's a good arrangement.

 

Anne

 

 

 

 

Hi

 

I am fed up to the backteeth with shared servers and unresponsive hosts.

 

I have been looking at VPS as an alternative and would like to hear pro's and con's from users of this hosting model

 

Thanks

 

Charles

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Guest]

lots of this depends upon if you are using the server for yourself or are using it to host clients.

one downside to a vps if you get customers with very busy web sites, you will be hating it, as they will be complaining the server is slow. if only you on there, no problem.

for a managed server, if you have only a few customers, you are ok. if you get quite a few, then you are doing more and more managing the server.

so it all depends upon what you are going to use the server for.

 

and when you get more and more servers, well unless you really know what you are doing, you are in for a world of hurt. luckily i know *nix well. i use CentOS for my servers.

[Guest]

I'm also a CentOS advocate and use the operating system on all my dedicated servers...

 

Most of the VPS packages start at around $50-75 per month. There are several fully dedicated (and managed) boxes available for about $90 per month. Why not spend the extra $20 and get a fully dedicated box? At the beginning you'll enjoy the fully managed service but once you learn the ropes you won't rely on them as much.

 

Bobby

[Simplyeasier]

Most, if not all, of the daily/weekly/periodic maintenance chores are automated.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Exactly what I need. The convenience and flexibility of a dedicated box without huge overheads in additional daily server management chores.

 

I lease site spaces on the server to my web design clients, most of whom have an "I don't want to fool with it" attitude. It's very pleasant; I provide and charge them for services, and they pay me. :) I don't make a profit on the server, but I'm not losing money either. I allocate time for them each week for e-mail maintenance, their database backups, and wheatever else they need.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I do not intend at this stage to lease space out to others (quickest way to loose friends I think and not really interested in finding paying clients :D )

 

Charles

[jon_l]

I started out a number of years ago on shared hosting, then moved to VPS and finally to my own dedicated server.

 

VPS was ok, to begin with. I then started to get periods of very, very slow response times. Every time I reported it to the hosts, by the time they looked in to it the problem had cleared. I would imagine there were other users on the same server who had periods of high activity which was causing the slow down.

 

I believe there are improved versions of VPS now which have better resource management to make sure you don't get affected by other users. Though as I gave up on it I can't say for sure.

 

I ended up going with a fully managed dedicated server. I pay a lot more than $90 but it is worth every penny - especially the support and maintenance of the server software.

 

Jon.