Opinions wanted - semi-dedicated server or dedicated server - UK Web Hosting | Dedicated Server Windows and Linux VPS Forum

**viking30** · #1 (**permalink**) 12-06-2008, 17:51

Hi,
I would welcome opinions from all on this if you wouldn't mind.
Not only eukhost staff but other forum users as well please.

Some details first might help you answer my question which will follow after the details so you have a better understanding of my need now and in the future

We are basically a web design company
I have one semi dedicated server account with EUKhost currently with 40-50 accounts on. This server is setup with php4 and i need that at this stage.

I also have three reseller accounts with other providers around the world, one in UK, one in America and one in Australia.

We are probably looking at 100 accounts hosted on the other three reseller accounts.

None of the sites are huge by way of server demands mostly just html sites with a booking form or php reservation software, a few oscommerce sites and two very small forums.

I was thinking of getting another semi dedicated server but this one with PHP 5 so i may then move over the other sites from the reseller accounts. (I may keep the Australia account as its nice for our Aus customers to have a local server for speed reasons.)

Now here comes my dilemma two semi dedicated servers just about adds up to the price of a cheaper dedicated server.

Basically i will for some time need both PHP 4 and 5 so a full dedicated server would have to be setup with both PHP 4 and 5.

Obviously the cheaper dedicated server does not have the same performance as the semi dedicated ones do but recourses would be all ours if you follow what i mean?

What would you honestly suggest as being our best option? another semi or full dedicated (cheaper end one)

Many thanks and look forward to hearing your opinions.

**Ryan** · #2 (**permalink**) 12-06-2008, 18:18

Hi,

If you are keen on getting one dedicated server for all your accounts I would suggest getting a good configuration, high performance server rather than just a small dedicated server where you can expect even better performance than the existing semi dedicated. As you have already mentioned you cannot expect the same level of performance of a semi dedicated on a basic dedicated server.

**viking30** · #3 (**permalink**) 12-06-2008, 18:25

Thanks Ryan,
Cost is always an issue of course and the other benefit of having two separate semi's is if there is a server problem i only have half of our clients on the phone at once. Where with all accounts on one server would be a nightmare if it went down

**eUKhost.com** · #4 (**permalink**) 12-06-2008, 21:39

Hi Clive,

A single Dedicated Server is many times better than multiple Semi-Dedicated Servers. We have many customers who've had absolutely no problems with their Dedicated Servers ( Dell ) from last 2 - 3 years and they've hardly opened any tickets for technical support.

You can go through all posts of 247h and understand what difference he has seen in level of service since he switched to a Dedicated Server. Earlier our lower spec servers were ordered from another vendor, but now we've managed to get better specification E4600 servers for same price from Dell. You can run upto 500 medium traffic website hostings on such E4600 server with 2 GB RAM. HDD and motherboard problems with Dell servers are negligible and so far we've had no HDD or Motherboard problems with any of our Dell servers.

You've already got a backup plan with 20 GB remote backup space so there's absolutely no reason for you to think that 50% or 100% customers will call you for server trouble. We have more profit on 2 Semi-Dedicated Servers, so there's no other reason for me to suggest a single Dedicated Server.

Once you have a fully secured and hardened server then there's nothing to worry. You just need to add one task to your routine which would be to login in your backup account and check functioning of the backup scripts.

**viking30** · #5 (**permalink**) 13-06-2008, 15:02

Thank you for the informative reply.
Looks like a full dedicated server is the way i will go then. Just a couple of questions about changing over if i may? and please let me know if you prefer to answer privately or off the forum. Although maybe other users would be interested too.

I have paid for a semi dedicated server for a full year in advance as well as an lb10 backup plan. I also have a number of IP's added to my account. How would i go with upgrading? would i get a credit against the new server for the time i have left on the annual billing for the semi? I would not need the LB10 backup if i get a 20 gig backup wit the new server, how would i go there?

Also would i have to transfer the accounts i have setup now to the new server or could that be done for me? I don't mind doing it but would need a little time. I know you guys would have vastly more experience with moving accounts than i do so would know of the best way.

Also if you could please indicate any down time my website hosting might experience while changing from semi to full dedicated. I have a few sites setup with ssl so I'm guessing IP's would change?

As i said if you prefer to take this off the forum i would understand.
Cheers and thanks

**eUKhost.com** · #6 (**permalink**) 13-06-2008, 16:49

Hi Clive,

Credit will be issued for balance term on both Semi-Dedicated as well as LB10 plan. You won't need to pay for the Dedicated Server for next couple of months as you had ordered semi-dedicated server on 13/05/2008.

We will take care of migration of your data and we will request you to verify working of all your website hostings just after completion of migration. We will switch A records of all your domains from the semi-dedicated server and make them point to your Dedicated Server, this will prevent any sort of downtime.

Your SSL website hostings will get new Dedicated IPs so there won't be any problem for any of your SSL Certificates.

Let me know if you wish to schedule this for tomorrow as we have less traffic on weekends and migration task will be done with comfort.

**viking30** · #7 (**permalink**) 13-06-2008, 17:09

Hi and thanks for the quick reply.
Ok lets do it. I will go for the server you recommend E4600 server with 2 GB RAM. I will need both php4 and 5 on the new server. I have some sites that need php4 and ioncube as is setup now. You guys are the best i have come across. Please call me if you need too. You have my details on file. Or mail me if you need. I would prefer anual billing so please work out what i need to pay and i'll get that sorted for you.
Many thanks
Clive.

**247h** · #8 (**permalink**) 13-06-2008, 17:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by eUKhost.com

You can go through all posts of 247h and understand what difference he has seen in level of service since he switched to a Dedicated Server.

Thanks for giving me a mention Mark!

May I add that I'm looking for a partner in having a second dedicated Linux server, which would be running PHP5, for although my existing server is set up for both PHP4 and 5, it's not as straightforward as I would wish (to use apps requiring PHP5).

If anyone is interested in discussing this, particularly anyone wanting all the benefits of being on a low usage dedicated server but who is happy to leave it to me to manage it, please PM me. I would certainly be willing to give space on both servers if I can find the right partner(s). What's low usage? My current server has just over 250 accounts (20GB data in /home) and uses only 25-30GB bandwidth/month presently — needless to say it's very reliable! I'd like another running only PHP5 ...

**viking30** · #9 (**permalink**) 13-06-2008, 17:44

Hi 247h,
Just interested in how your server is setup? The reason i ask is obviously as I've mentioned above in my posts.

Just my simple thinking but...A semi is setup with 6 accounts i believe? and each separate account can use its own version for PHP config. Cant you get a dedicated server split into two accounts, one php4 and one php5? Please excuse my ignorance on these matters but that's just a thought that occurred to me how to do it?
Cheers,
Clive.

**247h** · #10 (**permalink**) 13-06-2008, 17:54

Yes Clive, but a semi-dedicated server (in eUKhost's context) is a glorified VPS Hosting and achieves what you're suggesting by using virtualisation — I have no interest in this (and nor should you if you want true reliability).

I can only suggest that if it were possible to have a true independent setup of PHP4 and 5 on my dedicated server, then Alex P or another senior eUKhost admin would surely have suggested this to me by now ... they haven't!

**viking30** · #11 (**permalink**) 13-06-2008, 18:00

Like i said i am quite ignorant in these matters

Thanks for the advise
Cheers

**247h** · #12 (**permalink**) 13-06-2008, 18:17

We can await an official viewpoint (hopefully) but in the meantime I sent you a PM — it seems likely that by forum default you won't readily know you have received one (unless you study the small section by the login), which is why I'm mentioning it here!

**viking30** · #13 (**permalink**) 13-06-2008, 18:43

No i wouldnt have seen it without you telling me. Sent reply.
Cheers,
Clive.

**Scothorse** · #14 (**permalink**) 13-06-2008, 20:41

A cheap dedicated server will give you far more control and, by the sound of things, you hardly have traffic intensive website hostings.

Go for it, you will see the benefits in the long term.

I currently use a Dual Xeon 2.4 - 2-73 GB SCSI HD - 2 GB RAM in the US to serve about 130-50GB of data a month from it, hardly struggles...

What's more Managed dedi. is all good...

**viking30** · #15 (**permalink**) 13-06-2008, 20:53

Thanks for the reply.
I am now looking forward to getting the dedicated server from eukhost.
Appreciate the advise, thanks
Cheers,
Clive.

**eUKhost.com** · #16 (**permalink**) 13-06-2008, 21:12

Hi Clive,

Your new server will be online tomorrow morning and I will give you a call in the afternoon. Billing part has been sorted and invoice for balance payment has been sent to you.

You will have PHP4 as well as PHP5 on your server, but you will need to ensure that you don't change any Apache configurations on the server as cpanel's Easyapache script will remove one version of php if you execute it.

We can discuss on migration part tomorrow afternoon or evening as per your convenience.

**viking30** · #17 (**permalink**) 13-06-2008, 21:31

Hi Mark?
Payment of invoice has been made and dont worry i never mess with things i dont understandand and apache is one of them. Afternoon is fine with me. I should be around almost all of the time but will PM you my mobile just in case.
Many thanks,
Clive.

**viking30** · #18 (**permalink**) 14-06-2008, 14:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by 247h

We can await an official viewpoint (hopefully) but in the meantime I sent you a PM — it seems likely that by forum default you won't readily know you have received one (unless you study the small section by the login), which is why I'm mentioning it here!

I took a look at my forum profile (usercp) and if you look at forum options there are a couple of boxes to tick for private message notification. One via e-ma