Thinking about signing up: some questions

[psynnott]

This is an email I sent to the VPS Hosting team, but I'm posting it here too to get as many comments as possible before taking the plunge.

Thanks.

--------------

Hello,

I currently run a discussion website hosting for teachers in Japan. We were kicked off our existing shared hosting service because of excessive CPU load due to the popularity of our site.

Current usage stats via cpanel on our shared hosting server are:
Disk usage: 5gb
Bandwidth: 17gb

As it is near the end of the month, I would assume these are close to our monthly usage stats.

As for page loads:

Day Date Page Loads Unique Visitors First Time Visitors Returning Visitors
Monday 24th March 2008 10,032 2,069 1,540 529
Sunday 23rd March 2008 4,528 1,183 827 356
Saturday 22nd March 2008 4,176 1,085 741 344
Friday 21st March 2008 6,810 1,612 1,156 456
Thursday 20th March 2008 5,395 1,445 1,027 418
Wednesday 19th March 2008 10,768 1,654 1,273 381


Month Page Loads Unique Visitors First Time Visitors Returning Visitors
Mar 2008 210,041 40,003 29,839 10,164
Feb 2008 366,371 67,320 50,564 16,756
Jan 2008 291,016 48,925 36,097 12,828
Dec 2007 234,573 34,670 24,418 10,252
Nov 2007 212,671 28,545 18,994 9,551
Oct 2007 208,435 31,931 23,132 8,799
Sep 2007 181,409 27,462 19,657 7,805
Aug 2007 180,314 33,016 25,233 7,783
Jul 2007 282,105 51,045 37,083 13,962
Jun 2007 345,722 66,172 49,930 16,242
May 2007 537,062 94,925 75,564 19,361
Apr 2007 394,170 68,265 52,168 16,097
Mar 2007 201,221 28,933 19,878 9,055
Feb 2007 225,334 30,671 21,801 8,870
Jan 2007 137,900 18,873 12,535 6,338


I have some linux experience in programming / web design / installing and uninstalling applications on my own machine. However, I have never used a VPS Hosting.

I am concerned that if I go for a VPS Hosting server, I will make a complete mess of the installation and configuration of the software. I am also concerned about security – I do not know how to properly secure a server so it does not get DDOS'd or hacked.

I have experience with Ubuntu, Red Hat, and Mandrake.

So, my questions are:

1. Which VPS Hosting is suitable for me, allowing for growth?
2. Which OS should I choose?
3. What is the difference in managed and unmanaged?
4. Do you help with software configuration?
5. Do you help with securing of the server?
6. Do you install OS updates? How often? Is there any downtime?
7. What is the current uptime rate on the server you plan to put me on?
8. Can I really trust you? Please forgive the frankness of my question, but I have been with many hosting services that appeared good at the start, but quickly went downhill afterwards.
9. If my Dedicated Server crashes, do your support technicians get alerted to this fact and restart it for me? Or, is it up to me to notice and restart it myself?

Thank you so much for your time.

Best regards, and I am eagerly awaiting your reply.

Paul

[eUK-Nick]

Hello Paul,

to eUKhost! Your email has been answered. I would like to answer the questions here as well.

The statistics which show the number of hits to your website hosting and the bandwidth usage you state do not match each other. I am guessing that the cPanel stats has not been updated. You may ask your current hosting provider to update the stats for you. The amount of visitors (as per the stats), your website hostings, emails and FTP's as well as databases would need resources which a VPS Hosting cannot provide for. You would have to go in for atleast a semi-dedicated server. Let me go about answering your questions one by one with regards to the semi-dedicated server plan we have.


Which OS should I choose?
-> CentOS would be the best bet.

What is the difference in managed and unmanaged?
-> Managed services include migrating your data, taking care of security of the node, installation of 3rd party software, technical support etc. Unmanaged service would be just giving you a VPS Hosting. Our VPS Hosting guidelines are mentioned here

Do you help with software configuration?
-> We help you to install third party softwares. But we do not undertake responsibility of trouble-shooting issues arising out of the usage of such softwares.

Do you install OS updates? How often? Is there any downtime?
-> OS updates for a VPS Hosting or a semi-dedicated server is done only when a new stable release which would improve the performance is coming out. As for the node itself, whenever required, we would be performing them. If there is going to be a downtime, customers would be notified in advance.

Do you help with securing of the server?
-> Our hardware node is our responsibility. However, securing individual VPS Hosting' and semi-dedicated server is the customer's responsibility. Once we have sent the login details, we do not have direct control over the kind of usage which happens. As such we would not be able to take up "responsibility". However, technical support would try and help you as much as possible with your security and will give you suggestions accordingly.

What is the current uptime rate on the server you plan to put me on?
-> We do not reboot the server unless it is absolutely essential. Giving out current uptime for a particular node is not possible as we yet do not know which plan you intend to purchase.

Can I really trust you? Please forgive the frankness of my question, but I have been with many hosting services that appeared good at the start, but quickly went downhill afterwards.
-> I would say YES, we can be be trusted. We have been in business for a long time. We have nodes touching three figures which would tell your about our clientèle. Support & services is 24x7. So that would answer your query.

If my Dedicated Server crashes, do your support technicians get alerted to this fact and restart it for me? Or, is it up to me to notice and restart it myself?
-> If your VPS Hosting crashes, we would come to know as a flag would be raised by the monitoring systems. If it is a serious concern, we will inform you about it.

We do not have a "trial" account. We have a 30 day money back guarantee period in place. A few other important links are as below.

About US
VPS Hosting Plan Details
Semi-Dedicated Plans
Terms Of Service
Testimonials

[psynnott]

Hi Nick,

Thanks for your reply, both via email and this thread. As it might be beneficial for future potential users, I'll reply here too.

I see you didn't recommend VPS Hosting, but I still think its suitable for us. Our web site hosting is basically a forum, so high page loads are probably making you think it's more bandwidth heavy than it really is? Not sure...

I think the L-VPS Hosting-01 plan would suit us. If in the unlikely event we totally overload our VPS Hosting, is this going to be an issue for you as it was with MidPhase? Or, can we try various remedies before upgrading to a higher plan? They didn't allow us to try various things to reduce load - instead it was just a boot off the site.

I was talking to Chris on the live chat too, and I'm fairly happy that you are the people to sign up with. As I said to Chris, I need to talk to the site's co-owner before signing up to anything.

Cheers,

[eUK-Nick]

Originally Posted by psynnott

Hi Nick,

Thanks for your reply, both via email and this thread. As it might be beneficial for future potential users, I'll reply here too.

I see you didn't recommend VPS Hosting, but I still think its suitable for us. Our web site hosting is basically a forum, so high page loads are probably making you think it's more bandwidth heavy than it really is? Not sure...

I think the L-VPS Hosting-01 plan would suit us. If in the unlikely event we totally overload our VPS Hosting, is this going to be an issue for you as it was with MidPhase? Or, can we try various remedies before upgrading to a higher plan? They didn't allow us to try various things to reduce load - instead it was just a boot off the site.

I was talking to Chris on the live chat too, and I'm fairly happy that you are the people to sign up with. As I said to Chris, I need to talk to the site's co-owner before signing up to anything.

Cheers,

The figures you quoted for visits makes me believe that its bandwidth heavy. The argument of it being a forum only supports what we said. When you say its popular, you do expect several hundred visitors. Browsing and posting would take up bandwidth. The L-VPS Hosting-03 comes with 500 GB bandwidth. The semi-dedicated comes with 800GB bandwidth. The L-VPS Hosting-03 has 640MB Guaranteed RAM. The semi-dedicated has 2GB guaranteed RAM! A crowded forum asks for memory

If there is a resource usage / overage problem, then we will help you with it. Before suggesting an upgrade, we will try to get a work-around. But if virtuozzo and the VPS Hosting usage patterns suggest that an upgrade is mandatory, then you would have to push up.

We wont boot you off for sure. We believe in trying to work out all situations.

[psynnott]

OK. Sure, we can try the L-VPS Hosting-01 and if the bandwidth is what you say, we can upgrade. However, looking at the cpanel bandwidth for the last 6 months on the existing host says 10 to 25gb a month.

Thanks again for your help, we'll be in touch!

[eUK-Nick]

Originally Posted by psynnott

OK. Sure, we can try the L-VPS Hosting-01 and if the bandwidth is what you say, we can upgrade. However, looking at the cpanel bandwidth for the last 6 months on the existing host says 10 to 25gb a month.

Thanks again for your help, we'll be in touch!

Alright Paul, you may try the L-VPS Hosting-01. Upgradation wont be a problem.

Setup time will be about 2 to 3 hours from the time your account has been verified.

[psynnott]

Ok, signed up and paid via paypal. Looking forward to completing the transfer.

I wasn't asked for the EPP code, but the domain is in my friend's name. I assume he'll get the transfer request?

Cheers,

[eUK-Nick]

Originally Posted by psynnott

Ok, signed up and paid via paypal. Looking forward to completing the transfer.

I wasn't asked for the EPP code, but the domain is in my friend's name. I assume he'll get the transfer request?

Cheers,

You will receive a verification call shortly.

[eUK-Nick]

Originally Posted by psynnott

Ok, signed up and paid via paypal. Looking forward to completing the transfer.

I wasn't asked for the EPP code, but the domain is in my friend's name. I assume he'll get the transfer request?

Cheers,

We will have to initiate a transfer request from our side for this. Please email the EPP code to us after you receive the welcome email.

[psynnott]

Done Good service so far

[psynnott]

Originally Posted by eUK-Nick

We will have to initiate a transfer request from our side for this. Please email the EPP code to us after you receive the welcome email.

Will do, thanks

[psynnott]

Nick,

Can you assure me that it'll be a UK server I will be set up on? Thanks

[eUK-Nick]

Originally Posted by psynnott

Nick,

Can you assure me that it'll be a UK server I will be set up on? Thanks

It will be a UK server

[eUK-Scott]

Surely we will setup the VPS Hosting on UK server

[eUK-Nick]

Your VPS Hosting has been setup. Welcome email along with the login details has been sent to the email address which you registered while ordering this.

[psynnott]

Yep! Thanks

Transferring files over at the moment. I see its running mysql4 and php4. I'll probably upgrade those.

Will upgrading them manually via ssh cause any problems with WHM?

[eUK-Scott]

As your VPS Hosting is having Cpanel installed, you must upgrade PHP/MySQL using WHM panel. You can do it using SSH as well but using cPanel scripts. If you are not aware using cPanel scripts then please contact VPS Hosting support department. They will do it for you.

[psynnott]

ok, Ill post a ticket now, thank you