Need help/advice - My dilemma !

[singloon]

I have a headache and don't know where to turn to http://geekvillage.com/ubb/frown.gif and need fellow geeks' advice

My 6 month old forum at http://animeboards.net/forums/index.php has grown too fast unexpectedly and outgrown my dedicated server at rackspace (AMD K6/2 500, 384MB ram, 10GB EIDE, 50GB/month = US$410/month)

I can't upgrade anymore on rackspace as hardware and bandwidth costs are too expensive. I have terminated my rackspace contract and the server goes offline on Dec 31, 2000.

Now, euniverse.com is interested in hosting the forum but due to delays these past few weeks they have not gotten any contract terms to me. Today they said, that there is no contract to sign as they will host me but I will not get any paying ad compensation until i hit 3 - 4k visitors/day.

I have found myself another dedicated host for a P3 733, 256MB, 9GB SCSI, 100GB/month 35 IPs for US$400 setup + US$400/month

My problem is
1. This month i still have to pay the remaining month at rackspace.com for US$410 and to pay another US$800 (US$400 setup + 400/month) for this month is out of my reach until i get my next lot of ad cheques from various companies including Luna etc. But my server ends Dec 31, 2000 http://geekvillage.com/ubb/frown.gif

2. I was all set to take up euniverse.com's offer but my problem is i won't have root access to my forum's mysql data - and in cases of database corruption i can fix it faster then waiting for techs (which apparently are scarce on weekends).

So i am stuck in a dilemma http://geekvillage.com/ubb/frown.gif I have no problems advertiser wise, cause either About.com/Luna or Euniverse (if i host myself) will take the forum on for ads.

So any advice from experienced fellow geeks ?




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Australian Neon Genesis Evangelion (http://www.eva2000.com/)
<A HREF="http://infilmbox.com" TARGET=_blank>film - writers - reviewers - reporters - designers
</A>

[regier]

Hmm,

That does sound like a bit of a dilema. How much of a load was your site putting on the rackspace server?

I have a new PIII 650, 256 megs of ram, EIDE drives, etc that isn't too active right now. If your site wasn't going to put too much of a load on the server I might be able to host it for a while until you get enough money for the move.

If it is the type of site that would bog down the server, I might not be able to do it though, as I need it to run smoothly for the other sites hosted on it.

[singloon]

thanks regier

problem is on my current server (AMD K6/2 500, 384MB) i can get loads up to 5.5+ during peaks, which means my current server never lasts more then 2 - 4 days before needing rebooting or is unable to boot from my end http://geekvillage.com/ubb/frown.gif

currently the forum is growing tremendously (up to 1,500 new posts/day) and consumes 45 - 50GB/month in bandwidth - something i did not expect to happen for at least another 4 months ...

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Australian Neon Genesis Evangelion (http://www.eva2000.com/)
<A HREF="http://infilmbox.com" TARGET=_blank>film - writers - reviewers - reporters - designers
</A>

[This message has been edited by singloon (edited 12-19-2000).]

[regier]

Ok,

I probably wouldn't be able to help out too much then. That would be more than I would want to host on my server.

If the site is profitable, I might be willing to do some sort of a partnership deal with you where I would pay the server expenses, for a share in the revenue.

Other than that, I don't really have any suggestions.

[Arie]

Seems you found out the hard way that MySQL has to be configured/tuned very well for vBulletin to handle heavy loads... I've heard that before.

I don't know, but most hosting companies now a days are very willing to forgo the set-up fee..... I would at least try that... Say that you are looking for a long-time relationship, and that you would even consider putting up a small button to advertise their service.



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Regards,

Arie Slob,
InfiniSource, Inc.
http://www.infinisource.com
Internet & Windows Resources

[Arie]

Oh... if you need to reboot the server, you should be able to do that from your end (if you have telnet access).

If the standard command doesn't work, find the httpd file, and execute it directly (perl httpd). That should do the trick....

------------------
Regards,

Arie Slob,
InfiniSource, Inc.
http://www.infinisource.com
Internet & Windows Resources

[Steve_S]

George,

Have you looked at Virtualis for hosting? I mention them because of their large bandwidth allowance and generally above average speed and reliability. Not because I happen to be a reseller http://geekvillage.com/ubb/smile.gif If you have a good sys admin around then MySQL and Php run fine. As I think you know, I have vB staged and this site runs on a Virtualis Dedicated server.

I'm concerned about your sites revenue as measured against bandwidth consumption. Their are hacks to Apache to limit bandwidth and I can find them if anyone wants them from the Dialtone FAQ.

Another way to go which might cost me a sale but most importantly helps you is to split your forum up. Naturally you would need to negotiate multiple licenses of vB but I might be able to handle say 20 gigs per month on my dialtone dedicated box. This would be a temporary solution for you and not a forever relationship. We would need a sys admin to install the latests and greatest of MySql, Php, and apache since I don't have the time to mess with that stuff.

THis box has very little trafic and should have enough juice to handle 20 gigs per month for you untill you figure out what to do long term. Paying me for this is not a concern of mine. Just figure out a way to do anything for geek/talk and I'm happy http://geekvillage.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Best Regards,
Steve_S
Your Administrator
FREE Ecards for your site. (http://geekvillage.com/ecards/) Your pages and images = $$$ Tons of features. We host the script. The easy way (http://www.geekvillage.com/cgi-bin/popular/geekvillage_popular.cgi) to learn who links to your site in the major engines.

[singloon]

Originally posted by Arie:

I don't know, but most hosting companies now a days are very willing to forgo the set-up fee..... I would at least try that... Say that you are looking for a long-time relationship, and that you would even consider putting up a small button to advertise their service.
Thanks Arie, i took that advice and came to an arrangement with the new host which would spread my initial start up costs over this and next month - giving me time for my cheques to catch up to my hosting costs http://geekvillage.com/ubb/smile.gif.
Originally posted by Arie:
Oh... if you need to reboot the server, you should be able to do that from your end (if you have telnet access).

If the standard command doesn't work, find the httpd file, and execute it directly (perl httpd). That should do the trick....

yeah the problem is rebooting at my end results in no response on the server due to various reasons like the process table maxed out and no more processes could be created (?) some of the times and have to get rackspace to reboot it from their end.
Originally posted by Steve_S:
George,

Have you looked at Virtualis for hosting? I mention them because of their large bandwidth allowance and generally above average speed and reliability. Not because I happen to be a reseller http://geekvillage.com/ubb/smile.gif
Yes i have http://geekvillage.com/ubb/smile.gif Ever since you mentioned virtualis way way back a few months ago I have your custom Virtualis link bookmarked so if i ever decide to go with Virtualis - but at this stage none of those plans can match Ultraspeedusa.com's special US$400 setup + 400/monthly for a P3 733, 256MB ram, 9 GB SCSI, 35 ips and 100GB/month

I'm concerned about your sites revenue as measured against bandwidth consumption. Their are hacks to Apache to limit bandwidth and I can find them if anyone wants them from the Dialtone FAQ. yeah me too http://geekvillage.com/ubb/smile.gif My revenues do cover some of the costs, just the that advertiser cheques are always 1 - 2 months after, and well hosting costs are monthly http://geekvillage.com/ubb/frown.gif

Another way to go which might cost me a sale but most importantly helps you is to split your forum up. Naturally you would need to negotiate multiple licenses of vB but I might be able to handle say 20 gigs per month on my dialtone dedicated box. This would be a temporary solution for you and not a forever relationship. We would need a sys admin to install the latests and greatest of MySql, Php, and apache since I don't have the time to mess with that stuff.

THis box has very little trafic and should have enough juice to handle 20 gigs per month for you untill you figure out what to do long term. Paying me for this is not a concern of mine. Just figure out a way to do anything for geek/talk and I'm happy http://geekvillage.com/ubb/smile.gif

thanks Steve for the generous offer http://geekvillage.com/ubb/smile.gif Fortunately, i have managed to arrange hosting payments spread out to suit my flow of revenues http://geekvillage.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Thanks reiger, Arie and Steve and others who emailed with suggestions and offers of help, I very very much appreciate it http://geekvillage.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

This problem kept me up for a couple of nights and I am glad to be a member of this forum http://geekvillage.com/ubb/smile.gif coincidently today would be exactly 12 months and 2 days since i joined Geekvillage http://geekvillage.com/ubb/biggrin.gif




------------------
Australian Neon Genesis Evangelion (http://www.eva2000.com/)
<A HREF="http://infilmbox.com" TARGET=_blank>film - writers - reviewers - reporters - designers
</A>

[ShaneD]

Have you seen these guys yet no set up fee and good pricing http://servers.catalog.com/redhat.htm

[singloon]

Originally posted by ShaneD:
Have you seen these guys yet no set up fee and good pricing http://servers.catalog.com/redhat.htm thanks Shane.. i have checked them out for months now but they recently changed to purchase server to colocate rather than leased monthly.. but then network connectivity problems started and alot of people including a friend of mine who has 3 servers with them left... Catalog.com are now reverting to the leased monthly servers...

my new host has been generous enough to host me for free for the remainder of this month on a nice Dual P3 800, 256MB server until Jan 2001 where they will move me to a P3 733, 256MB server and i will start paying then http://geekvillage.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Thanks again everyone http://geekvillage.com/ubb/smile.gif

It's an hour into Christmas Eve here http://geekvillage.com/ubb/biggrin.gif



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Australian Neon Genesis Evangelion (http://www.eva2000.com/)
<A HREF="http://infilmbox.com" TARGET=_blank>film - writers - reviewers - reporters - designers
</A>

[JDF000]

Actually, catalog.com went back to the $250/mo lease deal because they weren't selling the purchase/co-lo deal, but still, they seem to be plagued with intermittent network troubles so I would stay away at least until they are resolved.

[Steve_S]

Locking and moving to our new Web Hosting Forum. Please join us http://geekvillage.com/ubb/smile.gif

------------------
Best Regards,
Steve_S
Your Administrator
FREE Ecards for your site. (http://geekvillage.com/ecards/) Your pages and images = $$$ Tons of features. We host the script. The easy way (http://www.geekvillage.com/cgi-bin/popular/geekvillage_popular.cgi) to learn who links to your site in the major engines.