Tech: Looking For a Good Web Host

[ehbowen]

From the old board:

I really want a secure email server, among other things.

First off, what do you mean here? Run your own mail server? Have an SSL connection to the mail server? Something else? (Sorry but I've had people say "secure email server" and mean something different than what I thought they did so i figure I'd better ask instead of assuming.)

Also do you need any particular server technologies  for your sites (Ruby on Rails, mod-python, fastcgi, or something else other than the fairly standard php/mysql/perl/cgi)? Do you favor one type of control panel over another?

My current account with IX Web Hosting expires next month. I have been with them for five years now and have no real complaints, save one: They do not offer a secured (SSL/TLS) email server. So I'm looking around at my choices before I plunk down another $200 or so.

I have seven active web sites that I take care of. The main one, Streamliner Schedules, recorded a bit more than 18000 page views and 3.08 GB of traffic last month. The other sites combined generate less than a third of those figures. Included in those sites is one phpBB forum (visited only by spammers these days...I'll probably let it go down if I can't drum up some on-topic traffic before the domain expires) and one site built with WordPress by an outside developer. I want to keep everything essentially intact, and as I have never migrated a site before I would appreciate some "hold your hand" technical support.

Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations?

[RandallS]

My current account with IX Web Hosting expires next month. I have been with them for five years now and have no real complaints, save one: They do not offer a secured (SSL/TLS) email server. So I'm looking around at my choices before I plunk down another $200 or so.

I have seven active web sites that I take care of. The main one, Streamliner Schedules, recorded a bit more than 18000 page views and 3.08 GB of traffic last month. The other sites combined generate less than a third of those figures. Included in those sites is one phpBB forum (visited only by spammers these days...I'll probably let it go down if I can't drum up some on-topic traffic before the domain expires) and one site built with WordPress by an outside developer. I want to keep everything essentially intact, and as I have never migrated a site before I would appreciate some "hold your hand" technical support.

This sounds like a good candidate for Dreamhost's shared servers. We used Dreamhost for years before we needed to move to a VPS. (Dreamhost offers semi-managed VPS but it is expensive and has far fewer features than what we get with Linode's unmanaged VPS.) If you sign up with Dreamhost via this link TC gets about $90: Dreamhost link.  Dreamhost has good support (for a low priced host) and a very helpful wiki full of info on setting up, moving sites, using different features, etc.  The only reason we left was that we needed a VPS instead of shared hosting.

[Owl]

From the old board:



My current account with IX Web Hosting expires next month. I have been with them for five years now and have no real complaints, save one: They do not offer a secured (SSL/TLS) email server. So I'm looking around at my choices before I plunk down another $200 or so.

I have seven active web sites that I take care of. The main one, Streamliner Schedules, recorded a bit more than 18000 page views and 3.08 GB of traffic last month. The other sites combined generate less than a third of those figures. Included in those sites is one phpBB forum (visited only by spammers these days...I'll probably let it go down if I can't drum up some on-topic traffic before the domain expires) and one site built with WordPress by an outside developer. I want to keep everything essentially intact, and as I have never migrated a site before I would appreciate some "hold your hand" technical support.

Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations?

My son has us on Bluehost.  I have no clue if it is up to what you listed, but the prices are good.

[ehbowen]

This sounds like a good candidate for Dreamhost's shared servers. We used Dreamhost for years....

Hmm. I dunno. I contacted Dreamhost, and while they do offer a secured email server there are a couple of features that I've been spoiled with from IX. A unique IP address is 3.95 extra per month per IP from Dreamhost; I got 8 included with my old plan and even now that they're rationing them out I'll still get 3 unique IPs included if I renew with IX. Technical support by live chat or telephone is included with IX's package; with Dreamhost it's an extra $9.95 per month. So I'd pay $31 a month with Dreamhost for the same features that IX wants $8 a month for...except, of course, for the email.

I'm going to have to check around further. There's more fish in the sea.

[RandallS]

I got 8 included with my old plan and even now that they're rationing them out I'll still get 3 unique IPs included if I renew with IX.

There aren't many places that will do better than that for low prices. Heck, that's the best IP address deal I've heard of. I've never needed more than one, but if that's a key feature for you, you may want to stay with IX as I think you'll find their deal very hard to beat. You might want to simply stay with IX and get a different host for your email. Assuming you have full control of your DNS records, it's easy enough to set the MX records for a site to point to a third party service. TC uses Google Apps, for example -- we signed up when Google free places were huge (something like 100 email accounts).

[ehbowen]

There aren't many places that will do better than that for low prices.... You might want to simply stay with IX and get a different host for your email. Assuming you have full control of your DNS records, it's easy enough to set the MX records for a site to point to a third party service.

I'll have to look into this.

Speaking of domain names: IX charges 19.95 a year. From what I've seen so far, that's pretty high. Can you recommend someone to use simply as a domain registrar?

[RandallS]

I'll have to look into this.

Speaking of domain names: IX charges 19.95 a year. From what I've seen so far, that's pretty high. Can you recommend someone to use simply as a domain registrar?

We use GoDaddy, but their business practices have turned for the worst so I can no longer really recommend them. I'll be moving domains away from there as they come up for renewal. I haven't decided to where yet, but I've heard good things about name.com on the Linode Forums.

[Smokebender]

From the old board:



My current account with IX Web Hosting expires next month. I have been with them for five years now and have no real complaints, save one: They do not offer a secured (SSL/TLS) email server. So I'm looking around at my choices before I plunk down another $200 or so.

I have seven active web sites that I take care of. The main one, Streamliner Schedules, recorded a bit more than 18000 page views and 3.08 GB of traffic last month. The other sites combined generate less than a third of those figures. Included in those sites is one phpBB forum (visited only by spammers these days...I'll probably let it go down if I can't drum up some on-topic traffic before the domain expires) and one site built with WordPress by an outside developer. I want to keep everything essentially intact, and as I have never migrated a site before I would appreciate some "hold your hand" technical support.

Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations?

First I would make sure you're on a Linux server instead of a Windows server. Windows servers have to go down for reboot now and then where Linux does not. Linux servers are also more secure. Yeah,,, I'm biased. I also run linux on my pc.

Give Arvixe a look. I used them for a few years and was quite happy with them. I had upwards of 15 web sites on the same account with no problems. If I had a snag because I was fixing something until I broke it, a simple phone call fixed it. If needed, you can have audio/video on your sites without installing anything more or paying more. Can't do that on GoDaddy. I myself cannot recommend GoDaddy. Arvixe ran a bit less than HostGator and was just as good. Both put GoDaddy to shame. Imho, GoDaddy is only good for buying a domain name then forwarding it.

[RandallS]

First I would make sure you're on a Linux server instead of a Windows server. Windows servers have to go down for reboot now and then where Linux does not. Linux servers are also more secure. Yeah,,, I'm biased. I also run linux on my pc.

Unless, of course, you run server software than needs the ASP features of Windows servers. If you do, then Linux is really not an option. Note that I agree that linux-based web servers are generally "better" for many definitions of "better", but that the software you need to run still determines OS choice.

[Smokebender]

Unless, of course, you run server software than needs the ASP features of Windows servers. If you do, then Linux is really not an option. Note that I agree that linux-based web servers are generally "better" for many definitions of "better", but that the software you need to run still determines OS choice.

 
Agreed.

[ehbowen]

There aren't many places that will do better than that for low prices. Heck, that's the best IP address deal I've heard of. I've never needed more than one, but if that's a key feature for you, you may want to stay with IX as I think you'll find their deal very hard to beat. You might want to simply stay with IX and get a different host for your email. Assuming you have full control of your DNS records, it's easy enough to set the MX records for a site to point to a third party service. TC uses Google Apps, for example -- we signed up when Google free places were huge (something like 100 email accounts).

 
I'm looking into this, but it seems as though Google is now requiring a business account for $5 per user per month for their apps. Since I'm only a single user it wouldn't hit me too hard, but I hate to spend that much extra when I only plan to use one feature. I'm considering Yahoo Plus for $20/year, but I haven't been able to find much hard technical information about it...like can I use my existing email domain. If someone can point me to a resource for this or some similar service, I would be appreciative.

[RandallS]

I'm looking into this, but it seems as though Google is now requiring a business account for $5 per user per month for their apps.

You can apparently still get Google Apps for Free, although the account limit is now 10:

http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/group/index.html

[indumeethal]

Hi

SPAM.net provides high bandwidth, performance, reliability, SPAM on demand. Experience the world class SPAM bandwidth with 10 Tbps SPAM backbone.Rapidly deploy SPAM across global network with online assistance and SPAM Remote Hands. Host your SPAM on a highly reliable network that delivers uninterrupted SPAM. Internet never sleep and thus our SPAM .

SPAMmy link removed.

Thanks.

[ehbowen]

<spammy content deleted>

Search engine jockey working overtime?

Well, while I'm still with IX Web Hosting, I'm much more likely to upgrade my internet service and migrate to my own home server than to switch at this point.

While I did in fact open the question and invite responses...five years ago...it's been a little while since I pulled this little gem out. I'm going to risk doing it again, now:

[SunflowerP]

Thanks for the (via post report) reminder about editing the bit you quoted, Eric; it had slipped my mind completely! And of course, thanks for the initial report to let us know a spammer had snuck in.

For future reference (this is to everyone, not just Eric), if you're replying to a not-yet-edited spam post, it's a good idea to delete the text of the quote, since it isn't meaningful content anyway. (Note that our Quoting Guidelines allow/encourage trimming quoted text to the minimum necessary in any reply, up to and including no quoted text at all, provided the quote code is left intact; this is even more applicable when replying to spammers.)

Don't reply to a not-yet-edited-by-staff spam post unless you're also reporting it (as Eric did) - we don't mind getting multiple reports of the same piece of spam, and we usually see it and can fix it faster if it's been reported than if it hasn't. And, replies to clearly-identifiable spam - edited or unedited - should be some form of spam mockery, such as Eric's comprehensive pic of All! The! Spam!, or a spam recipe. (Also, mockery should be kept to a minimum if the spam post is a reply in a still-active/reactivated thread; we shoot spammers on sight so that their spam doesn't take over discussions.)

Speaking of which, anyone got a spam recipe to link to? (Link, rather than post, so that people can choose whether to look or not; if you post the actual recipe, use the spoiler tag.)

Sunflower