webmasterbeta
New Member
I need to select a managed hosting provider. So far, I think I want a fully managed service. I'm an application developer, not a sysadmin. There's only so many hours in the day. My choices:1. Dedicated -- I'm not a sysadmin. Who will keep the server humming?2. Dedicated + server management co -- possible, but seems to make more sense to consolidate everything under one roof. That way, I know who to yell at.3. Fully managed -- seems like the best choice, but pricey.I have received quotes from numerous companies, such as Rackspace, Canada Web Hosting, Inetu, Hostway, etc. In the end, the pricing isn't all that different -- all charge a bundle compared to a simple root dedicated server. But I need rock solid support.I have a highly dynamic LAMP application. MySQL uses a combination of the InnoDB engine and MyISAM. Backup and security are ultra-important. The ability to scale-out and/or split off the database server down the road are important. Replication? Possibly -- a nice backup solution.I'm self-funded, so every penny counts. But a server that's down or hacked puts me out of business. Paying an extra few hundred a month to keep things running and to know I can get a human on the phone seems like short change compared to hiring a $100K sysadmin.So...what do you suggest? Simply go with "Fanatical Support." Are there other great alternatives besides Rackspace? Are there issues with being a little single server guy at a giant like Rackspace?And what about hardware selection? On the first day of operation, the site will have one user -- me. From there, it's anyones guess. Seems like I could get the top of the line, in preparation for an avalanche of traffic. Or get two cheap servers and split off the application server and database server immediately. Ideas?Other thoughts?Amount of RAM? Seems like database never have enough.HW Firewall? I see the Cisco Pix 50x quoted a lot.RAID. Yes, I know I need it. Seems like most providers offer Raid 1 or Raid 5 for a lot more.Processor choice? Does it really matter all that much?How important is a hot-swapable system like the Dell 2950 with hot swappable power supplies, fans, drives, etc.?Do I need root access?What if I want to use LVM to make snapshots? Do fully managed provider support this?What OS do you recommend?Do I need a control panel? (one domain only -- not reselling). Which one?See...as I said I'm drowning in choices and not very good at making decisions. Help!If you want to do things *perfectly* someone like RackSpace might help, but you'll find other companies offering the same services, for lower. Looking at Rackspace threads lately, they seem to be charging a packet, so definately shop about!RAM -> Depending on your usage, the higher the better, look at 4GB standard.HWFirewall -> The firewall you've mentioned is spot on, but try and find someone that offers a security appliance also, that will help protect against malware, exploit attempts and your spam/virus.Processor -> For a DB server your RAM is going to be the most important, go for the highest processor obviously you can afford in your budget, but also choose a provider where you can upgrade the hardware easily in the future as you expand.Hot Swappable -> If uptime is essential, these are useful, especially when your server is in RAID format, a simply hard drive swap is required with 0 downtime, but again, if it's mission critical, things like fans etc aren't really a priority.-> Power supplies -> Try and find a company selling the server with dual power inputs.Some managed companies won't provide root access to prevent you causing damage, ie extra work for them. If it's full managed, with good response times, have them do all the work, but check what's covered.OS - > We use Fedora 5 or CentOS, personally I prefer my CentOS deployments!Try Cube Panel (free for 1 domain) - cubepanel.com1. Dedicated -- I'm not a sysadmin. Who will keep the server humming?
2. Dedicated + server management co -- possible, but seems to make more sense to consolidate everything under one roof. That way, I know who to yell at.
3. Fully managed -- seems like the best choice, but pricey.
1. I'm not a system admin either, and all my serverS have been humming and even singing to me with a huge smile. I have my servers managed by PSM (PlatinumServerManagement.com)
2. This could be useful in some cases (to yell if something goes bad) but I have been with PSM for a long time and I havn't had to yell once, not even get upset. They keep my smileing. Like I said in some cases this could be useful and in some other cases this could be putting a hole in your pocket. Most dedicated server providers offer $$+ to the bill cause its "fully managed" lets say their is a P43.0HT 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD, Cpanel/Whm/Fantastico/RvSkin for $109 a month. Unmanaged. A dedicated provider will charge this server for like $180+ because its "fully managed" when you can just spend $29 a month at PSM for a fully managed server. Cutting cost is good
3. If your not a system admin like me, dont really know your way around linux like a pro. Fully managed is the way to go. Maybe you are a system admin but don't have the time to manage? Also a way to go. But see your like me. Fully managed is the way to go my friend.
I have received quotes from numerous companies, such as Rackspace, Canada Web Hosting, Inetu, Hostway, etc. In the end, the pricing isn't all that different -- all charge a bundle compared to a simple root dedicated server. But I need rock solid support.
Yeah dedicated server providers will charge an extra amount because its fully managed. When you can go to a different company and get server management for less like PSM.
So...what do you suggest? Simply go with "Fanatical Support." Are there other great alternatives besides Rackspace? Are there issues with being a little single server guy at a giant like Rackspace?
I would suggest PSM. As you said your self-funded so every penny counts and I completely agree with you. I have been with PSM for a while now and I can say every bit of your money counts, you get your moneys worth and more. Though with RackSpace you can get lucky, some people have bad experiences with RackSpace some people don't. You try contacting the user on here "Kimberly" I think she went with RackSpace but I'm not completely sure. I know that she was pretty good with the research she did but I dont remember her saying what company she finally choose and why but in due time I wouldn't be suprised if she picked RackSpace since she made many threads on it
And what about hardware selection? On the first day of operation, the site will have one user -- me. From there, it's anyones guess. Seems like I could get the top of the line, in preparation for an avalanche of traffic. Or get two cheap servers and split off the application server and database server immediately. Ideas?
I say put it in on 1 good server. P42.8HT+ work great for me but it all depends on your budget. If you have a good amount of monthly money to spend get your self a good server at LayeredTech and then order the Server Management at PSM. LT also provides some pretty good servers on special every two weeks or every week for a good price.
Amount of RAM? Seems like database never have enough.
I say at least 2GB, but if you have a decent amount of money to spend. Shoot for 4GB or more just to be on the real safe side but for me, I think 2GB should work out fine but I'll let other members get you on that since Im not too sure..
HW Firewall? I see the Cisco Pix 50x quoted a lot.
RAID. Yes, I know I need it. Seems like most providers offer Raid 1 or Raid 5 for a lot more.
If you choose PSM, they pre-install a bunch of secruity programs for you and everything. You can visit their website page for some of the stuff they pre install for you.
Processor choice? Does it really matter all that much?
How important is a hot-swapable system like the Dell 2950 with hot swappable power supplies, fans, drives, etc.?
Like I said, if you have the money to spend. Why not go that extra mile getting a good server to be on the safe side. Go to LayeredTech.com and take a look at their specials, they have some really good BIG servers for a good price. Though remember: ALL LT servers are self-managed. The best solution that worked for me was, order a server from LT then order from PSM.
Do I need root access?
Yes, sounds like you will be doing allot of personal stuff and since your looking for a managed solution. Yes root acess is a MUST.
What if I want to use LVM to make snapshots? Do fully managed provider support this?
I have no clue about this, try contacting the server management company and asking them. They'd be best to answer this for you..
What OS do you recommend?
I have used RedHat, Fedora Core, CentOs. I use to always pick Fedora Core. Every serevr I got, I picked it. I was told that CentOS was the best and stable version of linux so I made the changes to CentOs. To be completely honest with you man, I dont see the difference in either. They both work great. Linux is linux to me man. But people say, CentOs is the way to go so I choose CentOs as my always choice.
Do I need a control panel? (one domain only -- not reselling). Which one?
You don't really need a control panel but if you have any plans to make your life a bit easier, considering your not a tech person like myself. A control panel is the way to go. LayeredTech.com offers allot of specials on cPanel/WHM control panels and you can get some good deals on it too. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.cpanel.net">http://www.cpanel.net</a><!-- m --> check that out. Also try ManageMyBox.com (Not a server managementcompany, just a dedicated server provider) the guy who owns that is on here as "Laws" good man. They offer a free plesk control panel, 30 domains with your dedicated server order. So you can also get a P42.8 for $79 I think it was with a free plesk control panel. Though I would suggest you go to LT and get a cPanel server and then order from PSM. PSM is a goood company. Great bunch of people and its a legit company too, so you don't have to worry about the basement start ups.
See...as I said I'm drowning in choices and not very good at making decisions.
Help!
Hopefully my post was somewhat helpful to you. From non-techie to non-techie. Good luck on your choice!pinestream you sound a lot like myself. I went with Cartika Hosting (look up some reviews here) and don't even think about the server...it's always up and patched etc. Yes, you can find less expensive solutions, but if I ever have a question they offer quick responses by "knowledgeable" people. As a matter of fact I haven't spoken with Andrew in several months...should give him a call.How important is a hot-swapable system like the Dell 2950 with hot swappable power supplies, fans, drives, etc.?Very important. drives, powersupplies, fans, etc can and do fail. Without redundant, hot swap componants, everytime something fails - you are down. With that Dell gear you are talking about, its nice because their management software reports when an item is failing/has failed and an admin can replace a componant on the fly and you wouldnt even know about it - well worth the extra money...pinestream you sound a lot like myself. I went with Cartika Hosting (look up some reviews here) and don't even think about the server...it's always up and patched etc. Yes, you can find less expensive solutions, but if I ever have a question they offer quick responses by "knowledgeable" people. As a matter of fact I haven't spoken with Andrew in several months...should give him a call.Hi Dave, glad to hear the team is taking good care of you. Havent spoken to you in ages so feel free to pick up the phone and give me a call when you have some time this week/next week...Hi, Any reason you need Cisco Pix 50x? Is it potential hack/dos/crack target site? Is there any reason you need LVM to make snapshots? What's your budget on this managed server? thanks>Any reason you need Cisco Pix 50x? Is it potential hack/dos/crack target site?Yes, I am worried about getting hacked. A friend said, "don't even think about it -- get a hardware firewall." >Is there any reason you need LVM to make snapshots? I'm using the MySQL InnoDB engine, which makes backup a bit of a pain. I could buy innoback, which is pricey, but probably the way to go. But one alternative, which is pretty slick, is to make a LVM snapshot and do a mysqldump off that running a 2nd MySQL instance. A requirement? No. But an interesting concept.> What's your budget on this managed server? Haven't really though about it. I'm more concerned with picking the right provider and setup. My application could be considered "semi-financial," so I'm really concerned about reliability, downtime, security , backup, etc.Someone like Cartikahosting, mentioned in this thread, sounds like a reasonable alternative, although the pricing seems a bit high. That means $400-500 doesn't freak me out, but I do want to make sure I am getting real value if I pay this much. My Rackspace quotes were in this range and I'd certainly feel comfortable with them.The catch-22 is that I want the service + really robust hardware.Someone like Cartikahosting, mentioned in this thread, sounds like a reasonable alternative, although the pricing seems a bit high. That means $400-500 doesn't freak me out, but I do want to make sure I am getting real value if I pay this much. My Rackspace quotes were in this range and I'd certainly feel comfortable with them
Did you compare specifications? With RackSpace, you usually need to commit to long term contracts to get better pricing. With CartikaHosting is month to month.
With RackSpace you usually get like 100-150 of monthly bandwidth. With CartikaHosting you get a lot more.
With RackSpace, if you need real managed services (proactive updates/upgrades) you usually need to go their *Intensive* service which costs a lot more. With CartikaHosting you get real proactive management for the same pricing.
I believe RackSpace is great option if you need a solid (100% SLA) network and solid 24x7 support including chat and phone. But I'd choose CartikaHosting over RackSpace if I needed the server/service you need.
Regards,
2. Dedicated + server management co -- possible, but seems to make more sense to consolidate everything under one roof. That way, I know who to yell at.
3. Fully managed -- seems like the best choice, but pricey.
1. I'm not a system admin either, and all my serverS have been humming and even singing to me with a huge smile. I have my servers managed by PSM (PlatinumServerManagement.com)
2. This could be useful in some cases (to yell if something goes bad) but I have been with PSM for a long time and I havn't had to yell once, not even get upset. They keep my smileing. Like I said in some cases this could be useful and in some other cases this could be putting a hole in your pocket. Most dedicated server providers offer $$+ to the bill cause its "fully managed" lets say their is a P43.0HT 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD, Cpanel/Whm/Fantastico/RvSkin for $109 a month. Unmanaged. A dedicated provider will charge this server for like $180+ because its "fully managed" when you can just spend $29 a month at PSM for a fully managed server. Cutting cost is good
3. If your not a system admin like me, dont really know your way around linux like a pro. Fully managed is the way to go. Maybe you are a system admin but don't have the time to manage? Also a way to go. But see your like me. Fully managed is the way to go my friend.
I have received quotes from numerous companies, such as Rackspace, Canada Web Hosting, Inetu, Hostway, etc. In the end, the pricing isn't all that different -- all charge a bundle compared to a simple root dedicated server. But I need rock solid support.
Yeah dedicated server providers will charge an extra amount because its fully managed. When you can go to a different company and get server management for less like PSM.
So...what do you suggest? Simply go with "Fanatical Support." Are there other great alternatives besides Rackspace? Are there issues with being a little single server guy at a giant like Rackspace?
I would suggest PSM. As you said your self-funded so every penny counts and I completely agree with you. I have been with PSM for a while now and I can say every bit of your money counts, you get your moneys worth and more. Though with RackSpace you can get lucky, some people have bad experiences with RackSpace some people don't. You try contacting the user on here "Kimberly" I think she went with RackSpace but I'm not completely sure. I know that she was pretty good with the research she did but I dont remember her saying what company she finally choose and why but in due time I wouldn't be suprised if she picked RackSpace since she made many threads on it
And what about hardware selection? On the first day of operation, the site will have one user -- me. From there, it's anyones guess. Seems like I could get the top of the line, in preparation for an avalanche of traffic. Or get two cheap servers and split off the application server and database server immediately. Ideas?
I say put it in on 1 good server. P42.8HT+ work great for me but it all depends on your budget. If you have a good amount of monthly money to spend get your self a good server at LayeredTech and then order the Server Management at PSM. LT also provides some pretty good servers on special every two weeks or every week for a good price.
Amount of RAM? Seems like database never have enough.
I say at least 2GB, but if you have a decent amount of money to spend. Shoot for 4GB or more just to be on the real safe side but for me, I think 2GB should work out fine but I'll let other members get you on that since Im not too sure..
HW Firewall? I see the Cisco Pix 50x quoted a lot.
RAID. Yes, I know I need it. Seems like most providers offer Raid 1 or Raid 5 for a lot more.
If you choose PSM, they pre-install a bunch of secruity programs for you and everything. You can visit their website page for some of the stuff they pre install for you.
Processor choice? Does it really matter all that much?
How important is a hot-swapable system like the Dell 2950 with hot swappable power supplies, fans, drives, etc.?
Like I said, if you have the money to spend. Why not go that extra mile getting a good server to be on the safe side. Go to LayeredTech.com and take a look at their specials, they have some really good BIG servers for a good price. Though remember: ALL LT servers are self-managed. The best solution that worked for me was, order a server from LT then order from PSM.
Do I need root access?
Yes, sounds like you will be doing allot of personal stuff and since your looking for a managed solution. Yes root acess is a MUST.
What if I want to use LVM to make snapshots? Do fully managed provider support this?
I have no clue about this, try contacting the server management company and asking them. They'd be best to answer this for you..
What OS do you recommend?
I have used RedHat, Fedora Core, CentOs. I use to always pick Fedora Core. Every serevr I got, I picked it. I was told that CentOS was the best and stable version of linux so I made the changes to CentOs. To be completely honest with you man, I dont see the difference in either. They both work great. Linux is linux to me man. But people say, CentOs is the way to go so I choose CentOs as my always choice.
Do I need a control panel? (one domain only -- not reselling). Which one?
You don't really need a control panel but if you have any plans to make your life a bit easier, considering your not a tech person like myself. A control panel is the way to go. LayeredTech.com offers allot of specials on cPanel/WHM control panels and you can get some good deals on it too. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.cpanel.net">http://www.cpanel.net</a><!-- m --> check that out. Also try ManageMyBox.com (Not a server managementcompany, just a dedicated server provider) the guy who owns that is on here as "Laws" good man. They offer a free plesk control panel, 30 domains with your dedicated server order. So you can also get a P42.8 for $79 I think it was with a free plesk control panel. Though I would suggest you go to LT and get a cPanel server and then order from PSM. PSM is a goood company. Great bunch of people and its a legit company too, so you don't have to worry about the basement start ups.
See...as I said I'm drowning in choices and not very good at making decisions.
Help!
Hopefully my post was somewhat helpful to you. From non-techie to non-techie. Good luck on your choice!pinestream you sound a lot like myself. I went with Cartika Hosting (look up some reviews here) and don't even think about the server...it's always up and patched etc. Yes, you can find less expensive solutions, but if I ever have a question they offer quick responses by "knowledgeable" people. As a matter of fact I haven't spoken with Andrew in several months...should give him a call.How important is a hot-swapable system like the Dell 2950 with hot swappable power supplies, fans, drives, etc.?Very important. drives, powersupplies, fans, etc can and do fail. Without redundant, hot swap componants, everytime something fails - you are down. With that Dell gear you are talking about, its nice because their management software reports when an item is failing/has failed and an admin can replace a componant on the fly and you wouldnt even know about it - well worth the extra money...pinestream you sound a lot like myself. I went with Cartika Hosting (look up some reviews here) and don't even think about the server...it's always up and patched etc. Yes, you can find less expensive solutions, but if I ever have a question they offer quick responses by "knowledgeable" people. As a matter of fact I haven't spoken with Andrew in several months...should give him a call.Hi Dave, glad to hear the team is taking good care of you. Havent spoken to you in ages so feel free to pick up the phone and give me a call when you have some time this week/next week...Hi, Any reason you need Cisco Pix 50x? Is it potential hack/dos/crack target site? Is there any reason you need LVM to make snapshots? What's your budget on this managed server? thanks>Any reason you need Cisco Pix 50x? Is it potential hack/dos/crack target site?Yes, I am worried about getting hacked. A friend said, "don't even think about it -- get a hardware firewall." >Is there any reason you need LVM to make snapshots? I'm using the MySQL InnoDB engine, which makes backup a bit of a pain. I could buy innoback, which is pricey, but probably the way to go. But one alternative, which is pretty slick, is to make a LVM snapshot and do a mysqldump off that running a 2nd MySQL instance. A requirement? No. But an interesting concept.> What's your budget on this managed server? Haven't really though about it. I'm more concerned with picking the right provider and setup. My application could be considered "semi-financial," so I'm really concerned about reliability, downtime, security , backup, etc.Someone like Cartikahosting, mentioned in this thread, sounds like a reasonable alternative, although the pricing seems a bit high. That means $400-500 doesn't freak me out, but I do want to make sure I am getting real value if I pay this much. My Rackspace quotes were in this range and I'd certainly feel comfortable with them.The catch-22 is that I want the service + really robust hardware.Someone like Cartikahosting, mentioned in this thread, sounds like a reasonable alternative, although the pricing seems a bit high. That means $400-500 doesn't freak me out, but I do want to make sure I am getting real value if I pay this much. My Rackspace quotes were in this range and I'd certainly feel comfortable with them
Did you compare specifications? With RackSpace, you usually need to commit to long term contracts to get better pricing. With CartikaHosting is month to month.
With RackSpace you usually get like 100-150 of monthly bandwidth. With CartikaHosting you get a lot more.
With RackSpace, if you need real managed services (proactive updates/upgrades) you usually need to go their *Intensive* service which costs a lot more. With CartikaHosting you get real proactive management for the same pricing.
I believe RackSpace is great option if you need a solid (100% SLA) network and solid 24x7 support including chat and phone. But I'd choose CartikaHosting over RackSpace if I needed the server/service you need.
Regards,