2kmaro
Think
Premium,ExMod 1 BC
join:2000-07-11
ColossalCave
clubs:  
| Small Business Host?
I've been asked about a good host for a small (but hopefully rapidly growing) company that would be doing on-line eBusiness and distributing software also.
There was mention of 1-and-1, but discussion in this thread: »1and1 advice...should I stay or should I go? kind of gives cause to pause.
So, I'd like simple comments regarding any hosts you might recommend for such an endeavor.
Naturally, prime considerations would be:
Up-time
Security
Ability to manage the site (establish eCommerce stuff, set up databases to use, set up secure folders, etc)
Professionalism (as in making regularly scheduled backups of server content)
Email reliability and responsiveness.
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...then THINK! again!! |
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gdm
Premium,MVM
join:2001-06-15
Mchenry, IL
clubs:
 ·AT&T U-Verse
 ·AT&T CallVantage
·Comcast Digital Vo..
 ·Comcast
| I would take a look at »www.crystaltech.com I can't speak for the ecommerce part but everything else has been solid.
You will get emails on scheduled maintenance. I usually get a email about an issue before I even know about it...that's only happened twice in a year.
Very responsive support via email or phone 24/7. |
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removed
Crisis Management Squad
Premium,VIP
join:2002-02-08
Houston, TX
clubs:
| reply to 2kmaro
I think you should look into a dedicated (or at least a semi-dedicated/VPS) solution for something like this. Screwing around with shared hosting, although inexpensive, will bite you in the ass when the site is down and the host has no sympathy for your lost business.
Go for something that offers a strong (99.9%+) SLA. Anything less is just half-assing it.
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AIM | B | irc.removed.us - #dslr | Give me a ring: 718-606-4100 |
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PhoenixDown
-- Wants FIOS
Premium
join:2003-06-08
Fresh Meadows, NY
clubs:
| reply to 2kmaro
Check webhostingtalk - they have a good assortment of hosts that would like your business and a quick search of thier forum will tell you what kind of reputation they have.
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NYC Pagans | NYC Pagan Resource |
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fire100
Premium,MVM
join:2001-11-21
Twin Lake, MI
clubs:
| reply to removed
I agree with removed  , I would look for a VPS solution.
I have heard good reviews for both:
»www.powervps.com/
»www.liquidweb.com/shared/vps.htm?newspic
With Liquid Web you can use coupon code: WHT10OFFVPS to get $10 a month off any VPS solution for life.
I myself have used PowerVPS to let my students get a feel for managing a Web server.
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Twin Lake Weather |
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KoolMoe
Aw Man
Premium
join:2001-02-14
Annapolis, MD
clubs:
·Verizon FIOS
 ·Speakeasy
| reply to 2kmaro
We have a couple leased (I think) servers from AlwaysOnline. It's a kinda hokey name but what isn't these days...
I've worked with a couple of the folks who run it and they're good/smart people. Our Windows servers are stable, with the usual hiccups, but no complaints..and they are responsive when there is a problem. Good routing and all that.
It's a nice datacenter in the pseudoburbs in Maryland. Not the cheapest though.
KM
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Frodo Failed and Bush has the Ring |
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lordkuri
join:2001-12-16
Des Plaines, IL
| reply to 2kmaro
I realize this is possibly considered bad form, and somewhat unprofessional, but I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't at least mention it.
I'm the owner of Firestorm Networks, and have been doing hosting for over 2 years as my own company, and have been a server admin for many many years prior to that. If you don't mind, I'd like to address your concerns that you stated.
Up-time
We clearly post a live, offsite backup monitor on every page of our site. The only major downtime we've had in the last year, outside of patches, was 2 hours earlier this month due to a major hardware failure, and we had the entire server reinstalled, and all data restored inside of 2 hours. Feel free to peruse a graph of our uptime from one of our two monitoring services here: »www.servermojo.com/view/fsnhosting (the other monitoring service is the one you see on our site)
Security
As I stated earlier, I've been a *NIX admin for several years (more than 10, but the exact number eludes me), and I'm fastidous about keeping on top of things.
Ability to manage the site (establish eCommerce stuff, set up databases to use, set up secure folders, etc)
My primary hosting control panel is cPanel, and I have about 2 years of direct experience with OSCommerce and Modernbill administration and "hacking".
Professionalism (as in making regularly scheduled backups of erver content)
All of our servers are backed up nightly via rsync to an offsite location, and we retain weekly and monthly archives offsite as well.
Email reliability and responsiveness.
Feel free to shoot me an email, and test this out for yourself. I won't make statements here that I can't back up, but every bit of our contact information is readily availiable on our website, so give it a try.
Thanks for your taking the time to read this, and I hope you'll consider me for your needs. Take care, and have a wonderful day 
Brooks Bridges
Firestorm Networks
»www.fsnhosting.com |
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fire100
Premium,MVM
join:2001-11-21
Twin Lake, MI
clubs:
| said by lordkuri :Up-timeWe clearly post a live, offsite backup monitor on every page of our site. The only major downtime we've had in the last year, outside of patches, was 2 hours earlier this month due to a major hardware failure, and we had the entire server reinstalled, and all data restored inside of 2 hours. Feel free to peruse a graph of our uptime from one of our two monitoring services here: » www.fsnhosting.com I would be a bit concerned with using a server with Layered Technologies. They are completely self-managed company with hardware replacement times up to 24 hours. For a small-business 24 hours could mean plenty of lost business.
»www.dnsstuff.com/tools/lookup.ch···T&type=A
»layer0.layeredtech.com/showthread.php?t=3015
quote:
What kind of Support is included?
ONLINE TICKET SYSTEM BASED SUPPORT ONLY, (through our service request center at »support.layeredtech.com/home/) Self-Managed server support is limited to: Reboots, Billing & Licensing Inquiries, Network Problems and Hardware Failure. We will replace any faulty hardware 100% at no extra cost to you in 24 hours or less. Majority of the time we have replacement hardware in stock and ready to go allowing for minimal downtime during hardware failures.
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Twin Lake Weather |
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lordkuri
join:2001-12-16
Des Plaines, IL
| I certainly understand your concern. I do know that when the drive failed, they had it replaced and the OS reloaded within an hour. The second hour was my restoring the system.
I can say in the time I've used them, I have had no complaints with regards to their support. They have always been very responsive to any ticket I've submitted. |
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fire100
Premium,MVM
join:2001-11-21
Twin Lake, MI
clubs:
| said by lordkuri :I can say in the time I've used them, I have had no complaints with regards to their support. They have always been very responsive to any ticket I've submitted. That's great, but it is listed in their policy that the time can be up to 24 hours. It looks like you have a great layout and a great site. As well as a good start. And for personal sites I see now problem with going with a host that has servers with Layered Tech.
However for business critical hosting, I would suggest going with someone that has a server with a company that has a one or two hour SLA like Liquid Web. »www.liquidweb.com/dedicated/configure/
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Twin Lake Weather |
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InFloW
join:2002-08-10
Fergus, ON
·Cogeco Cable
| reply to 2kmaro
LayeredTech are a good but it seems like they've really declined as of late based on reviews. I had a server with them for quite a while no complaints there but I never sent in a single ticket. Personally we (»devotedhost.biz) use ThePlanet and DedicatedNOW which are I think are both great company's. But everyone has something bad to say about every dedicated provider.
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»devotedhost.biz »fscripts.com »devotedgaming.com »random-forums.comhttp://arandomfact.com |
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KoolMoe
Aw Man
Premium
join:2001-02-14
Annapolis, MD
clubs:
·Verizon FIOS
·Speakeasy
| reply to 2kmaro
Should I ever get a dedicated, it would probably be with AlwaysOnline...but my shared is currently at ThePlanet so I'd consider ServerMatrix, though it looks like they're not taking any new orders (!), or certainly NAC where DSLR is hosted - though I can't imagine they're cheap either.
KM
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Frodo Failed and Bush has the Ring |
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removed
Crisis Management Squad
Premium,VIP
join:2002-02-08
Houston, TX
clubs: | NAC isn't cheap. I was looking for colo a few months ago, and got a quote from them for ~$200/mbit, plus rack space. Ouch! |
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big greg
Premium,MVM,Ex-Mod 2005-6
join:2003-10-11
Boston, MA
clubs: | Do you think that they gave you the special "we know you and we don't want your business" rate?
I do that sometimes  |
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removed
Crisis Management Squad
Premium,VIP
join:2002-02-08
Houston, TX
clubs: | Wouldn't surprise me. |
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GilbertMark
Premium
join:2001-05-02
Gilbert, AZ
·Cox HSI
| reply to 2kmaro
I've been hosting with many different providers since 1998 and the best host I've found so far has been »www.surpasshosting.com I've gotten them to respond to and solve trouble tickets even on Thanksgiving. Their forums are awesome.
I don't know if they are too small for a small business, but they are worth a look. They have a lot to offer.
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Just because a word has an S in it doesn't mean it needs an apostrophe too. |
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wolfcreek
join:2003-12-02
Pagosa Springs, CO
| reply to 2kmaro
If I was hosting a critical business site I would use Pair Networks »www.pair.com their prices are higher but their networks are the most reliable I have used and their servers are rock solid. I was with them for several years and changed only becuase my sites are not business critical and I could go cheaper. You will not go wrong with them |
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