Web host needed...DESPERATELY

[CrashNet]

Ok heres the deal...this is a request/vent thread for me, because I have just about had it up to my ears with my current host. I need this in a host. The ones with the stars are not necessarily needed, but would be great to have:

• php (all functions with the exception of mail( ) (see below), mysql, and possibly cgi)
• FTP access
• mysql database
• domain hosting (DNS)
• little to no ads
• *pop3 email account
• *uploading (as in users can upload pictures, avatars, etc on forums; basically visitor uploading)
• *mail support

In terms of the unlimited space and bandwidth, if those are not provided, I would like to find a site that can at least be dynamic with what they provide, meaning as my visitors increase and my files increase, they would be willing to increase my space and bandwidth.

Oh yeah...right now I need it for FREE. Later I might get a paid hosting plan, but I can't afford it right now.

Anyone know of such a host I could look at?

 

[isnet396]

IM me with aim... q488824248884q ...i'll have you set up in a few minutes

 

[wdwmagic]

Originally posted by cac2889


In terms of the unlimited space and bandwidth, if those are not provided,

There is no such thing!

Somebody has to pay for bandwidth and storage space. If you find a host that offers this, there will be many terms and conditions involved, meaning it really isnt unlimited, OR the company will go bankrupt as it is an impossible business model to sustain.

 

[CrashNet]

Re: Re: Web host needed...DESPERATELY

Originally posted by wdwmagic
There is no such thing!

Somebody has to pay for bandwidth and storage space. If you find a host that offers this, there will be many terms and conditions involved, meaning it really isnt unlimited, OR the company will go bankrupt as it is an impossible business model to sustain.

you are definetly right with that Steve. There are a lot of conditions with that clause on the host I have now. That is why I've decided to move over to Ian's server. He will give me so much more and I will have a lot more freedom. On top of that, he's a friend.

If you don't mind me asking, I saw that picture of the new wdwmagic servers. Do you own those, and if so, is it your ISP that charges you for bandwidth? I would think that if you own the servers everything is on, you wouldn't have to pay for bandwidth.

 

[Bagheera]

Re: Re: Re: Web host needed...DESPERATELY

Originally posted by cac2889
If you don't mind me asking, I saw that picture of the new wdwmagic servers. Do you own those, and if so, is it your ISP that charges you for bandwidth? I would think that if you own the servers everything is on, you wouldn't have to pay for bandwidth.

Um, bandwidth is a prime chargeable commodity. If Steve owns the servers, then disk space, application costs, etc. are out of the picture. However, ISPs are in the business of providing services for fees. Managed hosting will generally give you monitoring of your server, backups of your server, and a set amount of bandwidth. Cost for additional bandwidth is determined via pricing tiers.

Am I correct, Steve?

 

[wdwmagic]

That is exactly right Bagheera... bandwidth is the big charge.

Hosting in a nutshell works like this:

1. The webserver
2. The data storage system
3. Electricity
4. Bandwidth

The bandwidth is the amount of data that is transferred from the webserver to the web browsers which are viewing the site. Therefore the bandwidth usage increases with the number of visitors viewing the site, and the size of the files each visitor views.

The bandwidth usage can vary widely depending on the site in question on the server, therefore owning a server wouldnt affect the bandwidth usage.

If you consider how an ISP operates..
They typically have a large datacentre, which is a warehouse type building. They use bandwidth from a telecoms provider, and deliver that bandwidth to all the servers in the building. As each server uses bandwidth, the ISP is billed, therefore the ISP in-turn has to bill the owner of the server. The more bandwith is used, the more is billed.

You can conisder bandwith to be like electricity, it is billed as used.

Hope that helps to explain but in a nutshell unlimted bandwith is impossible, as someone is paying for it at the end of the day. If you are a small site, you can get away with what may seem to be unlimted bandwith, as you are not using enough to trouble the ISP. They are absorbing your cost. However, if you site becomes big, and you begin to put a strain on the resources the ISP has, your unlimited bandwidth will suddenly become VERY limited, and all kinds of terms and conditions will come into play.

My advice is to get an ISP where the rules are clear. IE. you are told how much bandwidth you have, how much storage you have, and what happens if either of those 2 allocations are exceeded. You then know exactly where you stand, and so does the ISP.

Hope that helps

 

[CrashNet]

Originally posted by wdwmagic
That is exactly right Bagheera... bandwidth is the big charge.

Hosting in a nutshell works like this:

1. The webserver
2. The data storage system
3. Electricity
4. Bandwidth

The bandwidth is the amount of data....

.....where you stand, and so does the ISP.

Hope that helps

That helps a lot. However, I just want to make sure I understand one thing. Hypothetically speaking, if I bought a server and sat it in my house, and used that server for my website, is it my ISP that would charge me for bandwidth on top of the fees I pay for the service? Basically, would I be paying for bandwidth if I actually owned the server and it wasn't in a datacenter, but in my house. I realize they are VERY expensive, but I was just curious how that works. You may have already answered my question, but I just wanted to make sure. Thanks again for explaining Steve!

 

[Lovecraft]

Most ISP's do not allow running a server from your home on a non-commercial plan.

You can get and set up a server very inexpensivly though using Linux -- and, if you have a static IP with your ISP .. and you run the proper software to block your ISP's port scans...