Blogging, Wordpress, and CPU/Resource usage!

[furrycat]

Hello Everyone,

I am new to the world of webhosting and all the technically complex stuff that goes along with it. I am a blathering idiot when it comes to this kind of stuff. So please excuse me for my ignorance.

First of all, I spent some time researching for a good webhost that would allow me to create a blog with an auto-install of wordpress and had a good reputation. I chose dreamhost. However, just one day afterwards, I was warned that was a bad move. I did MORE research and realized that dreamhost, bluehost, and many others have SEVERE restrictions on CPU usage so all of their claims of one terabyte of transfer allowence are basically untrue.

Many bloggers using wordpress or other pieces of software using a similiar database are having horrible, repeat horrible, problems. The problem is they sign up for an account they think will have enough bandwidth. Then after only utilizing a tiny fraction of it their accounts are suspended because they are using up too many resources on the server. This is a huge problem many people are having.

So I started looking for an alternative to dreamhost. I spent hours making phone calls and chatting with various providers. Either they had horrible restrictions like dreamhost (only allowing 60 cpu minutes of time a day per shared account) or would not give a clear answer.

Finally, I found out about hostgator. With hostgator (unless you are using bandwidth intensive chats, games, or other programs that are restricted) you can utilize up to 25 percent of the resources of the host computer non-stop 24 horus a day with no other restrictions on resource usage. Please tell me if this is incorrect. When it comes to CPU usage HOSTGATOR has the BEST policy for shared accounts ANYWHERE! If of course they are serious about it.

Now, this is my question. I plan on using wordpress to build a blog and I am giong to try to make it a popular one. I know it will not become a slashdot over night. But how can I use WORDPRESS in such a way to avoid using up over 25 of the servers resources.

I do NOT know much about wordpress and am technologically an idiot. So could any of you give me detailed instructions on how to avoid having my account suspended by hostgator while utilizing WORDPRESS because I plan on making my blog a popular one want to get the absolute most out of my shared account.

I have head using the wp-cache plug-in can help reduce cpu time and resource usage. What other suggestions or instructions do you have?

Hostgator, I plan on making my blog as successful as it can be, so if you can give me any suggestions to prevent any problems that may occur due to resource usage with the WORDPRESS product please let me know.

So far the customer service of Hostgator has been GREAT and FAR better than any of the other hosting providers I have spoken to.

Thanks so much!

Sincerely,
William

[Serra]

First, HostGator doesn't do the bait and switch thing. If you have XXX amount of space and XXX amount of bandwidth, you can use it without any problems, they aren't going to toss you because you used your bandwidth. In fact, I think you can actually buy more if you use it up. (don't quote me on that).

However, HG does have some fairly strict rules about database usage. Specifically, you can only have 25 open connections max. In your case, this is going to be a problem, as it will limit you to about 300-500 users online at any one time. Also, in the shared enviroment, they will suspend your account without notice if you exceed the TOS cpu usage. Both of these would be bad.

The connections max would cause your blog to display an error message. Note, you will not be suspended for using more that 25, your users will just get a connection message. Bad, but not suspended bad.

The suspension would be a nightmare, as it takes about 4-7 days to get unsuspended once you notice you've been suspended. (You should be notified, but many claim they weren't. Also, you will not be warned, just suspended)

In other words, you aren't going to run a popular blog using a $6.00 a month shared account, even if you keep it under the storage/bandwidth limits.

HG does offer a good solution, which is the semi-dedicated account. Very few restrictions on those accounts, you would be free to be as popular as you wanted. That would work until you just became too much for the account, either brough the machine to its knees or ran out of bandwidth.

You might start with a shared account, but if you can afford it, start with the semi-dedicated.

[furrycat]

The longer I research and the more information I get from friendly people like yourself Serra the more depressed I become.

Less than a week ago I purchased an account at dreamhost but did not use it and went with hostgator because of dreamhosts 60 cpu minute rule. Now, you have told me that I will be severely limited with a shared account for various reasons.

To be honest, I am very confused. I don't even know or have a feel for the ranges of popularity and the demands they put on a server (usage and transfer). So I really don't know what I will need.

And are you serious they would not give me ANY notice if I went over the 25 percent of server usage? None whatsoever? I have heard of dreamhost putting people on evaluation servers if their rules are broken. But for hostgator to just suspend you all together sounds like a total nightmare from hades. I can understand a warning and after a few days if you do nothing they suspend your account, but not with no warning at all.

With a semidedicated server what would the exact rules be? If I am to consider that option I would like to know exactly what they are going to allow. I don't really think I can afford one, but it looks like I might have to go that way.

Additionally, regardless of what I do (stay with shared, semi, or dedicated) how can I optimize wordpress to cause less cpu and resource usage? I have heard wp-cache plug in can help. Do you have any other suggestions? Do you know how wp-cache works by any chance? I have heard it generates a static page for the viewer of your blog.

Does this mean that the 25 connection limit could be bypassed with wp-cache?

Here is a link

http://weblogtoolscollection.com/pluginwiki/index.php?title=WP-Cache

could this program bypass that limit?

I really appreciate any help all of you can provide.

Sincerely,
Willaim

[Serra]

The longer I research and the more information I get from friendly people like yourself Serra the more depressed I become.

Don't get depressed. Just know that shared accounts are NOT good for high volume websites, at any host.


Less than a week ago I purchased an account at dreamhost but did not use it and went with hostgator because of dreamhosts 60 cpu minute rule. Now, you have told me that I will be severely limited with a shared account for various reasons.

HostGator doesn't appear to do anything like that. I get the impression that is a reaction type thing. The server gets bogged down, they look why and if they see your account eating CPU, you get suspended.



To be honest, I am very confused. I don't even know or have a feel for the ranges of popularity and the demands they put on a server (usage and transfer). So I really don't know what I will need.

As I said, you can start with the shared account and see what happens. As the site gets busier, just check with support and have them look and see how your site is doing.


And are you serious they would not give me ANY notice if I went over the 25 percent of server usage? None whatsoever?

Not 25 percent usage, I didn't mean to imply that. They suspend for 90% usage for more than 30 seconds. (or something along those lines). And yes, no warning.


I have heard of dreamhost putting people on evaluation servers if their rules are broken. But for hostgator to just suspend you all together sounds like a total nightmare from hades. I can understand a warning and after a few days if you do nothing they suspend your account, but not with no warning at all.

Actually, HG moves you to a dedicated server, but it takes up to 24 hours for the change to propagate, so effectively, the site is off line without warning.


With a semidedicated server what would the exact rules be? If I am to consider that option I would like to know exactly what they are going to allow. I don't really think I can afford one, but it looks like I might have to go that way.
As far as I know, the rule I heard was "Don't bring the machine down." If you do that, you are suspended. Other than that, the only other problem you might have is bandwidth, which you can monitor. I'm fairly sure at some point you would out grow that account and be forced to move to a full dedicated server, but I think that would be more of a helpful move than a suspention. I've NEVER heard on anyone on a semidedicated account being suspended.


Additionally, regardless of what I do (stay with shared, semi, or dedicated) how can I optimize wordpress to cause less cpu and resource usage? I have heard wp-cache plug in can help. Do you have any other suggestions? Do you know how wp-cache works by any chance? I have heard it generates a static page for the viewer of your blog.

Does this mean that the 25 connection limit could be bypassed with wp-cache?

Here is a link

http://weblogtoolscollection.com/pluginwiki/index.php?title=WP-Cache

could this program bypass that limit?

There is NO way around the limit and I doubt that using a cache would help because once you get up into that range, your going to be taking resources that will get you suspended. Cache takes memory and that is another area that can get you in trouble on a shared server. I think you are limited to a specific amount of memory per process.

Most of the suspensions I've seen have been the result of scripts that have gone nuts or sites that are simply too big to be on a shared account. Shared accounts are geared toward sites that see a moderate amount of traffic, with few peaks in traffic. Those with heavy database operations or traffic spikes don't really belong in the shared environment. Basically, for $6.00 a month, you need to have a normal website. For $78.00 a month, you can go crazy, but you need to pay for the craziness with the higher fee.

Please don't take this the wrong way, HG isn't sitting around waiting to suspend your site so they can get you to upgrade, they are actually very nice about that kind of stuff. However, on the shared server, there is little room for compromise at any hosting company. Once you get out of the shared environment into the semi-dedicated, then HG is a completely different company, very helpful and very nice to work with. Support people can be a little dense some times, but that is the same every where.

HG is very flexible with their shared servers and the 25 connection limit is there to protect other users, not to punish you.

I think you would be at home at HG, but you need to watch your site and communicate with support so you don't have any big shocks.