Feedback... why I can't use Host Gator.

[csgo]

We're a small ISP that want's to stop buying circuits and managing servers. About 100 domains. We want to make the transition to a third party host as seamless and transparent as possible for our customers.

There are two issues that absolutely prevent us from using Host Gator.

#1 Overselling. We currently don't use a lot of bandwidth, but we would be forced by Host Gator to divide the available bandwidth between all domains. We can't do that. We do not limit our customers bandwidth. This would not be a problem in total, but the number of domains would force us to put what appears to be very tight limits one each domain. Unacceptable.

#2 Email virus filtering. I find it hard to belieive that there are any providers that fail to scan for viruses. Even the FREE services do basic virus filtering. I believe it is both neglegent and incompetent to not scan for viruses. Unacceptable.

This narrows our list. The reputation of Host Gator had me leaning in that direction, but now it seems Mosso is where we're going to go. Mosso has had their share of downtime, but I just don't know of a good alternative.

Suggestions appreciated, and I hope my feedback is welcomed here.

Thanks,
-Joe

[esl]

Hello csgo,
I am sorry you have decided to move your hosting else ware.

1) Overselling
HostGator does not allow overselling for the well being of their clients. Overselling can result in unwanted situations when the server gets filled up and accounts have to be moved else ware. This can cause an inconvenience for other paying customers. I am sorry if you feel this in unacceptable.

2) Email Virus Filtering
HostGator provides you with powerful spam filtering for free, and shared hosting with what I consider "generous" amounts of storage for a small price. I am not aware of many cPanel hosts and reseller hosts that provide a virus scanning feature. Perhaps you could encourage your clients to download a virus scanner to their computers. I beg to differ your comment that you believe HostGator is both "neglegent and incompetent" because they do not scan for viruses. I believe that if your clients take the appropriate precautions and not open attachments on mail that gets through the available spam filters, they will be just fine. This is just my opinion, we are all entitled to one.

In the future, please remember to look at the different threads, as this one is more fit for the Suggestions thread. Good luck with your search for a host, csgo.

[kmaw]

I agree with esl.

But.... If you're an ISP with 100 domains, I can't believe you would even consider shared hosting instead of going with a dedicated server.

With that route, you can oversell as much as you like and implement whatever anti-virus and SPAM tools you like, as all of us have. It's only in the shared and reseller plans that you have the above limitations.

Enjoy Mosso... should be good if it's a Rackspace company.

Originally Posted by kmaw

I agree with esl.

But.... If you're an ISP with 100 domains, I can't believe you would even consider shared hosting instead of going with a dedicated server.

With that route, you can oversell as much as you like and implement whatever anti-virus and SPAM tools you like, as all of us have. It's only in the shared and reseller plans that you have the above limitations.

Enjoy Mosso... should be good if it's a Rackspace company.

Hit the nail on the head with this one. If you are an existing company with over 100 domains then I highly suggest you go with one of our dedicated servers. You can oversell to the sky, and install any kind of virus or spam protection you'd like. If you need any further details, or even a custom quote please PM me and I can help you out.

[slapshotw]

I agree with kmaw and GatorJay. Go with the dedicated, and oversell and virus scan to your heart's content.

[charlesgan]

hostgator dedicated server have overselling features... cool.
actualy i bump across few that asking for this overselling features, and i couldn't recommend them to HG at that time.

any special request to have the overselling ON ??

[slapshotw]

It's just a checkbox in WHM. When you setup a reseller you can either allow overselling or not.

[gtgeorge]

Originally Posted by slapshotw

It's just a checkbox in WHM. When you setup a reseller you can either allow overselling or not.

Exactly, but you have to question the desire to come in with over 100 domains as a reseller? Being able to oversell as a reseller would give them an advantage to make more money, but unfortunately drive up the cost of the reseller plans due to more resources being used by most accounts which = less reseller accounts per server.

But as for the email virus scanning, I have never understood why HG doesn't offer it. It was one of the 1st requirements we felt necessary to offer and do so. Perhaps a suggestion for it is in order for those on shared or reseller accounts?

[joemailey]

Problem with virus scanning is.

Hostgator doesn't need to scan your e-mails for virus's no point for them doing it.

All anti virus software does that for you on your own PC. thus saving HG money and keeping the plans lower. Also taken load of the mail servers. as there's no constant scanning going on.(lets face it spam n virus scanning constantly on X amount of accounts it will drive oup Processor useage.)

[gtgeorge]

Originally Posted by joemailey

Problem with virus scanning is.

Hostgator doesn't need to scan your e-mails for virus's no point for them doing it.

All anti virus software does that for you on your own PC. thus saving HG money and keeping the plans lower. Also taken load of the mail servers. as there's no constant scanning going on.(lets face it spam n virus scanning constantly on X amount of accounts it will drive oup Processor useage.)

I have to disagree as in the end it actually reduces loads. We employ virus scanning and it prevents uneeded dloads of viruses, keeps users from sending viruses and what about those users that get infected with a virus and send thousands of viruses a day. I think all this can equal to server load also.

[Serra]

Originally Posted by gtgeorge

I have to disagree as in the end it actually reduces loads.

I can't agree. I don't think there is any that virus scanning doesn't, in the end, increase load on the server. Email itself is a huge load causer and I'd say that not processing emails by use of :fail: is about the only way to reduce load. Anything else is going to increase load.

I also don't agree that a mail server shouldn't block viruses. Many people do not run virus scanners on the PCs or have free crap ones or ones that are out of date. Users can not be trusted to scan for viruses. By scanning for them you are providing a service that they need!

[slapshotw]

Originally Posted by gtgeorge

Exactly, but you have to question the desire to come in with over 100 domains as a reseller?

I agree, the better solution for this person is clearly their own box.

[ldearing]

i hope joe checks back on his post...you've addressed very well his specific issues and turned it to exactly why he should use HG dedi and configure it his way

[riostyles]

Originally Posted by csgo

#1 Overselling. We currently don't use a lot of bandwidth, but we would be forced by Host Gator to divide the available bandwidth between all domains. We can't do that. We do not limit our customers bandwidth. This would not be a problem in total, but the number of domains would force us to put what appears to be very tight limits one each domain. Unacceptable.

I agree with you and desagree with esl on this point.
Why I agree with you. In my reseller account I can not use more disk and bandwith as allocated but I hate to have weekly to take out a piece of disk from here to put him there. I feel not being in my store.
Why I siagree with esl: not being able to use more HD or BW as allocated, explain me where I can create trouble.
Opposed example: You create a addon domain without having to set limits. the limits are the domain limits. So, a shared can do what a reseller can't

[GvilleRick]

I worked fir a host that had overselling turned on for a while. There were a few tickets submitted where one of the reseller's clients used a huge amount of bandwidth and as a result every client in the reseller's account was suspended even though they did not use the bandwidth they were allotted.

Your example of add-on domains is comparing apples and oranges. If your main domain and all add-on domains go over the limit the whole account will be suspended, regardless of which domain used the bandwidth.

Overselling can work fine but requires more monitoring by the reseller to prevent problems and when problems come it usually will affect all of the accounts, not just the bandwidth hog.

[Goddess Dix]

Originally Posted by csgo

We're a small ISP that want's to stop buying circuits and managing servers. About 100 domains. We want to make the transition to a third party host as seamless and transparent as possible for our customers.

There are two issues that absolutely prevent us from using Host Gator.

#1 Overselling. We currently don't use a lot of bandwidth, but we would be forced by Host Gator to divide the available bandwidth between all domains. We can't do that. We do not limit our customers bandwidth. This would not be a problem in total, but the number of domains would force us to put what appears to be very tight limits one each domain. Unacceptable.

#2 Email virus filtering. I find it hard to belieive that there are any providers that fail to scan for viruses. Even the FREE services do basic virus filtering. I believe it is both neglegent and incompetent to not scan for viruses. Unacceptable.

joe- i cannot imagine even considering hosting 100 accounts on a reseller setup. a standard dedicated costs a little over $200/month at this writing. for that, you can configure things to your hearts content with the software and environement you want. at hq, that's a MANAGED solution cost, so anything beyond routine admin, you can have hg support fix up for you.

on overselling on a shared box, you have to remember you are not the only person overselling, so your resources on the box are overtaxed. yes, you save some money, but you wouldn't be able to provide the service you wanted. and anyplace with downtime issues, it's going to end up costing you a lot more in support and stress than the extra cash you'd lay out for a dedicated server anyway.

over the last several years, i've tried probably 5 -10 different webhosts. i've had reseller accounts, oversold accounts, not oversold accounts, blah blah blah. sick of the shuffle, days of downtime, poor/antagonistic support, incomplete communication and just plain ol' being ignroed, when i was looking for a host this time, i paid attention to reputation for support because that's the bottom line in a service-oriented business. while hg support isn't perfect, it is consistently the best i've encounted in my hosting travels. and hands down, after i got my dedicated box, i knew i'll never go back to reseller accounts. it's too much better.

don't cheap out! get your clients a dedicated box, get configserver.com to set you all up with your email-virus scanning, and enjoy the benefits of giving your clients what they need.



good luck!

[slapshotw]

Let's not turn this into an overselling vs. not debate. There's plenty of reseller hosts that to both and it's not hard to find ones that enable overselling. I used to be on one; they had constant downtime.

The fact is that with 200 domains and a need to oversell, a dedicated is the clear solution for this person.

[esl]

Originally Posted by slapshotw

Let's not turn this into an overselling vs. not debate. There's plenty of reseller hosts that to both and it's not hard to find ones that enable overselling. I used to be on one; they had constant downtime.

Thank you slapshotw.

Hello riostyles,

Please search overselling. If you would like to share your opinion with me about overselling, please PM me. This thread is not about overselling.

http://forums.hostgator.com/showthread.php?t=17073
http://forums.hostgator.com/showthread.php?t=13085
http://forums.hostgator.com/showthread.php?t=2424

[Goddess Dix]

Originally Posted by slapshotw

Let's not turn this into an overselling vs. not debate. There's plenty of reseller hosts that to both and it's not hard to find ones that enable overselling. I used to be on one; they had constant downtime.

The fact is that with 200 domains and a need to oversell, a dedicated is the clear solution for this person.

actually, he said 100 domains , although i agree dedicated is clearly the most sensible route here.

on a dedicated, there is no issue with overselling your own resources in my mind-it's your job to see to it that you don't oversell to the point of hurting your service. it's when you have multiple resellers overselling on the same box that you get issues with the resources being overtaxed, with the overall health of the server the box owner's problem instead of the resellers, who can easily say, "I pay my $24.95 a month, so fix it." i don't consider overselling bad; there is just a time and place for it.

[Serra]

Originally Posted by riostyles

Why I agree with you. In my reseller account I can not use more disk and bandwith as allocated but I hate to have weekly to take out a piece of disk from here to put him there. I feel not being in my store.

Don't confuse not being able to make adjustment to account allocations with the ability to oversell. Those are different. You can't oversell and for some reason, you an adjust package sizes. Those are different issues.