Which HG dedicated server plan?

[idrum]

We currently have a site (hosted elsewhere) in a shared environment and need to move to a dedicated server. We run a Perl-based software package that creates/manages multiple ecommerce-enabled web sites.

We've got about 500 client sites on that one site and performance is becoming a nagging issue. The way forward is to move from a shared hosting environment and go dedicated. We're also looking to create/manage 100 to 150 client sites per dedicated server (so our current 500 sites would be moved to several dedicated servers).

HG offers just two dedicated server packages: The Basic and the Pro. I've read other recent posts on this forum deriding the Basic package (these posts are from long-time and very active and respected forum members).

Just wondering if others would comment, especially someone on the HG staff.

Is the Basic package not even worth looking at? Is Pro really the only way to go for what we're considering?

Thanks in advance.

[Serra]

(these posts are from long-time and very active and respected forum members).

Sorry, you'll have to hear more from me...

I can tell you without a doubt that a basic machine will have a problem with 500 accounts, my basic was unable to keep up with 100 accounts, (5 xcart sites, 95 php/html sites) and mailscanner. I don't just mean a little, tomowa will verify that the machine was SLOW, his accounts, which were very nice html sites wouldn't load quickly at all.

I moved to a pro level server and its like night and day. My server never gets above 1.0, normally its at .1 and .2. (with 7 xcart sites, 100+ html sites, 2 heavy mySQL sites, an image heavy site and running about 3 gig of mail a day).

The pro server IS the way for you to go.

[tomowa]

moved to a pro level server and its like night and day

Yea, it was night and day alright

[idrum]

Thanks Serra! No problem hearing from you again - I enjoy your posts immensely, always learning a ton from you!

Based on what you said here (and previously), we will go with the HG Pro package.

Still, two questions:

1. Generally speaking, is there a way to accurately determine what server specs you need for a given type/purpose/usage of web site?

2. You mentioned in your 12-27-06 post about the 3060 server you got at ev1servers for $199/month. The HG Pro dedi server is $374/month.

As I mentioned in my original post in this thread, we will need more than one dedi server, so we might look at a more intermediate solution... Is the 3060 server you've got comparable to the current HG Pro configuration?

And since we don't want to get involved with managing the server, we would look to go with a mgmt company, e.g. Platinum Server Management for $29/month ( so $199/month plus $29/month = $228/month .. a far cry from another HG Pro box at $374/month )! Would that be a good "intermediate" solution?

Thanks for any light you can shed on this!

[Serra]

Originally Posted by idrum

1. Generally speaking, is there a way to accurately determine what server specs you need for a given type/purpose/usage of web site?

No, not really. Servers are hard to guage.

Originally Posted by idrum

2. You mentioned in your 12-27-06 post about the 3060 server you got at ev1servers for $199/month. The HG Pro dedi server is $374/month.

As I mentioned in my original post in this thread, we will need more than one dedi server, so we might look at a more intermediate solution... Is the 3060 server you've got comparable to the current HG Pro configuration?

Hardware wise, its just slightly less powerful than the HG pro model, but close enough to be comparable.

Originally Posted by idrum

And since we don't want to get involved with managing the server, we would look to go with a mgmt company, e.g. Platinum Server Management for $29/month ( so $199/month plus $29/month = $228/month .. a far cry from another HG Pro box at $374/month )! Would that be a good "intermediate" solution?

Hardware wise, I'd say yes. Support wise, I'd say no. Platinum Server Management is a far cry from HostGator's managed support people. Lets face it, how much service can $29.00 a month buy you? I mean that is about 1/3 of an hour of the paycheck of the guy doing the work. Plus, 6 hour response time is very slow, HostGator is normally between about 10 minutes and 4 hours (on a bad day). Plus, HostGator support is dedicated, meaning they know everything about their machines, PSM manages tons of machines, so each one is different. They are simply not experts on your machine.

Yes, the price difference of $146.00 a month is very attractive, but YOU will be managing the box(s), not PSM. You will call them when something is wrong and they will take care of it. With Hostgator, you can expect things to be a little more interactive and the quality of work to be higher, faster and smarter. (a plus is that it will be in English).

I guess the difference and the main reason I was able to go to EV1 is that I'm willing and able to manage my own box. I simply didn't need HostGator any more and I found that I was constantly thinking I could do the same thing myself, faster and cheaper. I'd guess that condition is rare, most people "think" they can manage their own box or get a third party to do it, but it just isn't true. The one thing that I was never, ever told by HostGator was that something on my box was MY fault or that I had installed something that they didn't deal with. (even when it really was). They were constantly able to pull my butt out of the fire and I doubt PSM will be willing or able to do that for $29.00 a month.

So, the short story is that, yes, you will save $146.00 a month (per box) on an unmanaged server with management company, but you will not be getting the same level of service, not hardly. So if you are willing to learn everything about your server and manage your management company, then go for it, save the money, but if you want to run your business, not your boxes, HostGator is a far better solution and the price difference is very small, considering what you get.

If you are buying two boxes, give it the ultimate test, get one of each and see in 6 months if I'm right or not.

[idrum]

Wow - excellent!!!

Many, many thanks Serra! You've lent tremendous insight and have been a huge help as we navigate the dark waters of dedi servers and the myriad of options available.

Thanks again!