Host needed for a 150-simultaneous user Vbulletin forum

[Stachel]

Hi vBulletin experts,

I'm looking for a host for a 150 simultanous user vBulletin forum. This forum will be running vBulletin 3.0 gold + PhotoPost 4.7.

Would like a host that:

1) Is already managing servers that run several large (~100 simultaneous users) vBulletin forums that are showing good response times. This proves they have been through the learning curve of what that involves.

2) Has a forum themselves. This increases accountability and makes finding config tricks for their environment lots easier.

3) Provides a report for me to track server response times over time. Members saying "the forum seems slow" will make my head explode if I have nothing to baseline the complaint against.

I'd really prefer a managed server environment for everything besides the vBulletin and PhotoPost. I've done those installs / configs and think I can get through it myself more or less. For the rest, I don't have the skills or the time to do that really well.

Stachel

[neo|d3fx]

http://www.dreamdorks.com

full vbulletin and GD2.0 support. :)

[Joshs]

You might want to take a look at a dedicated server...

www.servermaxtrix.com

[SaintDog]

Are you looking to have 150 online all the time, some of the time or only during peak periods?

[Stachel]

Saintdog,

Peak times maybe twice a day will be 150 users simultaneous.
More often 75 users simultaneous.
I'd like to stay with the same machine / config for 1 year.


JoshS,

I've read lots of your very helpful posts here, and copied lots of them into my notes. Also thanks to the Steve Machol person for all of his really clear and helpful responses.

Am trying to figure out system configs now - what I should be asking the shortlist to quote. Am going to make some calls this afternoon.

But I'd rather be skinning!! I think the skinning part of vBulletin is pretty fascinating. I've never quilted, but it seems like the electronic equivalent of quilting, the way it all fits together. Maybe putting together a Puzzle of a Picasso would be a better analogy.

In any event, I'm making myself STOP doing that and do this hosting research stuff instead. I want to make some phone calls this afternoon.

Stachel