Questions on which

[Tony]

I am in search for a new host because the one I'm with now dosen't offer ssh on their shared plans. I think I should move now before my forums get to big and I have time now too. I was looking at the medium plan aso offers. But I don't know if I am still good on a shared plan or should I go with one of their vps plans?

Here is some stat's
Threads: 6,281, Posts: 71,503, Members: 2,061
130 MB disk space used, traffic used last month 9.10Gb
Server Load Averages3.14 5.25 5.62

[ChrisLM2001]

How many are online at one time?

Load averages on a shared server aren't very accurate for you (on a dedicated it will be).

Chris

[KingSpade]

It would really depend on how many users you have online at any given time. I've seen plenty of forums with 2,000+ members only have a handful of members online at a time and never need to rise above shared hosting.

A general rule of thumb is to consider an upgrade if you are moving between 50-150 users online at a time. Now this is not to say that you need to move to a dedicated server, though if you are reaching this many, VPS/Semi-Dedicated is the next step up.

Another general rule is to plan ahead so you don't have to move again in the next 2-4 months. If you do not yet have 50-150 users online at a time, but you think that your going to get some large traffic spike and it will happen in the near future, it's best to go ahead with the upgrade and be prepared.

[Tony]

Average User online at one time can be from 30 to 50.

[KingSpade]

Most shared environments should be able to hold 30 users online, unless they are working up major activity. At 50 users, your bit inbetween shared and VPS.

Are you simply moving because they do not offer SSH or is it a combination of SSH and load?

[rh2004]

What is the timeout on the online stats

[Tony]

My reason for moving is because I don't have ssh. Everything seems fine with the site where I am other than no ssh. And now that I have been looking at other hosts I see alot offer more for the same price or less then what I am paying. I had been on ventureonlines shared server with ssh until about the time vb 3. came out. Data 393 which had bought venturesonline out a while back said I need to upgrade my plan, which involed me moving on there shared server. And at the time I didn't know that they didn't offer ssh on the shared servers. Thats pretty much where I stand now, not knowing where to go from here.



What is the timeout on the online stats How do I find that out?

[Joshs]

VPS is not necessarily better than shared hosting. It depends on what dedicated server resources you get. In a lot of cases, Shared hosting rules superior to VPS because you can "burst" resources on the full CPU, RAM, etc.

With 30-50 users online, you should be OK with a shared host.

[rh2004]

Admin CP > vBulletin Options > Cookies

[Tony]

Admin CP > vBulletin Options > CookiesTime out for cookies is 1800. If I remember right I had up this limit when I was running vb2 because some members couldn't write their post in time.


When you have x amount of people on your forums, is that covered by bandwidth. Like a certin amount of bandwidth covers so many people or no.

[TygerTyger]

To a certain extent, but it depends on so many variables you can only give a ballpark figure for bandwidth usage. If you have a lot of attachments for instance, you'll use proportionally a lot more. Some hacks/mods will add to bandwidth usage as well, and possibly resource usage.

Give yourself a decent bit of leeway above and beyond what your bandwidth usage is now, and take into account that your forum will (hopefully!) grow. Personally I'd add 25% on to what you're using now if not more just to be on the safe side because you'll either be charged for bandwidth used above your allottment, or your site will be suspended. Depends on the host's policy.

Your bandwidth usage is really quite low, so don't be tempted for those budget hosts that seem to offer a huge amount for very little. You don't even remotely need it all, so you'd do well to pay a little bit more and get something good to cover the resource usage instead.

[ChrisLM2001]

My reason for moving is because I don't have ssh.

On a shared server most hosts won't allow SSH access (too much abuse). If they do allow it, they want photocopies that's notorized of your driver's license, social security # and other personal data, just in case.

If you need SSH, just get a VPS account. It'll give you more customization features as well -- and you can experiment with loads, and other neat things.

Chris

[TygerTyger]

Not so, I allow SSH without personal info. If you're on a small enough scale to keep a decent track of what's going on, there's no need. It also is mostly discouraged among hosts with fairly crowded servers because SSH uses a fair old whack of resources, and they're worried about getting bogged under with too many users doing it. Hence asking for personal info, it's more a discouraging tactic than anything. What difference does a photocopy of a passport make to the chances of abuse? None whatsoever, besides which they already have your personal information when you signed up. So they are in essence asking for a photocopy of what they already know, if it's good enough to pass funds why isn't it good enough for SSH? Now you know ;)

Hence why some hosts don't offer it at all, and some only offer it on more expensive accounts. It's not really possible unless the server is well-paced.

Have a look over at webhostingtalk.com and ask about SSH hosts, it's not exactly a niche for small sites, but the primary use of SSH is for larger sites so there are fewer hosts that offer it for small sites as standard.

[ChrisLM2001]

It's mostly due to security issues, not resources (thus they request the personal info, as one mistake can cause grief to hundreds of owners).

This [i]is a shared server, not a VPS or dedicated.

Chris

[TygerTyger]

It's mostly due to security issues, not resources (thus they request the personal info, as one mistake can cause grief to hundreds of owners).

This [I]is a shared server, not a VPS or dedicated.

Chris

What, you don't give any personal information when you sign up to a hosting account before/without SSH?

[ChrisLM2001]

That's not the issue. Protecting property is.

Chris

[TygerTyger]

So how does knowing your social security number (given that they already know more or less everything else when you sign up to hosting) help with security? I know what you're saying the issue is, that's why I'm asking you to explain for me :)

[ChrisLM2001]

More physical verification (than an stale credit report) ensures that Mr. Smoo does actually live in Timbuktu, and not Mars. ;)

Chris

[TygerTyger]

I see. Because of course, a host will accept any old bank details and signup IP addresses when a customer starts hosting with them? They won't check if the customer is really in the country they say they are, or who they say they are, or if the banking details match the personal information given? They only begin to consider security with SSH ;)

Not saying you're wrong, I just don't see what a huge difference it makes. It might help after the event, but otherwise it's no more than a deterrent at best.

[ChrisLM2001]

It makes a big difference when some script kiddie (or worse, a blackhat) wants that access to snoop around and cause trouble. A bad thing about having such access is they can snoop, and snoop on settings that isn't their business (shared servers SHARE info).

So hosts will naturally be more inclined to cover their butt, incase Joe Smoo does some tom foolery, and takes down a site that has an owner with a lawyer on retainer. These penny ante web hosts don't have the capital to fight it in court (why they often take no action on "First Amendment" cases; they get a "reminder" from an attorney over XYZ site, and they make the site owner comply or flick them off their server).

Chris

[Joshs]

It makes a big difference when some script kiddie (or worse, a blackhat) wants that access to snoop around and cause trouble. A bad thing about having such access is they can snoop, and snoop on settings that isn't their business (shared servers SHARE info).

So hosts will naturally be more inclined to cover their butt, incase Joe Smoo does some tom foolery, and takes down a site that has an owner with a lawyer on retainer. These penny ante web hosts don't have the capital to fight it in court (why they often take no action on "First Amendment" cases; they get a "reminder" from an attorney over XYZ site, and they make the site owner comply or flick them off their server).

Chris

Ditto.

We only offer jailcell ssh access and thoroughly confirm customer accounts before activation. If someone wants SSH access, we require that an acceptable form of ID be put on file and a reason for the SSH be provided. Only something like 1.5% of our customers have SSH access.