Need Server Advice

[pgowder]

I'm currently on a Raq4 with 512 MB with RackShack.

My loads are creeping up to high levels during the day. I average about 40-50 users online. My site also has PhotoPost, Hubz, DigiChat, AdCycle and other custom PHP scripts running. My loads for example are:

7.28, 3.90, 3.74

That's right now.

So I'm looking at moving to another RackShack server.

I know my problem on the Raq is the slow processor. But what should I be looking for in a new server?

Right now RackShack has deals on Celeron 1.3 and a P4 1.7.

Go for the P4??

How about Plesk or Ensim?

Thanks for the advice!

[eva2000]

what's your budget ? you do realise rackshacks servers are unmanaged ?

i recommend

P4 with plesk if you had to only choose from those

P4 with cpanel would be better for a novice (probably saying that as i have more experience with cpanel myself)

[pgowder]

I need to be in the $99-$150/month range.

What is CPanel?

[orca]

You can see a demo at http://www.cpanel.net or http://www.venturesonline.com

It's a webbased panel to administer your server. Webhost Manager is to add sites etc. It's a real good tool and easy to use. I'd recommend it b4 Plesk

[pgowder]

So I could just get a Red Hat server without Plesk or Ensim and put CPanel on it?

[pgowder]

Hmm, just looked at that site and CPanel is $1000??

Little out of my price range!

[eva2000]

Originally posted by pgowder
Hmm, just looked at that site and CPanel is $1000??

Little out of my price range! cpanel is normally rented for a monthly fee i.e. http://effectonline.com/cpanel.php

[pgowder]

Thanks, but $100 per month is still out of my price range!

[kippesp]

Our provider gave us a free tool called WebMin (http://www.webmin.com/).

I don't ever use it, but perhaps that would be an alternative.

[ccd1]

You could save some space, resources and cash if you manage your server without Cpanel, Plesk or Ensim.

[orca]

And depending which hosting company you choose, Cpanel is included (e.g. Sterlet.net)

[pgowder]

Thanks but Sterlet looks like it is out of my budget also.

I'd like to get a plain Red Hat box, but I do have some users that host with me that need a CP.

Are there other CP's?

[zonegray]

Webmin on a plain RedHat system is good for basic hosting of a few domains. I tried it, though, and there was an awful lot of setup that had to be done... even though I'm an experienced Linux admin, it was more than I felt like doing (hey, I do this crap all day, damned if I wanna configure servers after hours). But if you just need to set up a couple of virtual web sites and e-mail domains, it'll work.

I use a Plesk system at Rackshack, and overall I'm very happy with it. It does have some limitations, mostly if you decide you need to upgrade some component... sometimes you just have to wait for Plesk to issue an upgrade or get into some heavy compiling/configuring. I've avoided that, and been able to stay current enough with the Plesk updates and the various security workarounds in the interim.

But what I really like about Plesk is that it gives you a whole lot of functionality that you hadn't thought about... quotas on bandwidth and disk space, automatically generated web stats, web mail, all that kind of stuff. I looked at what would be involved in configurin' all that stuff and said the heck with it.

Rackshack is pretty good, though you're on your own with server admin. Their community-support forums are excellent. They also offer Ensim as a control panel, which maybe isn't as good, but it does have more user activity in the forum than Plesk, so it's worth considering for that.

[pgowder]

Thanks for the advice!

[adrianchew]

I haven't used Plesk, but have used Cpanel as a user and seen the full Ensim set of control panels.

From a user only perspective, Cpanel is a whole lot easier to deal with, but Cpanel's basic setup is designed for POP email (neomail) while Ensim uses IMAP email (squirrelmail), which I prefer. Cpanel sets a user up with Webazlier, Ensim gives you some customized stats based on analog? Its easy enough to add in Webalizer though, customizing Ensim a little.

Ensim sub-domains are a pain in some ways... use the mod_rewrite hack or create seperate sites for sub-domains. They really need to built proper sub-domain support, better control of re-directions, etc into the site level CP (what a user of a domain site would see).

[kippesp]

Came across this provider today that is running a special to throw in CPanel if one signs up by Sept. 30th. CPanel would certainly be my choice if I were to require an admin interface. http://flohost.com/dedicated.php

[walter]

Originally posted by adrianchew
Cpanel's basic setup is designed for POP email (neomail) while Ensim uses IMAP email (squirrelmail), which I prefer. Cpanel sets a user up with Webazlier, Ensim gives you some customized stats based on analog

Analog usually is included with Cpanel, and the latest version of Cpanel (5) supports IMAP, too.

[pgowder]

So most people prefer Plesk over Ensim?

[eva2000]

Originally posted by pgowder
So most people prefer Plesk over Ensim? well i do... not sure if that accounts for most people though

[ccd1]

I prefer just SSH access, much easier and doesn't use up all the space and resources.

[pgowder]

Is Plesk worth the extra $10/month and the extra $100 setup fee?

[zonegray]

Originally posted by pgowder
Is Plesk worth the extra $10/month and the extra $100 setup fee?

If you're talking about RackShack, I'd say yes, but note that you can buy your own 30-domain Plesk License for $199. And Rackshack only offers Plesk 2.5, and 5.0 seems to have some nice features (automated log rotation). I'm considering replacing a 2.5 box with just such a setup. The Plesk installation is pretty good, run one script and you have everything configured and ready to go.

[pgowder]

So could I get the plain RedHat server and then install 5.0?

[zonegray]

That's how I'd do it if I were starting over. Again, you only get 30 Plesk 5 domains for $199, instead of 200 domains if you use the Rackshack 2.x license. But if 30 is enough for your needs, as it is for mine, then it's a better deal, IMO.

BTW, you can isntall Plesk for 1 domain before you decide to buy it.