rackshack.net - your input

[Jake Bunce]

http://www.rackshack.net/

Another possible host i'm investigating. (their $99 a month RaQ 4i)

Concerns:
I did a search on these forums and found people saying that MySQL doesn't run well on these. I also read something about how these raqs only have php3??? What kind of vB capacity would 128MB RAM and 450MHz processor get me? They have software mirroring? Doesn't that jack disk performance?

My forums:
Currently my forums typically have between 7-10 people on them during "normal" busy times. I have had a max of 15 peeps at once. I am running gZip.

The idea of a dedicated server of any kind gets me all excited. This RaQ 4i isn't exactly a beefed out server... but dedicated for $99 a month?!

Also, if any of you are running your vB on a RaQ 4i at rackshack please post a link to your forums.

[The Prohacker]

Cobalts have some good and bad features, mainly people focus on the bad, it can be hard to compile and install php/mysql on a RaQ since it doesn't come preinstalled like most *nix distros do these days. Its not impossible, just gotta work with it, and running a cgi script on a RaQ can be a pain because of the inclusion of cgi-wrap.

There are packages that are precompiled for php/mysql on cobalts ftp site, but they are for php3 and a very old version of MySql....

Personally, if its your only server, invest in a real *nix box thats atleast x86.....

[Jedito]

Maybe this thread can help you

http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11869&highlight=rackshack.net

[Philipp]

I did a search on these forums and found people saying that MySQL doesn't run well on these.

No problem here. The performance on my RaQ3 with 256MB is great and the CPU usage is low

I also read something about how these raqs only have php3???

RaQ4 comes with preinstalled PHP 4.0.3pl1. You can get MySQL for RaQ here (Just cut&paste the URL of MySQL into the RaQ control panel to install the package)

What kind of vB capacity would 128MB RAM and 450MHz processor get me?

Maybe 60-80 Users before you run out of memory. If you upgrade the Ram to 256MB 100-150 users.

[Jake Bunce]

thanks for everyone's input. i've got some reading to do. nice performance on your forums, Philipp. are you on rackshack?

Maybe 60-80 Users before you run out of memory. If you upgrade the Ram to 256MB 100-150 users.

available system memory is more of an issue than CPU MHz for vB capacity?

Jedito, in the thread you linked to the people have lots of good stuff to say about http://www.4webspace.com/ . So the obvious question is: rackshack or 4webspace? 4webspace looks like it's cheaper and has better support (from what I read in that thread). I'm looking for testimonials and links to people's forums on both services.

[Jedito]

I'm not sure.
But I think that 4webspace and tera-byte is the same company, but 4webspace is the dedicated server section.
And I read very good things about tera-byte but I never user their service.

[Philipp]

nice performance on your forums, Philipp. are you on rackshack?

No, on 4webspace

available system memory is more of an issue than CPU MHz for vB capacity?

Yes. Another board that I maintain runs still on a 4 year old Pentium II 266MHz server. The machine has after a memory upgrade to 512MB even no problems with 200 users

So the obvious question is: rackshack or 4webspace? 4webspace looks like it's cheaper and has better support (from what I read in that thread).

Support at 4webspace/Tera-Byte is excellent, never had a problem and the uptime is great.

There are two things about the RaQ3:

1) You need atleast a memory upgrade to 128MB (one-time fee = $111)

2) You need to compile (thats easy ) PHP 4.0.x yourself because only RaQ4 comes with PHP4. The RaQ MySQL package works also on RaQ3.

[pcgod]

Originally posted by Philipp

No problem here. The performance on my RaQ3 with 256MB is great and the CPU usage is low


RaQ4 comes with preinstalled PHP 4.0.3pl1. You can get MySQL for RaQ here (Just cut&paste the URL of MySQL into the RaQ control panel to install the package)


Maybe 60-80 Users before you run out of memory. If you upgrade the Ram to 256MB 100-150 users.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Did your server was a dedicated server ??
How much did it cost one month ??

[Philipp]

Did your server was a dedicated server ??
How much did it cost one month ??

Yes, my RaQ3 is a dedicated server. $99/month see http://www.4webspace.com/order.html

[Jake Bunce]

Philipp, one more question for ya. Do you run gZip on your forums? If so, how is your server handling it?

[SharkY-IFA]

I got a raq4i with rackshack and am very happy with it... Regardless of how people feel I get a quick response for tech support and have had no problems.

Mysql = a pkg ready for easy install. ( http://pkg.nl.cobalt.com/ - Bottom )

Mine came with php4. I am also sure if I needed to I could find a pkg update for it.

My forums run fine on it... http://forums.gamingalliance.org/ absolutely no problems with mysql...

I have 3-4 virtual sites on my raq as it is. Mem is about 100megs free out of 256. The cpu runs at about 2.00% MAX usualy around .67% usage.

[Philipp]

Do you run gZip on your forums? If so, how is your server handling it?

Yes, GZIP output is enabled and the CPU usage is low

[Jake Bunce]

once again, thanks for everyone's input. A RaQ seems to be the best and most economical solution for when my site gets bigger.

oh wait, one more related question : vBPortal. I'm testing this on another server right now. It definately runs slower than just a plain old vB. I haven't trimmed off any fat yet though. A lot of people say that vBPortal really slows down their site and spikes their CPU usage on their server. Do we have any vBPortal sites running on a 4WS or RS RaQ? Or maybe just a vBPortal running on something besides a RaQ? As usual I'm looking for links to your forums and testimonials. Thanks again everyone!

[Philipp]

Never tried vBPortal. I switch (from NewsPro) in the next days to phpWebSite

[SharkY-IFA]

For php news?
I have a homemade script.

http://www.gamingalliance.org/