Servers and Webhosting

[Ryan]

Alright, first off if this is going to be way out of my league then I just won't even keep considering.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyway, I don't know if you've noticed, but a number of new webhosts have popped up that do something where you can have free hosting and just need to post on the forums.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The one I'm using for my site right now requires you to put ads on your page or post on the forums. Now I'm assuming that if they have ads on their forums and then you're forced to go post there that's how they get their money. I thought I heard a while ago though that ads aren't paying nearly enough to support that kind of thing, but these sites seem to be running.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This whole ordeal has really intrigued me and I'm kind of interested in trying out having my own host. The first thing I need to get out there is I know absolutely nothing. I've used cpanel before and I know my way around, but I don't kow the technical side of anything.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What I'm looking for is information regarding servers, would I need to actually purchase one so it sits right next to me when I'm at home? What kind of prices am I looking at? I would most likely pursuade some of you or some other tech people to come help and I'd pay you or give free hosting ;). Bandwidth is something I don't quite understand when it comes to who exactly are you paying if you own the server? Are you paying your isp? Who's bandwidth is the server actually using.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the money side of it all. Could having ads like this cover the cost of the server and make any kind of profit? And I'm sure it would come to having paid hosting packages available. How do you know what space you can allocate accounts? Does that depend on the server? And do things like cpanel need to be purchased for the server?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry for so many questions, but I'd really appreciate if someone could get to them.

[Ryan]

This isn't really a bump, but more of a I'd like this information asap.

[Nadril]

well, if you do manage to get a hosting server set up, you know who to tell first :oops: (hint, me :P)

[mrcowcow]

Getting a server set up can be complex, but rewarding. For the actual machine, any computer can work. I would reccomend a 1ghz processor, 256mb of ram (512+ would be best), and a decent hard drive. if you look, you can get a machine like this for a couple hundred dollars or less. Then you will need to install server software on it. For hosting, you will need a http and a ftp server. If you are just hosting your own site, then only http is needed (unless you want to work on your site away from home). My experience is only in a Windows enviorment, but the cheapest way to get software would be to install Linux (I have heard that Debian is best for beginners) and the compile and install Apache. The Apache website has great documentation for installing and configuring it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bandwidth is the ammount of data that can be transferred through a connection in a given time period. For example, 50kbps means that 50 kilobits can be transferred in a second. When you sign up for an internet plan, you get a certain ammount of bandwidth (I have comcast cable, and they claim i am getting 3mbps downstrean, and 768 up, but i only get a fraction of that). For hosting a server, an actual 400kbps+ upstream speed is the best, but if you dont have many visitors you can get by with less.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the cpanel, I have no idea what you are talking about. Could you clarify?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the money side of it, I dont have much experience. Im not sure wether it would cover the costs or not.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have to goto bed now, but I will edit tomorrow with more info and to make it easier to understand. Im sorry if its not well written, im tired right now. I hope this helps.

[Mercifull]

I STONGLY suggest you head over to http://www.webhostingtalk.com

 

 

 

They are unbias and VERY helpful. Read up the stickies and FAQ's and you cant go wrong.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The problem with those free hosts where you only need post on the forum is eventually they lose too much money and shut down. Then you lose everything with no backup and no support etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Its really worth it to spend a few dollars a month and get your own proper shared hosting server.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O yeah and if anyone offers you unlimited space or bandwidth NEVER go with them, don't part with a single penny.

 

 

 

Ask yourself this. "If I walked into PCworld and asked for an unlimited hard drive, what would they say?"

 

 

 

There is always a catch with those comnpanies, they tend to have clauses in the ToS that means if you go over what they call "reasonable usage" then they will shut your site down with no warning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Putting your own adverts on a server can sometimes make enough to cover hosting fees but sometimes not. This month Google ads on all my sites has raised $30.93. However last month i raised only ÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâã2.64

 

 

 

Overall you are better off paying for a shared server and your own domain name (FROM A SEPARATE COMPANY) and putting on adverts yourself. You might even make some money profit out of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The reason why you should get a domain seperate from your hosting company is that generally you pay more because they want a profit themselves and sometimes even register the domain in their name so that when you want to move hosting companies they try and charge you a fortune to leave.

[Ryan]

Thanks for the post.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merc, if I paid for the shared server and such are you still suggesting I can provide hosting? I am just paying a monthly fee also and need to aim to get this paid in full in one way or another?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

mrcowcow, thanks. Do you know what cpanel is? It's an easy interface people can use when controlling their website to acces their files, set up databases, and view stats and such. I figured to install something like this on your webserver you would have to buy it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edit: I looked at your site Merc and wouldn't the reseller packages be what I would be looking for? Those provide a lot of Webspace, but I'm uneasy with the bandwidth. What are the prices in? I'd like to know conversions to USD.

[Mercifull]

Yeah a reseller package is what you are looking for.

 

 

 

There are loads of companies on WHT. Just ask and people will offer you packages.

 

 

 

The prices on circle hosting are in ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃâãGBP. Check http://www.xe.com for conversion rates

 

 

 

People obsess over bandwidth. Belive me you dont need hundreds of gigs of it. You'll never use it.

[Ryan]

Yeah a reseller package is what you are looking for.

 

 

 

There are loads of companies on WHT. Just ask and people will offer you packages.

 

 

 

The prices on circle hosting are in ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃâãGBP. Check http://www.xe.com for conversion rates

 

 

 

People obsess over bandwidth. Belive me you dont need hundreds of gigs of it. You'll never use it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks I'll head over there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The problem though is that people obsess over bandwidth. If I try the free accounts people are going to want a lot of bandwidth for their sites. So I need a lot to offer them?

[Mercifull]

The problem though is that people obsess over bandwidth. If I try the free accounts people are going to want a lot of bandwidth for their sites. So I need a lot to offer them?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

People want lots but dont need it. You can oversell safely knowing that people wont use it all. ;) Use the typical stance in your ToS that If you use too many resources and slow down the others on the server your account will be deactivated ^_^

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What exactly do you need it for. I can tell you for a fact that you wont use as much b/w as you think you do.

[Ryan]

 

The problem though is that people obsess over bandwidth. If I try the free accounts people are going to want a lot of bandwidth for their sites. So I need a lot to offer them?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

People want lots but dont need it. You can oversell safely knowing that people wont use it all. ;) Use the typical stance in your ToS that If you use too many resources and slow down the others on the server your account will be deactivated ^_^

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What exactly do you need it for. I can tell you for a fact that you wont use as much b/w as you think you do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like I said I want to set up this reseller account. Due to the fact that there's so many other hosts out there and right now my best target audience is the people of my age group I won't expect many paying members. I'd like to find a way to make the payments solely through ads or some kind of alternative method.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would need quite a few users and visitors for the site to get the ads viewed and clicked I believe. To draw people in you have to make a good offer don't you? People may never use the bandwidth, but they'd like to think they have a lot available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks, I'm going to work, but feel free to keep posting and helping :).

[Mercifull]

Just remember that you pay for badnwidth in advance so why pay ÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâã15 a month for 50GB bandwidth (example only) when you need only pay ÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâã5 for the 15GB package that your customers still arnt going to use up.

 

 

 

Cpanel allows you to oversell. You can get a 15GB reseller account and tell all your customers they have 20GB bandwidth if you really wanted lol ;)

[Ryan]

Just remember that you pay for badnwidth in advance so why pay ÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâã15 a month for 50GB bandwidth (example only) when you need only pay ÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâã5 for the 15GB package that your customers still arnt going to use up.

 

 

 

Cpanel allows you to oversell. You can get a 15GB reseller account and tell all your customers they have 20GB bandwidth if you really wanted lol ;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

haha I like the way that sounds. Can you always upgrade your account with your host too? I'm sure it will have to wait until that month finishes out, but starting the next one?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And which host? I see you recommended that one, but I dont' know if that was just an example or not. Webhostingtalk lists about a million so I don't know. I'd really hate to get one that shuts down in a month like most do.

[mrcowcow]

Im sure you can upgrade, and some hosts may put it inot effect immedently. The host Mercifull looks like a good one. I dont have any suggestions since I only used free hosting untill I set up my server. :oops:

[Mercifull]

A host will always let you upgrade. So long as you pay monthly they will do it really easily. Afterall you are gonna pay them more money :P

 

 

 

I cant really list off good hosts. theres so many.

 

 

 

Try filling this out: http://www.webhostingtalk.com/hostquote.php/reseller

 

 

 

Then search for the hosts that email you to read reviews.

[Ryan]

A host will always let you upgrade. So long as you pay monthly they will do it really easily. Afterall you are gonna pay them more money :P

 

 

 

I cant really list off good hosts. theres so many.

 

 

 

Try filling this out: http://www.webhostingtalk.com/hostquote.php/reseller

 

 

 

Then search for the hosts that email you to read reviews.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

K, thanks :).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apparentally, I still own my old domain name..buggers must have renewed it or something. I just can't remember the login :(.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And should I probably go for the cheapest plan since it will take a while for revenue to build up?

[Ryan]

Ack, one more thing. I'm assuming I should use paypal. What kind of account should I get? I'd prefer the personal so I don't have to worry about fees but it says tha't Personal accounts cannot accept debit or credit card payments. Would it be unreasonable to require people to have paypal to sign up for the hosting anyways?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: You must be over 18 to sign up for a PayPal account.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cabbage]...that just ruined my day. I'm 17 and a half. I'd really rather not get my parents involved. They'll say my "real job" is enough and I'll just waste my money.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Help plzorz.

[Mercifull]

Then organise everything and set it up in 6 months time. Or register the paypal accound in a parents name and just you use it

[Ryan]

Then organise everything and set it up in 6 months time. Or register the paypal accound in a parents name and just you use it

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hrmm..that would mean I'd have to tell them about this whole thing. I'll just keep going with this and ask em later I guess.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suggestion on which type of account though?

[Mercifull]

 

Then organise everything and set it up in 6 months time. Or register the paypal accound in a parents name and just you use it

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hrmm..that would mean I'd have to tell them about this whole thing. I'll just keep going with this and ask em later I guess.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suggestion on which type of account though?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You dont pay extra for a business acount.

[Ryan]

 

 

Then organise everything and set it up in 6 months time. Or register the paypal accound in a parents name and just you use it

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hrmm..that would mean I'd have to tell them about this whole thing. I'll just keep going with this and ask em later I guess.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suggestion on which type of account though?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You dont pay extra for a business acount.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transaction fees for receiving payment.

[Mercifull]

You pay that with a normal account. Its how they get their money. Costs nothing to send payments. only the reciever pays.

[Ryan]

Ah okay thanks, I appreciate all the help. And thanks in advance cause I will probably keep having questions down the road :).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'll just get a business account in a little bit when I get around to talking to rents about this. Odd how I have my own checking account and debit card, yet they still want me to be 18 :roll:

[DaN]

many webhosts wont allow you to resell on their shared accounts you normally need a reseller account.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.webhostingtalk.com is the best place for advice on this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The only advise I can give apart from what Merc's already covered is....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dont spend it unless your prepared to lose it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Its possible that you will make $0 and have a 100% loss on the money you spend.

[Ryan]

many webhosts wont allow you to resell on their shared accounts you normally need a reseller account.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.webhostingtalk.com is the best place for advice on this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The only advise I can give apart from what Merc's already covered is....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dont spend it unless your prepared to lose it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Its possible that you will make $0 and have a 100% loss on the money you spend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

yeah, I'm prepared for that part of it. I plan on getting everything set up before I go ahead and buy the hosting. I'll give it about 2 or 3 months and I don't even come close to getting the money needed then I'll just stop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://hostgator.com seems to have a good deal. I'll probably go with the $25 to start. Circlehosting looked nice Merc, but I'd rather just used a place that had USD as the prices listed and after conversion your place was a little more expensive for same/similar deal.