The $50 Server Market

[allan]

I just spent the morning cleaning out my VPS, agian, because we hit the storage limit and corrupted a couple of the databases, etc. I really like the VPS, but I am starting to think we are outgrowing it. We really cannot justify the cost of a dedicated server, even a $99 one, but I know there are companies who offer $50 dedicated servers.

I am guessing most of these companies are shady, at best, and the networks are questionable, but I would like to get feedback from people who actually know.

We have had close to 100% uptime with our current provider, and been extremely happy -- so moving to an imperfect network scares me (of course, so does shelling out $100 a month for hosting ;)).

I'd love to hear the opinions of other's on this market -- and if there are any shining stars worth looking at.

Note: This is not a request for hosting, please do not post/pm/mail offers, if we decide to move we will post a request

[DCM]

My only thought as an outsider looking in (and thinking about jumping in head first) is I would rather have the $99 server and more control verses a cheaper server solution which I could still outgrow but could cost me my repuation as a good host with solid uptime.

Also, where will your efforts be focused on the $50 server vs. the $100 server?

The $50 server might require you to foucs on maintaining uptime on the box/connection and keeping your customers from being angry and not having the time/resouces to grow your business.

The $99 server might mean you need to get out and sell more clients which can grow your business but need not spend time worrying about the box/connection all the time.

P.S. Did you get my PM with an offer for hosting? :banana: :banana: :banana:

[allan]

One thing to note, I do not run a hosting company, we only use our VPS to host personal sites, and run various data collection scripts.

[DCM]

Still, the same logic applies. What is piece of mind worth? I guess you could always figure that the extra $50 month is just a paper route or mowing a couple of lawns.

[jbiz718]

Well

Suprisingly the company offering the 49$ server ie, server4you uses inflow in St louis, so the network is pretty good.

In regards to the actual server its an AMD 1300, nothing high end, but will do the job.

I imagine you can just increase your VPS, or change companies.

[tranz]

It just seems that in companies trying to provide quality products and services they just flood the market with crap and lousy service.

[Chicken]

Etecc posted something in the middle (heh) $77 (http://www.hosthideout.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2689)

[allan]

Originally posted by DCM:

Still, the same logic applies. What is piece of mind worth? I guess you could always figure that the extra $50 month is just a paper route or mowing a couple of lawns.

I barely have time to mow my own lawn, much less mow someone else's ;).

As far as peace of mind goes, I don't know that a $99 server is going to give me peace of mind. A $99 server is still bottom of the server rung, versus some other places that have much better uptime etc. So, I am trading one sort of peace of mind for another: Solid uptime, but limited space, versus much more space, but less uptime.

[allan]

Originally posted by jbiz718:
I imagine you can just increase your VPS, or change companies.

The next level up is $85, which prompted my queries in the first place -- $85 puts me at the point where I have to weigh that against the option of a dedicated server.

[allan]

Originally posted by Chicken:

Etecc posted something in the middle (heh) $77 (http://www.hosthideout.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2689)

Certainly that is something I would consider. Of course I don't know that much about Etecc and I don't feel like "testing" anyone out ;).

[Chicken]

:D I know, just stirring up the waters between the $50 server island and the $100 one. The price point of $77 caught my eye. ;)

[NetSolutionz]

Hello everyone :D First post here at HH!

Don't know how you feel about the Nocster servers/network. But you might be able to find someone that resells for them, and get a decent server for what you need. I guess it really depends on the specs you want. Cause I'm sure on the resellers they aren't high end boxes. Dunno, something you might want to look into.

[allan]

After a lot of discussion with Roseanne, we decided to just migrate to the next level of VPS at Fluid Hosting.

The decision came down to several things:

1. We are, overall, happy with the service and support we have gotten from Fluid over the last year and the network uptime has been fantastic.

2. Moving the 1/2 dozen sites we maintain, updating DNS records, syncing the forum database between the two servers would be too much of a pain.

3. The dedicated server companies mentioned don't really inspire a whole lot of confidence. I have either never heard of them, or, as in the case of Burst/Nocster I am leery of their offerings (Note: Just to be clear, I am not speaking from personal experience about Burst/Nocster, I know a lot of people love their service. But it seems like every 6 months there are a flood of complaints about their network/downtime, then they fix some things and all is fine until the cycle starts up again 6 months later).

Anyway, I appreciate all the tips and advice. Undoubtedly, in 6 months I will be back asking the question again -- but by then Roseanne will have 1000 members in her forum and we will have enough advertising money coming in that I will be debating between Rackspace, Conxion, and Digex ;).