Virtual Private Server
In case you missed it, I am sad to say that it happened again. My website was overloading the server at my webhost, and instead of giving me a warning and a chance to fix the problem they suspended my hosting account and killed my access to both the files and my e-mail. Again!
The SiteGround support crew promised me last time that they would not do this again. If my site would cause more overloads, they would let me know about it so I could take care of the problem. But they didn't let me know. When I woke up this morning the site was just gone. And like last time, I didn't get to know what the problem was at all. I assume that it is the same "CPU overload" problem, but all I have is a WordPress installation and a statistics script. Fresh installs of both.
The difference from the last time was that I got really mad this time. Most because I was disappointed that I didn't get a chance to fix the error, but also because I am working on the next version of my site - and on four different commercial projects which are stored on this server. I need to access the server this weekend so I can finish these projects tonight and tomorrow, but suddenly it looked like I could expect a downtime that would last for a few days. I have shown a lot of patience with my host until now, since I absolutely love their 24/7 personal service and their great hosting features. I have turned down free hosting offers, even some amazing ones (thank to all of you who have offered me help, you know who you are and you know that I appreciate it!) just because I want to have all sites at the same single place. And I have really liked the amazing price level that SiteGround has. $5 per month is really, really cheap. But when this happened, I was ready to leave them and find a host that could atleast give me a chance to correct the errors before shutting off my access to my own site and telling my visitors that my account is suspended. I was so incredibly tired of this. All the friendly offers came to mind.
But I never got time to seriously consider moving to any other host. Mostly because SiteGround wouldn't let me do it. I was not given any other option than to upgrade my account to a VPS, a Virtual Private Server. Unless I did that, I wouldn't get access to my files. I wrote a number of angry messages to the support crew because of this, and I was probably a bit rude which I apologize for. But my account was suspended, and that was no good position for negotiations. So in a moment of desperation and anger, I purchased the upgrade. My boss was kind enough to sponsor the cost for the first month. Within only one hour my site was back online again, now on a VPS. Even at a situation where I am totally mad at SiteGround, I still get impressed by their incredibly quick service…
However, I have made one thing perfectly clear: If they EVER close down ANY of the websites they host for me, or if they ever restrict access to any of my accounts without giving me a warning and a chance to fix the error first, I will pack my bags and move every site I have to some other host. Since that is 12 full-scale websites right now (client sites included) and more are added all the time, I truly hope that I won't need to do this. What I know for sure is that this website will never have any problems again. I've been promised that by SiteGround support. Since the VPS is not sharing resources with anyone, I don't have any limitations in terms of CPU usage. In other words, the VPS should be able to handle websites with lots of visitors. However, the VPS hosting costs US$169 per month, which is a lot compared to the $5 I paid for a shared linux account per month. I will definitely need to find a couple of good long-term sponsors that can help me keep the website alive. I wouldn't want to add more advertisements, so I will soon make a public appeal for sponsorships. I already have two helpful sponsors which I will introduce soon, but I will need atleast two more.
Anyway, andreas00 is coming up soon. Like the teaser image says, it is actually andreas01 version 2.0 - but I have mixed in bits and pieces from my other templates as well so I'll release it as andreas00 - the final template in the andreasXX series. For now. More about that tonight…
…if my site is still online then…
Comments can be only posted for 14 days after the post date. If you have comments about an older post such as this one, feel free to send me an e-mail!
Comment from Brent
Time: April 7, 2006, 19:19
Wow! I'm truly sorry to hear of your experience, Andreas.
I would suggest that you migrate over to a more reasonably priced VPS solution now that you have access to your files….. heck you can afford your own server at the price you are now paying.
Don't forget that you are still sharing a server at this point and you DO still have usage restrictions, despite what Siteground is telling you, as you are still sharing a server with others, albeit with fewer siteowners.
Do you have any idea why Siteground made you switch to their most expensive VPS solution?
Good luck.
Comment from Andreas
Time: April 7, 2006, 19:27
I chose the "Elite VPS" option myself, since I could put five hosting accounts on the same VPS and hopefully avoid that the same thing happens to my clients sites. I also need the storage and high traffic. But suggestions for other hosting options are always welcome!
Comment from isecore
Time: April 7, 2006, 19:44
Even at a situation where I am totally mad at SiteGround, I still get impressed by their incredibly quick service…
Yes, but that's because you coughed up the cash. Had you not coughed up the cash I deeply doubt that anything at all would've happened.
Comment from Andreas
Time: April 7, 2006, 20:04
ise: True. The fact that I've recruited a lot of new customers probably matters too. I was told that moving to a VPS normally takes 3 business days, but in reality it took an hour. Anyway, that was a good help. But no matter how quick they are, I won't accept any more trouble. It will work now - or I'm off to find somewhere else to live.
Pingback from Solid Block of Ise » Blog Archive » Siteground Is The Suck
Time: April 7, 2006, 20:30
[...] EDIT2: Andreas l?ste "problemet" med att uppgradera sitt konto till ett s.k. VPS-konto. VPS = Virtual Private Server, i stort sett en egen server. Dock kostar den betydligt mer per m?nad, men han slipper de h?r larviga (och i min mening enormt gnidiga) begr?nsningarna. [...]
Comment from PattyMcFatPat
Time: April 7, 2006, 21:45
I haven't ever experienced the ammount of traffic you site gets, but so far I'm very impressed with pagesgarden.com. They've got excellent features and its still a really really low price. But like I said, I don't know how they handle larger sites.
Comment from Andreas
Time: April 7, 2006, 21:58
From what I can see, pagesgarden give too little server space and too little traffic, so they can't help me. But thanks for the suggestion anyway!
Comment from seanrox
Time: April 7, 2006, 22:42
Andreas, contact me in private email. I have a solution for you so you will never have this issue again. $169 a month is crazy.
Comment from are jay
Time: April 8, 2006, 1:03
been with httpme.com for years check out their reseller packages. support is the best. not $5 a month but you have seen what that gets you.
good luck.
Comment from aran
Time: April 8, 2006, 1:10
Hey Andreas, I feel for you mate, you do so much work for the community to get your site shut down 2 times… that is very very bad business for your host…
They should offer you free VPS for 10 years for the amount of money that you make for them… seriously
my 2c
Comment from Andreas
Time: April 8, 2006, 1:24
I guess I've accepted the problems since I know that $5 is too good to be true, really. Seing that I pay a whole lot right now, I expect everything to work perfectly. If the problems will continue with SiteGround, helpful people have offered me all kinds of support - from free VPS hosting to sponsored packages at other hosts. Thanks for all the e-mails and comments everyone, I hope you know how much I appreciate it. And thanks for calling today Petter, you rock.
Comment from Brian
Time: April 8, 2006, 7:25
I've been really happy with: http://www.site5.com
Brian
Comment from Michael Pate
Time: April 8, 2006, 14:06
All of my hosting is done at Dreamhost and Textdrive these days, but before that, I did have my own virtual server at Bytemark. I decided I didn't need the level of complexity running my own server offered, but their pricing plans were very reasonable. Mark Pilgrim has used them for years.
Comment from Peter Mount
Time: April 9, 2006, 0:28
I've started using a cheap web host for my clients here in Australia for PHP web hosting. There Linux plans are at:
http://www.cheap-web-site-hosting.com.au/linux/linux.html
I don't know how it compares to other hosts for pricing but it's the cheapest I've found so far.
Comment from Andreas
Time: April 9, 2006, 0:41
I'm checking out all tips as you post them. But I am not looking for cheap shared hosting solutions. I'm looking for perfect stability and great features in a VPS package. The cost is secondary, as the amazingly cheap services will never be good enough with the pressure I have on my site. And again, this is only in case SiteGround would close me down again. I don't think they will, but if they do I will move everything. Currently looking at a generous VPS offer in UK, that would work perfectly.
Comment from Patrick
Time: April 9, 2006, 2:14
Andreas, you should consider MT as well. They are well known of reliability. SiteGround as well.
Comment from jim
Time: April 9, 2006, 4:58
hey andreas. lots of space on my server, wouldnt mind at all to give you some space. let me know what specs you need.
Comment from Ajay D'Souza
Time: April 9, 2006, 8:24
Hi Andreas,
Guess as our sites get popular, we have to be ready to upgrade and unfortunately pay :(
However, $169/mo is way too expensive for a VPS, even if it is managed. What are the specs like?
It would be cheaper to go in for a dedicated hosting solution for that kind of money.
I moved to hosteasier, will blog about it soon. Paying around $35/mo and am very impressed by their service so far.
Comment from Donna
Time: April 9, 2006, 8:57
Oh wow that's really sad a host holds your files in ransom like that and it truly is.
US$169 per month for a VPS is downright crazy a VPS is still shared hardware.
You can pick up your own dedicated server for $85 per month nearly half the price fully managed: http://www.managed.com/products.htm there are cheaper ones around that's just a quick search.
Andreas you trully are being ripped off here, very sad to read your post they done this, I'd say your may of been using too many resources and because your site is popular they blamed you they should at least be able to pinpoint what was using so many resources they can easily see that.
Pop over to http://webhostingtalk.com/ create an account and submit a quote (it's free) and they email the replies directly to you, you can then search the host on the forums and see the good and bad feedback.
Regards
Pingback from Moved to a Virtual Private Server » Ajay - On the Road called Life!
Time: April 9, 2006, 9:10
[...] I guess I'm not the only one facing a similar kind of problem. Andreas too had to move to a VPS recently. [...]
Comment from wrnc
Time: April 9, 2006, 23:19
That's awful bad. I was considering moving or mirroring there. Geez, no way. $169 a month is delirious, hope you'll find a solution.
Comment from Nick Drago
Time: April 10, 2006, 3:01
I would reccomend changing hosts, if you are overloading the server that much and they keep suspending your account, then I would look into someone else. Nothing against your host now…
Just an idea. Media Temple is great I hear.
Comment from Andreas
Time: April 10, 2006, 3:13
Yes, I have a lot of options. Both sponsored hosting and non-sponsored. A VPS is needed, and I will need atleast 12 gigabytes of storage and 250gb traffic per month. Along with that, I want the possibility to have several sites hosted on the VPS (and simple administration of them all, preferably through cPanel). For the paid hosting, I would need support for PayPal payments. For sponsored hosting, i need to know that I get atleast two years secured.
SiteGround gives me all I need right now, but at a high price. I can afford it without any problems, thanks to generous donations, ads and affiliate links on this site. But sponsored hosting would still be much better. I'm considering two sponsor offers right now, but in both cases the storage space is a bit too low to get all my files online. I'll think about it all for a few days, and then make a decision.
(and I'm NOT looking forward to another move, last time was a pain…)
Comment from Ajay D'Souza
Time: April 11, 2006, 9:54
Andreas, did you receive my email?
Take a look at hosteasier. They got some good VPS plans and a lot lesser rate, complete with cPanel and WHM and WZPP support.
Even got my rDNSes created.
Pingback from Hosting Dilemma - Webgazette.co.uk - Change is the only constant…
Time: April 11, 2006, 22:26
[...] I've been giving quite a bit of though to my web hosting situation recently after seeing what has been happening over at Andreas' site. In his post "Virtual Private Server" Andreas explains the lengths that he had to go to to keep his site online. It seems that he has practically been held to ransom and has had to pay a steep increase to get to his files and continue with his site. As I am hosted by the same web host this makes me feel a little uneasy about the future. [...]
Comment from Scott Kimler
Time: April 17, 2006, 4:37
Andreas,
I'd be curious to look at your statistics data, to see what sort of bandwidth, pages and hit numbers you were garnering to warrant suspension.
As I've mentioned before, we've been with SiteGround for over a year and (with minor exceptions) have had a very positive experience. (Though I doubt we're getting the same numbers … which is why I'm curious).
We've had free offers as well, but we've actually paid $4/mo for our SiteGround service (signed up earlier, I guess) and feel we're getting GREAT value for the price. (If you can believe it, we were on GeoCities Free web-hosting before that).
Cheers,
-stk
Comment from Ainslie
Time: April 7, 2006, 19:02
How did you manage to overload the CPU?
I do wonder if the amazing specs that SiteGround offer can actually be achieved with the limit on php processes! I can only think that the overload is caused by volume of visitors that the specs should be able to support. If they can't then the whole thing is a bit of a con.
You know I sometimes wonder about running my own server rather than relying on somebody else. I never get round to it though as it seems like too much trouble. At $169 per month that doesn't seem so much trouble.