[Frank]

Hi,

I have a dedicated server with another host that I'm not happy with purely down to the lack of answers to simple support questions, and I've been looking for a while now to find a replacement. The lease expires next month, so I'd like to move around about the 28th July.

I have about 40-ish domains on the server, some are customers and some are mine. I took out a domain to use as a nameserver, but the host I am with insisted that the second one be to one of their own named nameservers.

I guess all I have to do is change the IP of my nameserver to point to you, but as I'm really not sure about this, any advice given would be paid a lot of attention to.

The server I'm currently on has FreeBSD installed (but I have no preference), and there are also a couple of other things I need installing or setting up, ImageMagick is one, and I also have a licence for RVSkins which I'd like to use with cPanel. And I'd also need SohoLaunch enabling in Fantastico as I have a licence for that too.

I'm not a shell user, but maybe one day I will be, and I know my way around WHM and cPanel fairly well now. I can transfer all the accounts over okay (I think) using cPanel backup and restore, but would you help me with the other bits I've mentioned?

I think (correct me if I'm wrong) that what I need to do is to move all the accounts over, then change the nameserver IP address and cross my fingers. Is that roughly correct? Would you advise me to take out another nameserver, or can it all be done through the server itself with WHMs internal nameserver? Or am I barking (mad) up the wrong tree?

So anyway, let's assume you're going to tell me everything I want to hear about the above.

Next on the menu is which server package would you advise me to take? I was a little confused over the pricing and what I'd be getting in terms of bandwidth, and also what extras I might need. It says on the home page I'd be getting a terabyte of bandwidth but I think that's a typo. Maybe I'm wrong.

Is the bandwidth the same for all dedicated servers?

My current disk usage is about 8GB and rising, and my monthly bandwidth usage is about 2GB and rising with a peak of 3GB a couple of months ago.

Would it make that much difference between having a server based in the UK or one based in the US, bearing in mind that the US price is much more attractive? My current server is in the UK and is fairly responsive. Any chance of a test drive of a US and UK server? Just websites would be good enough so that I could see the difference in responsiveness between the two.

I think that's it. Sorry about the size of this message, and I'm sure I'll have some more questions before long.

Here's a bit of feedback though. It's the active support forum that's bought me in, and the friendly and helpful replies I've seen given.

Cheers,


Frank.

[Frank]

While waiting for a reply, I've gone and ordered a VPS to try out.

I did try ringing the 0800 sales number as the lines are supposed to be open, but I got a "not at home" message.

Cheers,


Frank.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Frank

I have about 40-ish domains on the server, some are customers and some are mine. I took out a domain to use as a nameserver, but the host I am with insisted that the second one be to one of their own named nameservers.

Not sure on the exact reasons why but this is not usually the way of doing it.

I guess all I have to do is change the IP of my nameserver to point to you, but as I'm really not sure about this, any advice given would be paid a lot of attention to.

You would change them to the IPs that would be assigned to your new server with us

The server I'm currently on has FreeBSD installed (but I have no preference), and there are also a couple of other things I need installing or setting up, ImageMagick is one, and I also have a licence for RVSkins which I'd like to use with cPanel. And I'd also need SohoLaunch enabling in Fantastico as I have a licence for that too.

We can offer that but would suggest CentOS as we use it in house also

I'm not a shell user, but maybe one day I will be, and I know my way around WHM and cPanel fairly well now. I can transfer all the accounts over okay (I think) using cPanel backup and restore, but would you help me with the other bits I've mentioned?

Thats not a problem. Just need to raise a ticket once live so we can.

I think (correct me if I'm wrong) that what I need to do is to move all the accounts over, then change the nameserver IP address and cross my fingers. Is that roughly correct? Would you advise me to take out another nameserver, or can it all be done through the server itself with WHMs internal nameserver? Or am I barking (mad) up the wrong tree?

We would advise to move the accounts, change the nameserver IPs, wait ...... and then address any issues that arise.

Next on the menu is which server package would you advise me to take? I was a little confused over the pricing and what I'd be getting in terms of bandwidth, and also what extras I might need. It says on the home page I'd be getting a terabyte of bandwidth but I think that's a typo. Maybe I'm wrong.

This all depends on what you require. Maybe go for the entry level and upgrade as required. Also depends what you want to shell out initially.

Is the bandwidth the same for all dedicated servers?

No. 1000GB normally for US based and 400GB for UK based.

Would it make that much difference between having a server based in the UK or one based in the US, bearing in mind that the US price is much more attractive? My current server is in the UK and is fairly responsive. Any chance of a test drive of a US and UK server? Just websites would be good enough so that I could see the difference in responsiveness between the two.

Not really unless you are hosting games where latency is key. Not able to show any sites on a US box but I know a few clients have some. Any one feel like posting a link to a US hosted site on our network?

Here's a bit of feedback though. It's the active support forum that's bought me in, and the friendly and helpful replies I've seen given.

Good stuff! Hope to hear from you again soon.

Matt

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Frank

I did try ringing the 0800 sales number as the lines are supposed to be open, but I got a "not at home" message.

No one was 'home' as such... I know the guys in the office had the lines closed for training today.

Sorry about that.

Matt

[Frank]

Hi Matt,

No one was 'home' as such... I know the guys in the office had the lines closed for training today.

Sorry about that.

Hey, no problem. I used to have "training" on a Friday afternoon a few years ago.

Only kidding...

Great answers, thank you. I've ordered the VPS as I'd considered it nearly 12 months ago. But because I had no real experience of bandwidth and disk usage, and the server was mainly for a client and a site that was expected to be very busy with a lot of European traffic, I took the "safe" way and went for a full dedicated server with my current host.

That fairly large job then got postponed until March next year. (I hope). Tsss...

So, I think that given my own disk and bandwidth requirements at the moment, I've done the right thing by going for a VPS server. Are they easily upgradable if I need a bigger one? I should have asked that question first. Maybe I'll just get another one later and put less critical domains onto it so I can have a play and learn the ropes.

CentOS is okay as long as you're happy with it. I'd hate to foist something on you that you weren't so happy with when all I'll be using is the WHM and cPanel interface anyway, to start off with.

I'm fairly amazed at the bandwidth for US servers, that's a bit of a jaw dropper for me!

I think that's it. I only have one other question. When will the VPS I ordered this afternoon be ready? Yeah, I know it's the weekend, and I know it says 72 hours, and I have a lot of other things to do this weekend now anyway. But you know what it's like when you're waiting for a new toy!

Cheers,


Frank.