New Temporary Server

[Sidewindr]

We have just cut over to a different Server. This is a temporary server on loan and will be replaced with the new server once we are able to purchase the new super fast server. :D

The speed should have improved somewhat and should be ok now until the brand new server goes in to replace the temporary one.

[Ryzz]

Good Stuff Sidey, im still waiting to hear back from some contacts re server pricing. It seems everyone has decided to go on holidays for the last few weeks :rolleyes:

[Sidewindr]

Heh not me .. I spent many nights (less than 3 hrs sleep) getting the new server built prior to xmas :sleep:

All good now ... just have more sleepless nights ahead when the new server is procured ;)

[Glenn@Autowerks]

Heh not me .. I spent many nights (less than 3 hrs sleep) getting the new server built prior to xmas :sleep:

All good now ... just have more sleepless nights ahead when the new server is procured ;)

Would be interested on the specs of the new server and the make, dual pro, 2 gig ram ??? Anything like that ?

[Sidewindr]

Would be interested on the specs of the new server and the make, dual pro, 2 gig ram ??? Anything like that ?

I'll give yas the details once we've purchased it ;)

[VooDoo]

Do you really need your own server? (ie the hardware) or will a dedicated server work. I have a lot of my own sites hosted as you know and all hardware issues are the hosting companies problem and are usually sorted very quick. Hosting costs me less than what 1 sponsor pays here. Hosting in AU is very expensive for what we get so i have the server in the states. It also helps a LOT with legal issues as they are a lot more forgiving over there than Australian courts (i know LS1 hasnt had a lot of issues but protection is always something to concider)

Im not a reseller but have had servers for over 5yrs both my own hardware and dedicated. One benifit is IF in the future you need to upgrade, you just order the new server with better specs, port everything accross and you pay for the new server (normally at the same rate as the old one) I was paying $99 for a Celeron 1gig then 2 yrs later upgraded to a 2.4gig which cost me $99 a mth. In the end i saved the 2k+ it would have cost me for the hardware. Of course all this is available in AU but just costs more.

To give you an idea the following server is $129US a mth with a 99.9% service guarentee.

Processor AMD Athlon64 3200+ Processor
RAM 1GB RAM*, Upgradeable to 2GB
Hard Drive 80GB HDD
Bandwidth 1200GB Bandwidth*, Upgradeable to 1500GB
Uplink Port 10Mbps*, Upgradeable to 100Mbps
Operating System Choice of RedHat Enterprise Linux 3.0*, RedHat Enterprise Linux 4.0, or Microsoft Windows Server 2003
IP Addresses 5 IP Addresses*, Upgradeable to 61 IP Addresses
Control Panel Available cPanel, Helm, or Plesk
Web Analytics Available Urchin 5.0
Database Available MySQL, Shared or Dedicated Microsoft SQL Server 2000, Oracle 10G Standard Edition One
Firewall Available Cisco Pix 506e or 515e
Professional Services Plan Silver*, Gold, Platinum or Titanium

[Sidewindr]

This has been asked and discussed ad nauseum.

I prefer to have the server OWNED and OPERATED and not rely on anyone else for support or maintenance, end of story :D

Plus those specs are a baby compare to what is planned :D

[Ryzz]

This has been asked and discussed ad nauseum.

I prefer to have the server OWNED and OPERATED and not rely on anyone else for support or maintenance, end of story :D

Plus those specs are a baby compare to what is planned :D
I feel special because i know :yup: :lol:

[HRT433]

The speed should have improved somewhat and should be ok now until the brand new server goes in to replace the temporary one.

The site certainly feels quicker to use, which is very nice considering how sluggish it can be on dial up at times. I'm sure it will be great once the new server is ready to go.

[VooDoo]

Still needs to be plugged in somewhere and a nice fat pipe to it. Unless you have those at your house you will still be relying on others at some point. Owning the hardware just means longer delays if something breaks. If you get a decent server supplier they have spares on site and can swap out the part in minutes. At least, thats what ive found. The last server i actually owned took 3 days to get a replacement HDD, go to the co-location facility, install it and get things running again. Now if i have a problem, i log a ticket and its actioned 24/7/365 by onsite staff. I Still have 100% control, nobody else has access and i save $000's :)

Those specs will run a 30000 member forum with ease. I have found its actually the phpadsnew banner software that takes more CPU power and MySQL load than the whole vBB forum though.

btw, im not trying to critisise what you have planned, just discussing other options and experiances.

[Sidewindr]

Well if you use generic hardware you will have long outages in the evennt of a failure.

The new server will be fully fault tolerant probably a Sun unless HP can provide same specs for a better price, as well as having 3 years support/maintenance. :D This is why it's going to cost a fair whack of cash, the bandwidth is taken care of as well for the time being. the long term plan is to ony rely on a telco but that will take a couple of years or so to get to that stage.

[VooDoo]

hehe, true at times but this was a HP SCSI drive from a HP raid array. If it was generic i could have put in any drive to fix it.

My current server is a sun which have never had an issue but im looking at upgrading again in 6mths. Ive had some experiance with HP and Intel validated servers and in many cases they are generic hardware in a branded case. The HP 4 hr support does work well though. I mainly worked with Intel validated stuff which is supported by a Intel Premium dealer, some are great, some worse than having a 14yr old geek doing your support.

[Ryzz]

The HP 4 hr support does work well though.4 Hr Onsite is great. I have it on all the out Datacentre servers for out clients.

Ring HP
HP: Whats wrong
Me: Drives Dead
HP: What Carepaq
Me: 4Hr
HP: No problems sir, parts dispatched, do you require an engineer?

Sure enough, less than 4 hrs later u have a HP Engineer onsite fixing it all :bow:

[peber]

*nod*
My experience with HP has generally been really good as well... certainly no problems with the response times... don't get me started on another manufacturer that ryhmes with HELL though...
:flamin:

[JamesL]

Would be interested on the specs of the new server and the make, dual pro, 2 gig ram ??? Anything like that ?


I have 2GB of RAM in my Lappy

:)

[Febs]

Ring HP
HP: Whats wrong
Me: Drives Dead
HP: What Carepaq
Me: 4Hr
HP: No problems sir, parts dispatched, do you require an engineer?

How much nicer is it dealing with Australia than India?
For any server problems we have, that's usually how our discussions go (about as quick too).

For client machines (which usually have the regular warranty), we get India...and ooh boy is that fun:

HP India: Serial number?
Me: XXXXXXXXX
*10 minutes pass*
HP India: Ok, what's the problem?
Me: Dead drive. It clicks, computer doesn't boot, and there's a puff of smoke eminating from it. Oh, and we've tried another drive in this computer, and it's fine. THE DRIVE IS DEAD.
HP India: Sir have you tried the Drive test? What code did it return?
Me: The drive is smoking! It makes funny noises! The problem follows the drive, not the computer!
HP India: Yes but what code?
Me: Grr...*goes to find a code we'd previously written down*. Code XX
HP India: Ok. So you've tried another drive in this machine?
Me: YES!!!!
HP India: Ok sir. Wait while I get you a job number.

Note: That's a good experience. They can get worse....but I'm just thankful I don't have to deal with Gateway and their outsourced support clowns anymore. They were truly shocking.

Cheers,
- Febs.

[Ryzz]

How much nicer is it dealing with Australia than India?
For any server problems we have, that's usually how our discussions go (about as quick too).

For client machines (which usually have the regular warranty), we get India...and ooh boy is that fun:

HP India: Serial number?
Me: XXXXXXXXX
*10 minutes pass*
HP India: Ok, what's the problem?
Me: Dead drive. It clicks, computer doesn't boot, and there's a puff of smoke eminating from it. Oh, and we've tried another drive in this computer, and it's fine. THE DRIVE IS DEAD.
HP India: Sir have you tried the Drive test? What code did it return?
Me: The drive is smoking! It makes funny noises! The problem follows the drive, not the computer!
HP India: Yes but what code?
Me: Grr...*goes to find a code we'd previously written down*. Code XX
HP India: Ok. So you've tried another drive in this machine?
Me: YES!!!!
HP India: Ok sir. Wait while I get you a job number.

Note: That's a good experience. They can get worse....but I'm just thankful I don't have to deal with Gateway and their outsourced support clowns anymore. They were truly shocking.

Cheers,
- Febs.
That sounds like Dell. You ring up to report a server problem where the raid controller has died and they are asking you, have you tried booting into safe mode.

You feel like reaching through the phone and strangling these morons!!!! :cussing: :cussing: :cussing:

Makes you wonder how much longer customers are going to put up with this BS!!!

[Sidewindr]

Yay for the PNC Clowns!! hehe Don't get me started on the whole windows guru crowd I wouldn't wipe my bum with an MCSE.

(That's Point-N-Click Clowns btw :D and MCSE = Must Call Someone Else)

[Hammer]

hey sidey, just a question, what size rack you using for it ? 2ru or 4ru ?

[Sidewindr]

The temporary server is only 1RU and doesn't have redundant PSU etc ..

The new server will be 2RU and have redundant PSU/disks etc etc.

[Ryzz]

Yay for the PNC Clowns!! hehe Don't get me started on the whole windows guru crowd I wouldn't wipe my bum with an MCSE.

(That's Point-N-Click Clowns btw :D and MCSE = Must Call Someone Else)
Thank god for that, i aint getting you no server if you were planning on wiping ya ass with me :stick: :lol: