I am a hosting provider , small , only selling one site a day on average but I take great pride in supporting my customers . However my dedicated server provider does not take pride in this and causes me to make excuses on when I can get things fixed . Example , I recently had a fix done on a client site MySql database (I am not allowed root access to do it myself) and the fix was wrong . I was told two more days until they would return and fix it due to an issue with thier software , two days turned into 5 and it still is not fixed . In the mean time I look like an incompetent moron to my customer , which really upsets me and of course I have to make lame excuses as to why it is not complete .
Here is another good one , my server goes down for two hours , nobody answers the phone or emails , finally after it is back up for two hours I get an email telling me the power circuit for my rack died and my UPS battery was dead (on my leased dedicated server) . Not really the type of answer I was looking for .
I pay for software installations because I am not allow root access (not what the original agreement stated) , i am quoted 3 days turnaround and am lucky to have a bug ridden installation two weeks later that requires another 3 days of install to get pathed out properly . Meanwhile , once again I am making excuses to my customers as to why thier promised upgrade is running two weeks late .

I pay my bill every month like clockwork and am rapidly filling my first server but as my business grows I am avidly seeking a new provider than treats customers like they have some sort of value .

All that said , is there a dedicated server provider for resellers that everyone agrees is a solid , supportive , well connected high speed supplier ?

I read a lot of slams but not much praise , anybody just giggling happy with thier dedicated provider ?
I don't want to demean website owners but only webhosts would truly understand this level of frustration , so I really only want to hear from other webhosts .

BTW I am hiding behind a masked identity so my provider doesn't read this and just cut me off , I am THAT trusting of them !

Originally posted by MrGoodHost

I pay for software installations because I am not allow root access (not what the original agreement stated)...

There's no reason that you shouldn't have root access if it's a dedicated server. Your host sounds very questionable.

There are many people on here that are happy with their current hosts, if you search around I'm sure you'll find threads that recommend dedicated server hosts. However, you'll never get a consensus on just ONE host that's perfect. Everyone has their favorite host.

Do you mind telling us who is your current provider?

That way, I can avoid and won't be in the situation you are in. :D

What scares me about that post is the initial person is so scared of the professionalism of their provider they even mention having to use an alias.

Wow has this industry sunk to that level.....

Ask your provider if they can setup a remote login for the UPS so you can remotely power cycle your server so you do not have to wait for 2 hours everytime your system goes down.

Guys that I have seen with mostly good reviews (and some bad, no business where you can please everybody.) are.

weinbar
plusweb
pegasus
burstnet
and Josh @ planetZ seems to be very smart and quick
on the response. I have not read much about his company though.

Best Regards,

as always say :)
VO :)

Throw in RackSpace.

These guys would pull the plug in a heartbeat if they saw the original posting and yes I am afraid , I have over 200 websites hosted with them and try to run a very professional business in every aspect .
They will allow telnet root but made it clear that if I ask for any support after I have root access , I will be paying for support every time I ask for it . Basically they have blamed a lot of issues on me and I can see that root access would just be a method of draining more cash from me . They became quite angry just for me asking about root access .

I do not want to name them at this time for fear of repercussions however , believe me , I will sing a big song once I get moved to a more reputable company and am no longer worried about my customers .

I have been looking very seriously at Dialtone and have not been able to find many complaints , the pricing is a little stiffer than what I am currently paying but maybe you get what you pay for ?

www.venturesonline.com

Nuff Said!

If you do not have root on a dedicated server, their is not much of a point in having a dedicated server at all.

If your looking for more professional service, and not waiting 2 hours for a simple task like a power cycle, I would try a company like rackspace.com You will see where the little extra you might spend with a premium provider goes, verse hunting for the lowest costs when it comes to mission critical dedicated servers.

I have been looking very seriously at rackspace , dialtone , venturesonline and 4webspace . I am asking each one to provide thier method of measuring and charging for bandwidth .
I don't mind paying extra for good service and connectivety , I just don't want to get into another situation of throwing good money after bad and staying up all night frustrated as hell .

Originally posted by CWIhosting
If you do not have root on a dedicated server, their is not much of a point in having a dedicated server at all.

Has no one given any thought to the types of devastation a rogue customer, or even merely an uninformed one, can cause with root access on a typical LAN? It's something we will only offer with a very specific network setup that protects each server from others, as well as the Net at large from a rogue server.
<P>
Dedicated servers are still extremely useful even without root - the server can be configured with all of the host's proprietary control software, and your site runs with no resource restrictions or load demands from other sites.
<P>
Kevin

MrGoodHost,

The days of not allowing root access on dedicated servers are over. Your provider is working on years 1975
or 1976 ages.

Verio or Dialtone Internet or RackSpace is the way to go. A little more expensive but you will get quality. Although you will not find them to be perfect, they are by far better managed hosters than others.

Good luck ----

Romero

I agree , an inexperienced user could wreak havoc on both the server and the network , however having to wait up to eight hours to get a directory permission changed is absolutely absurd . Take it a step further , I am an inexperienced telnet user , however it is my business on that machine , and I am hosting many other peoples business' , if I am reckless with my root access I can not only destroy or damage my customers and my business but I'm going to incur a hellacious bill from my provider to fix what I have screwed up . I would think most inexperienced business owners would be very careful with such a powerful tool .

My issue is the fact that in order to get root from my current provider I must give up the managed portion of the contract , and because they are so untrustworthy I can almost gaurantee they would sabotage my machine just so they charge me more money to fix it . Basically creating thier own economy !

Well I am dying to know who your provider is ?

***** is it. ? I am sure thay can match the kind of service levels you are saying.

I would suggest you go with rackspace if you do not mind paying a bit extra, they are really world class,

One of my friend has server at Dialtone and Our experience says that Rackspace is slightly better than Di when coming to support issues.

THis is however our opinion and others may differ.
I would say no server company can be as good as them. our company has 2 dedicated servers with them and we are very happy :)

Regards
Manish Kapadia

Originally posted by MrGoodHost
I agree , an inexperienced user could wreak havoc on both the server and the network , however having to wait up to eight hours to get a directory permission changed is absolutely absurd . Take it a step further , I am an inexperienced telnet user , however it is my business on that machine , and I am hosting many other peoples business' , if I am reckless with my root access I can not only destroy or damage my customers and my business but I'm going to incur a hellacious bill from my provider to fix what I have screwed up . I would think most inexperienced business owners would be very careful with such a powerful tool .

My issue is the fact that in order to get root from my current provider I must give up the managed portion of the contract , and because they are so untrustworthy I can almost gaurantee they would sabotage my machine just so they charge me more money to fix it . Basically creating thier own economy !

You know, I hear alot of this. Inexperienced users should not have root... blah blah blah

How do you expect them to become experienced? By having restricted access? I personally have been working with Unix OS's for almost 5 years now. I must have annihilated at least a dozen machines during the learning process.

It happens. I do not believe in letting users stay inexperienced or ignorant.

My $1.699 worth (Gallon of gas)

I can tell you this much , they are not currently listed here on the board at all . However they will be shortly . I am looking very seriously at venturesonline at this point . They offer pretty much everything I'm looking for but what really makes them stand out is all of the positive comments here on the board by people leasing from them . Dollar for dollar they look like the best direction for me . I am still researching but they look like a solid contender .

Originally posted by Madman2020


You know, I hear alot of this. Inexperienced users should not have root... blah blah blah

How do you expect them to become experienced? By having restricted access? I personally have been working with Unix OS's for almost 5 years now. I must have annihilated at least a dozen machines during the learning process.

It happens. I do not believe in letting users stay inexperienced or ignorant.

My $1.699 worth (Gallon of gas)

Totally agreed. My experience suggests that you should let users (inexperienced or not) to have root access to d-boxes, but if they wreck everything and they need help clearing it up...... Charge them for it. It teaches them to take more care :D

Better still, spend a couple of hundred $$, build your own Linux box, and learn :D (like I do).

Originally posted by MrGoodHost
I agree , an inexperienced user could wreak havoc on both the server and the network , however having to wait up to eight hours to get a directory permission changed is absolutely absurd . Take it a step further , I am an inexperienced telnet user , however it is my business on that machine , and I am hosting many other peoples business' , if I am reckless with my root access I can not only destroy or damage my customers and my business but I'm going to incur a hellacious bill from my provider to fix what I have screwed up . I would think most inexperienced business owners would be very careful with such a powerful tool .

Making it easier for a customer to screw up the network, thereby disrupting service for other customers, and saying that you can just charge them a lot of money afterwards - that would be closing the barn door after the horses have gotten out. It would be better to prevent such a screw-up scenario from ever taking place, don't you think?

My point was simply that there are many implications of dedicated root that I suspect most providers haven't considered. It's not 100% on-topic to your problem, though, so I'll drop it.

Kevin

Not sure what type of network setup you are used to Sigma, but most "real" managed and dedicated server providers offer full root access to all their customers, and guess what, its done in a way where that root user on one server is limited to the damage they can do to other boxes or the netwrok. Their own box is a different story, but that is where "learning" comes into play. I'm making this statment by real experience, across hundres of dedicated cleints.

I'm sticking with the opinion that if your don't have root access, you really don't have a dedicated server, just someone telling you that you have one.

Originally posted by CWIhosting
Not sure what type of network setup you are used to Sigma, but most "real" managed and dedicated server providers offer full root access to all their customers, and guess what, its done in a way where that root user on one server is limited to the damage they can do to other boxes or the netwrok. Their own box is a different story, but that is where "learning" comes into play. I'm making this statment by real experience, across hundres of dedicated cleints.

We're not necessarily in disagreement. I'm simply indicating that some providers (OK, many) may not have the appropriate network setup, whether they realize it or not.

I'm sticking with the opinion that if your don't have root access, you really don't have a dedicated server, just someone telling you that you have one.

That definition may fit your needs, but it doesn't fit everyone's needs. If you really want to argue over definitions, how about pseudo-dedicated technologies such as Ensim? Those have root, but not the entire server.

Kevin

...and the thread topic is...

Originally posted by MrGoodHost
is there a dedicated server provider for resellers that everyone agrees is a solid , supportive , well connected high speed supplier ?