Hi all,

We've been running a Windows hosting service
for the past 6 months or so and are doing quite
well. We've been continuing to expand the services
and our offerings, but I would like to also be able
to target other similar markets and capitalize on
any brand awareness and marketing that we've
been building / doing.

We don't know TOO much about Unix hosting here,
which is why we started off with Windows. There is
still a large unix market out there, and I'd like to be
able to offer my customers and potiential customers
both Unix and Windows hosting plans.

We do NOT want to get involved in something that
we cannot do well, as we like to offer a quality and
reputable service.

----------

The question: From my readings and following this and
other forums, I have seen that a LOT of automation
exists out there for Unix. What I am wondering how good
this automation really is, and what kind of complications
can arise?

What I've been considering: Purchasing a solid automated
CP for unix (HSphere, cPanel, or Ensim). From there, we
would also purchase our unix server from a unix specialist
who provides managed services.

Would that be a possibily? If the hardware and fundamental
software is supported by a unix specialist, and our software
is automated and run by well established and familiar tools,
could someone not that familiar with Unix itself run a unix
hosting box? Obviously, basic support issues we can handle,
questions, etc ... and we do offer a number of more
unix-oriented services already (mySQL, PHP, PERL/CGI), so
I don't know that it would really be a problem.


Any thoughts/comments? Anyone know of a good SP who
can provide that level of managed support of the OS? Not
looking for a $1000 solution, but certainly not a $100 deal
either.

TIA,

www.rackspace.com :)

linux is a variation of unix and the majority of hosts use it so I would definetly say theres a bigger market for windows hosts.

Ok, but regardless of the size of the market (and last I heard, it was 65% Unix / 35% Windows approx.) it is something that I am interested in doing.

I looked at rackspace ... looks pretty good. Are there any others like them? Could they do what I'm looking for?

the people that host these forums: rackshack.net

Or try the Dedicated Server forums.

The problem is you want managed... I advise you try to learn your way threw it so you arnt always paying the managed fee.

And be careful a lot of hosts call there servers managed just because they update your kernal and do free reboots.

Which is what I was getting at. We are too busy, and frankly I don't have the interest, to learn to do it myself.

Perhaps this is a generalization, but it seems as if most on this forum prefer the go-it-alone approach. I don't have a problem with that, and in many cases it can be a better approach. Nevertheless, there is also something to be said for needing a managed solution and being prepared to pay for it.

It is not cost efficient for us to hire a Unix expert to manage a single (or a few servers). Maybe at some point in time it will be, but for now it makes more sense to pay more per month, and still run a profitable server, than to take on a large fixed personnel cost and hope that things fly.

Nevidia,

rackspace is perfect but ... I gotta tell you it is way expensive :)

If you want a cheaper solution, go with theplanet and get someone manage the server for you with a low cost.

http://webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=123544

Kevin

Originally posted by Nevidia
Perhaps this is a generalization, but it seems as if most on this forum prefer the go-it-alone approach. I don't have a problem with that, and in many cases it can be a better approach. Nevertheless, there is also something to be said for needing a managed solution and being prepared to pay for it.


learning is great, but not at the expense of paying clients. i am sure bryan's clients will commend him for not using them as guinea pigs for a foray into the world of linux server management. there is also a lot to be said about acquanting yourself with the issues *while* your server is in good hands of an experienced administrator you can fall back on.

wise choice bryan, i wish you luck =]

cheers,
paul

Brian,

Like Paul said... "wise choice!" ;-)

Chicken, which just retired as a moderator here, was saying something about his upstream provider. I believe he said he used fastservers.net... Yeap just checked to make sure.

I looked over their plans and various offerings, which they seemed quite reasonable. (fastservers.net that is)

On another note, you should check out "The Planet" also. I have heard nothing shy of rave reviews of the quality of service, hardware, and support. Of course their fully managed services looked to be around the 500/month mark (and up).

If you want to tinker with something, you can always signup with rackshack and get one of Roberts 99.00 specials. This could be a simple development server where you can jump in and get your hands dirty, without causing harm to your clients.

I suppose too, you could always elect to acquire a smaller VDS solution and use that for your training purposes.

Good Luck with your expansion...
Steve

someone stated that theres a bigger market for windows hosts.. I beg to differ. Windows has a known flaw to be unstable, against Linux/unix platforms. Prove me wrong

I think it depends which side of the fence your sitting on, dave... Don't go ticking off the Windows Host. ;)

Just a small point, Linux != Unix they are different, similar, but ultimately different.

Originally posted by KDAWebServices
Just a small point, Linux != Unix they are different, similar, but ultimately different.

You are right about the fact that they are different, but it's at a wrong abstraction level. Linux is a type of unix, just like *BSD and all the other unices out there.

Depends how you look at it, in my books Linux is a unix-a-like OS, but it isn't a type of Unix, now AIX and HP-UX are types of Unix as they are Posix compliant and certified.

Originally posted by shoney
I think it depends which side of the fence your sitting on, dave... Don't go ticking off the Windows Host. ;)

oops :) i wasnt bashing windows hostings, cause eventually, thehostworks will be offereing it as one of its many platforms. but i just hadda give him a little resistance.. thats all..

:stickout:

You misread the above posts. I don't see anyone who said Windows hosting was wore popular than Unix/Linux ... but eventually it will be. Trend has been going that way for a while now :-)