Hello guys,

I am currently trying to start a webhosting business but the problem is I dont know much about unix. All my life I have been using windows.

I am trying to buy a dedicated server but the problem is, this server is not managed and is provided by rackshack.net . They are having a huge $1 setup sale and I am trying to really take advantage of it but not trying to end up having problems at the end.

what am trying to know is, is it hard to manage a none managed dedicated server by yourself? is there instructions out there on how to set them up, build them and so on?

and finally is it a good idea for someone who dont know much about unix to get a unix server? I know alot about computers though, been using one for over 5 years but I have never used a unix, only window.

I notice rackshack have a forum where members can help others, would that be good enough help for me?

please help before I end up making a crazy decision.

Truely appreciate your reply

Originally posted by urbanweb
Hello guys,

I am currently trying to start a webhosting business but the problem is I dont know much about unix. All my life I have been using windows.

I am trying to buy a dedicated server but the problem is, this server is not managed and is provided by rackshack.net . They are having a huge $1 setup sale and I am trying to really take advantage of it but not trying to end up having problems at the end.

what am trying to know is, is it hard to manage a none managed dedicated server by yourself? is there instructions out there on how to set them up, build them and so on?

and finally is it a good idea for someone who dont know much about unix to get a unix server? I know alot about computers though, been using one for over 5 years but I have never used a unix, only window.

I notice rackshack have a forum where members can help others, would that be good enough help for me?

please help before I end up making a crazy decision.

Truely appreciate your reply

Hi,

If you get CPanel with your server then it might be easier for you.
And if you do encounter few problems Rackshack's forum will be able to help you but if its a very urgent problem and you have no knowledge of how to fix it then you'll be in a desperate situation.

Even if you post a thread on RackShack's forum asking for help, you wont receive a response with in few minutes, it really depends on your luck, sometimes no 1 will help you.

If you're going to start a hosting company then i suggest you start with the rackshack's server and learn how to fix it, upgrade + update etc... .. before actually putting customers on it :D

If you don't have server admin experience (even windows server flavors). It probably a good idea to NOT get one.

WHM/CPanel help automate a lot of things and security,as 1 example, is not one of them.

The how-to's can be great but you can also make a mistake and kill the box.
As most of it needs to be done by SSH. What you may know as a command prompt.

To learn - You would be better off install Linux to your home machine to learn it, only then when comfortable in shell and know at least basic commands, go into the Un-Managed dedicated market.

OR

At this point you be doing yourself and your customers a favor by utilizing a Fully Managed server.
Where you can slowly learn by starting w the smaller things.
Let the pro's handle the big stuff ;)

thank you for your reply. will take note of that

Check in the JO&R forum, you can get one for really cheap there (an admin that is) :)

Goodluck :beer:

I agree, don't rely on cPanel alone, sure it helps but does virtually nothing to secure the server. Search out a qualified server admin, you can look in the JO&R forums, but be cautious, make sure whomever you choose has verifiable information and experience.

You may also consider going with a provider that provides server management. It will certainly cost more than a RS server, but the extra cost now could save you a lot in the long run.

If you decide to get one, do yourself a favor and have it managed by a third party for a few months until you know it inside and out. You could easily destroy your business if your server isn't 100% secure.

Originally posted by savageghost
You may also consider going with a provider that provides server management. It will certainly cost more than a RS server, but the extra cost now could save you a lot in the long run.

Actually it will produce immediate monetary results ;)

As it is far cheaper to get a Fully Managed Server, than it is to lease a box and pay a 'good' sys admin.
Not these $100 a month admin guys, no offense but I never did trust that! Any admin worth a damn will make you pay good money for his services ;)

Very true....

The only opposite that I can see is if you have your heart set on a DC that does not offer management.

If you can't patch and secure your box, I would advise strongly against it.

Why not get a windows server and offer windows hosting?

You can try a semi-managed server from Burst. If you are hacked or anything like that they will reimage the drive for you etc.

buy a low end computer, set it up next to your desktop and install linux on it...

Originally posted by bitserve
Why not get a windows server and offer windows hosting?

There's a big difference between using windows operating system and maintaining a windows server. I wouldn't recommend ever going live with a windows server until you've had 6 months or so to experiment.

Originally posted by blue27
There's a big difference between using windows operating system and maintaining a windows server. I wouldn't recommend ever going live with a windows server until you've had 6 months or so to experiment.

i would agree completely, only run a windows server if youve had server admin experience. This doesn't include being an expert on Windows XP.

Maintaining a Windows 2000 box is very daunting at times, just as daunting as Linux if you dont know what your doing.
Plus running a Windows 2000 server costs quite a bit more to set up, i.e. getting a license and paying for the added extra's that your hosting clients would be after.

I assumed that a question about server admin where the poster says that they have never admined a UNIX server, but has used windows was pretty much saying that he had admined windows servers before.