I needed a Dedicated Hosting Server with Cpanel. I decided to go with nocster because I am a linux novice and wanted a managed solution. I am not sure what "managed" means to nocster other than kernal upgrades. I had to hire a Linux Admin to secure my server by seting up a firewall and closing all the unused ports($300). WHM isnt even completely configured when you get your server.
The only advantage i can see over a umanaged solution is that you get very casual support via perldesk. They tend to reply once within a couple hours of your ticket submission, which often leads to a request for more info from them. However then it seems they abandon you. After you immediately reply with the requested info or whatever, days can go by with no further response. It is usually not until i open a new ticket or post on the forum that someone answers. Often the ticket is just permanently abandoned.

Make no mistake, what your paying for at Nocster is the hardware and the bandwith. i haven't had any trouble with either of these and the price for these alone is very reasonable, but if you need a "Managed Solution" Look elsewhere. Rackspace if you can afford it. Anyone who can handle a Nocster Dedicated server, could probably handle an unmanaged one like rackshack.

Just the type of review I expected to hear about Nocster. Their network is very fast (I won't say reliable yet, because of those major problems they had earlier this year), and the hardware seems to be pretty good. But their sales and support, I just can't help but wonder about. I had 3 tickets in their sales system, 1 was answered in a bit less than 24 hours, however the reply made no sense. The 2nd was a followup asking what they meant in the 1st reply, and I didn't get an answer. The 3rd ticket was asking for new IP's (after I had already ordered the server) as the ones they gave me were all blacklisted. I closed that ticket myself as I soon realized their entire network was blacklisted. They seem to be working on that, and getting their network unlisted. I didn't really have much experience with their support team, but I mean, can you really expect to be able to offer a fully managed servers at the price they do? They already had problems before with the prices they charged (which created the entire network fiasco). It just doesn't really add up to me.
See Thread: http://forums.burst.net/showthread.php?threadid=332&perpage=15&pagenumber=1

RackFast.com offers a managed service, which I use for one of my servers. I haven't had too many problems. 99% network uptime, quick support answers.

I won't be to specific for reasons of our customers interest.

However it was your firewall that was creating your problem, which is not covered under our support. The ticket on this problem was not open very long, however I do apologize for the time that it took for a pretty simple issue, however they can be overlooked easy. I consulted with the tech who was working on your machine and once he told me what the problem was, I asked him to look at the current firewall rules.

If you'd like to review again what support you are paying for, you're more than welcome to overlook the following URL:

http://nocster.com/policy/managed.shtml

WHM isnt even completely configured when you get your server.

That's how CPanel comes, some people have different setups. I'm sorry that you expected it to be that way, however we (and most other companies) do not set this up because each clients wants different things.

They already had problems before with the prices they charged (which created the entire network fiasco). It just doesn't really add up to me.

Thats what I was thinking. First they ask customers if they want to pay more for better support. Few weeks later they lower their prices (increasing datatransfer). Makes u think....

hp

Originally posted by talon39
I needed a Dedicated Hosting Server with Cpanel. I decided to go with nocster because I am a linux novice and wanted a managed solution. I am not sure what "managed" means to nocster other than kernal upgrades. I had to hire a Linux Admin to secure my server by seting up a firewall and closing all the unused ports($300). A firewall is considered third-party software. Their forums have many tutorials on how to setup your own firewall, however.

Originally posted by talon39

WHM isnt even completely configured when you get your server.
The only advantage i can see over a umanaged solution is that you get very casual support via perldesk.I've never seen a host setup WHM for a client in advance - If you got the same server at RackShack, DedicatedNow, or any managed server company offering CPanel, they wouldn't set it up for you. There are just too many variables that have to be set by the customer, and not the host. Nocster will help you on any issues with your server that aren't related to third-party programs. Not many managed solutions cover third-party software to begin with.
Originally posted by talon39
Make no mistake, what your paying for at Nocster is the hardware and the bandwith. i haven't had any trouble with either of these and the price for these alone is very reasonable, but if you need a "Managed Solution" Look elsewhere. Rackspace if you can afford it. Anyone who can handle a Nocster Dedicated server, could probably handle an unmanaged one like rackshack. The only things that Nocster's management doesn't cover are:The following services are not included in BurstNET™ managed support, however, are available as .Abnormal Support. billed at a rate of $65/hour:
1. Non-supported operating system installation/configuration/troubleshooting.
2. Operating system reinstallation, for reasons other than failed hardware or hacked/compromised software.
3. Custom software installation: BurstNET™ may, at their discretion, assist with custom 3rd party software installation; however, the software will not be supported past installation.
4. Upgrading hard drives to a different size or type of drive, requiring the transfer of data and/or operating system and software re-installation.
5. Any and all work performed for non-managed and/or co-location clients.

* Contact BurstNET™ for any item/service not explicitly detailed.
I have my own server, as well as many resold servers with Nocster, and deal with their support and techs many times each week. I've found that they'll do a lot without charging an "Abnormal Support Fee", you just have to ask them.

-Josh

Thats what I was thinking. First they ask customers if they want to pay more for better support. Few weeks later they lower their prices (increasing datatransfer). Makes u think....
They cut costs in other ways, and also secured a new round of funding from M&T bank.

- Matt

Here is the difference between Nocster's version of server management and someone like ServInt.
I've never seen a host setup WHM for a client in advance -If you got the same server at RackShack, DedicatedNow, or any managed server company offering CPanel, they wouldn't set it up for you. The server I ordered from ServInt was completely configured, WHM was set up (Except for the Nameservers and contact info)Not many managed solutions cover third-party software to begin with. While ServInt won't come right out and claim support for ALL 3rd party software (who knows everything that's out there anyway) they have already installed and configured several 3rd party applications for me. No charge.The only advantage i can see over a umanaged solution is that you get very casual support via perldesk. They tend to reply once within a couple hours of your ticket submission, which often leads to a request for more info from them. However then it seems they abandon you. After you immediately reply with the requested info or whatever, days can go by with no further response. It is usually not until i open a new ticket or post on the forum that someone answers. Often the ticket is just permanently abandoned. What I have found with ServInt is that a managed solution is useless if you have to tell them what you want done. To me, a managed solution is them telling you what should happen to make things right for operation and security. Managed solutions should be completely proactive. You don't have to notify them about Kernel updates you want, patches that need to be installed, or anything else in that realm. Let's face it, if the client who is looking for a managed solution knew what to tell the support techs to do, they wouldn't really need them anyway would they? Support should be instant, 800 numbers should be available and email responses should be measured in minutes not hours. That to me is a managed solution. From what I have read here it would seem that the RackShack client forums are as helpful as Nocster's support. You can take that anyway you like...;)

Rackspace is decent but very expensive with a few hidden costs that are thrown in there. ServInt is the best truly *managed* solution for the money that I've found.They cut costs in other ways, and also secured a new round of funding from M&T bank. Perhaps you could explain for me what securing new funding has to do with a viable business plan? Anyone can borrow money from a bank, tell me about all the funding they have paid back if you want to impress me. The amount of money you owe most certainly does not prove that your company is profitable.

To me, a managed solution is them telling you what should happen to make things right for operation and security. Managed solutions should be completely proactiveRackspace doesn't even do this for their Linux customers, and will only do it for their "Intensive Hosting" clients only - see http://www.intensive.com/?CMP=IL18680 for more details.

-Josh

Originally posted by talon39
I needed a Dedicated Hosting Server with Cpanel. I decided to go with nocster because I am a linux novice and wanted a managed solution. I am not sure what "managed" means to nocster other than kernal upgrades. I had to hire a Linux Admin to secure my server by seting up a firewall and closing all the unused ports($300).
<<snip>>
As you were told on the Nocster forums, the FTP problems that you were having were due to the firewall that was installed. Also, I'd never pay $300 just to have APF installed, especially when it was installed incorrectly, causing conflicts with other software. There's a tutorial to follow on the forums on how to install it yourself, properly.

Nocster's managed definition basically means that they'll support & upgrade any standard software, but they will not work with software firewalls (since that is third-party software).

- Matt

Originally posted by MainAreaJosh
Rackspace doesn't even do this for their Linux customers, and will only do it for their "Intensive Hosting" clients only - see http://www.intensive.com/?CMP=IL18680 for more details.

-Josh Well live and learn. Just goes to show that ServInt's approach is way above Rackspace as well. Just one more reason to use ServInt eh?

There are different levels of the so called *managed servers*. The problem is in that definition. For the thread starter here it would seem the word *managed* meant one thing to him and something entirely different to Nocster.

For the thread starter here it would seem the word *managed* meant one thing to him and something entirely different to Nocster.
Understandable, but Nocster does specify what their management includes on their site.

- Matt

A car manufacturer specifies their warranty too but how many people that own cars really understand all the details? How many people discover what it really meant when their cars break down and it's not covered?

Exactly....

OK these nocster guys keep implying I asked for them to setup APF. That is completely untrue. I asked them to close some ports. After all, Linux does have this capability without third party software. Their response to my request was that they completely do not support this and that I look on their forums for info on APF. I never once asked about APF.

For more info on this situation see the thread on the nocster forums.
Click here to read the Nocster Thread (http://forums.burst.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1386)

I find it sad that the Nocster support guys have time to monitor this forum, but dont have time to follow up on support tickets.

Just to let you know, Matt and I aren't support guys for Nocster.

-Josh

I find it sad that the Nocster support guys have time to monitor this forum, but dont have time to follow up on support tickets.

However, I'am.

Your tickets were answered after I replied though.

:)

OK these nocster guys keep implying I asked for them to setup APF. That is completely untrue. I asked them to close some ports. After all, Linux does have this capability without third party software. Their response to my request was that they completely do not support this and that I look on their forums for info on APF. I never once asked about APF.


I had to hire a Linux Admin to secure my server by seting up a firewall and closing all the unused ports($300)

..

Just for future reference, we will do a custom software firewall and installation for $65.00, we even do hardware firewalls but they cost more.

Cheerleaders then?

:D

Hey As stated multiples times, I did not ask for nocster to install a firewall, I asked them to close open ports via Linux. You flat out refused to do this! In my opinion this is the heart of the problem. You keep trying to misconstrue this as being a request for third party software. That is a blatant lie! Also I did not contract the Linux admin to install APF, or even a firewall. I hired him to close the open ports and secure the server, because My "Fully Managed" nocster support team refused to close any ports. Last time I checked Linux had this ability without any third party software!!! As to how the Linux Guy I contracted closed those ports and secured my server, I do not know. You guys told me he setup a firewall, I assumed from what I was told by you that he must have. Was it APF? I have no idea, the only person that mentioned APF was you guys! I just wanted the ports closed via Linux iptables whatever! This should have been covered! I should not have had to contract someone to do this in the first place!!!!!! You claim the FTP trouble I had was caused by the firewall, yet after the guy I contracted finished securing the server, I tested FTP and used FTP with no problems for more than a week. It wasn't until I updated Cpanel after you guys said it would not cause any trouble( and then it did) and one of your techs restarted cpanel via SSH, that I started having ftp trouble. Also at that time I was having trouble with webmail and one of your tech was working on that. So the only people who worked on it between the time it worked fine and when it broke was your techs! How is it possible that FTP would wait over a week to stop working if it was caused by something My contractor did? I'm still pissed I had to even hire him to close a few lousy ports on my server, when it's supposed to be "FULLY MANAGED".

And the two non-support guys who are defending Nocster, are Nocster resellers and have no knowledge of this situation other than what they read in the thread on the Nocster forum.(which I encourage everyone to read).

Check the Burst forums again, there's been a response by another tech about your situation, he explained it pretty well.

- Matt

Originally posted by MainAreaJosh
Just to let you know, Matt and I aren't support guys for Nocster.

Really? It doesn't look like it! You look as if you are part of the company... ;)