Hello !

I have a question:

What are the disadvantages not to have (full) root-acces ?
Perhaps I would like to have a full managed dedicated server, and I wouldn't have root-access.

Thanks !

if you were paying for a fully managed dedicated server then why wouldn't you want root access?

i think it's better to have root so you can go on and poke around and make sure everything is ok...

even if you had root access you wouldn't have to use it, but it's nice to have the option just in case...

is there a partitial root access? :D

really, if you have fully managed server & trusted admin, then you probably do not need to have root access by any means.

regards,
M.

An admin can set up control panels and sudo to enable some root-levle access, but that still lacks the flexibility of real root.

If I were paying the $$ for the server, I would insist on having root access. Sure, I may never use root, but I would always want to know that I could use it if I needed to.

Peter

I think not having root access would be just insane, no web based admin function can even come close to competing with root access.

Is there anyone who buys a server without cpanel? I seem to read a lot of it here heh.

It makes me a bit concerned if unpatched kernels are getting patched etc. surely cpanel doesnt do this for you as well?

correct me if I am wrong of course, I am just been curious.

Its good to have in that if you have a problem you know how to solve something its going to be quicker to login and fix it rather than contact your sysadmin

Rus

Chrysalis,
Yes, unfortunately many people are simply purchasing a server and relying completely on CPanel or another control panel to do 100% of the administration for them. Thats when people get hacked.

We do not use a control panel(we have a custom programmed one), as I want to know exactly what is going on behind the scenes, and exactly what software is involved.

Peter

First of all thanks for the answers !!

if you were paying for a fully managed dedicated server then why wouldn't you want root access?

No. In my case I want a managed dedicated server, because for the moment I don't know how to manage it on my own. So I am looking for a host in europe, and I found strato.com/server/index_business.html . I am happy that it is managed ! But I have no (at leas no fully) root acces. For the beginning I do not really want it, because first of all, I want to have the site just working, and there aren't private stuff, everything is freely available, as it is advertising(no important data should be stored there). But I am not an expert, and I don't know, perhaps I could need it in two months

So my question: For what could I need root-access. Is it really bad not to have it ? What could I be missing ?


(The Adverysingcompany where I partially work, wants to put there some hundreds of 50Megs Video-Presentations of other firms, and I need a host which could stream these videos. With stream I mean, the visitors should be able to look at the videos directly in the browser, and not having to download first the whole file, and then look at it)


If I were paying the $$ for the server, I would insist on having root access. Sure, I may never use root, but I would always want to know that I could use it if I needed to.

Yes, it is good to know that I could use it if I needed, but for what ? At this moment I do not know much about dedicated servers ...

Disadvantage:

1. Needing the data center to do installation of any software you need (and you may get a reply that they don't support it and installing it breaks their managed support, guarantee, SLA etc)

2. 100% reliant on the data center to provide support and prompt help even if you just need to fix a minor detail

3. So far, the care given by the server owners are definitely going to be a lot more compared to a data center with hundreds or thousands of servers to worry about.

4. If you are ever dissatisfied, you may find yourself without the ability to move your data, and having to rely on them for help.

yeah I got no problem with cpanel I just seem to notice some people get over reliant on it, for the reasons above I suggest you make sure you have the root login info, even if you dont use it for months it will be there incase you do need it.

If something isn't working on my machine and I can't wait a few hours for my support techs to read the ticket, I'd definitely want root access so I can fix it myself. Root is required to change a good amount of the system internals from what I understand.

Sorry for my not so intelligent and annoying questions.
But here the last formulation of the question, I hope:

In fact we are just a company needing a website running (with video-streams).
We do not really want something special comparing to a normal webhosting package for private user (except that our requierments could be up to 50 gig space, 50 gig ).

So I was asking myself, what important could I be missing. I just need the site running. Why do I need installing software (of which kind ?)

OK, I know, you already answered to this question, and I understand a bit better know. But still (even with the kind advices) I don't know if it is a mistake not to have it.
I didn't see anything so bad not to have it.
I do not want to play with it, and we are not resellers...

I am just no able to find a better dedicated AND managed Server in Europe.

Or do you know one ?

--------------------
Thanks for all of you, nice of you to help me. I am stopping now!

Greetings,
Nicolas

As I am a newbie in Server managment and root-things:

Isn't it better to have no root access and the server is managed for me.
Or isn't it so diffcult to manage a server on my own, and I should take the "not managed server with root access".
I thought it is not so easy and I will be lost, and then I have nothing, not even the site working (again, I do not know which tasks a sever administrator has to do) wich is the only thing I REALLY need....

if that is the case then go for the managed option...

Thanks.

Can someone tell me if it is really hard to manage a server.
Is it hard only to have the website running correctly ???
I want nothing more.
Do you really need nowledge, or can I learn it, as I learned everything else on my own ?

you can learn it - everyone who knows how had to learn it at some point :)

it depends how soon you want to be up and running - if time is an issue, go managed and get a vps to learn how to administrate a box yourself, then when you're comfortable with it change from managed to unmanaged.

if you're hosting other peoples sites then go managed. i find it shockin how many people are responsible for hosting peoples sites that don't actually know how to administer a box...

Thanks again !!

My problem now is that I can only find what I want as a not managed server (video-streaming in europe with 50gig space, 50 gig transfer).

And if I understand you (ca-uk) right, then even if I want ONLY to have a easy internet-page working (only a easy page with video-streams. I want no firewall, backup, ), it is hard for a newbie.

if time is an issue
Yes it is ...

Do no one knows a good host (would be good in Europe) doing what described a the top of this message (managed dedicated server being able to show video-streams) ?

take a look in the offers forum and see if you can find a host that suits your needs.

alternatively, there are companies that specifically offer the management part, so you get the server and somewhere else and they will manage it for you.

it isn't that hard to put a simple web site up, the video streaming adds a bit more complexity.

however, i wouldn't recommend to anyone that they put a server out there that isn't protected by a firewall nor has a proper backup system in place.

Thanks a LOT !!

As everyone else said you should always have root access. What if you need to move your data off that server. You think they are going to help you do that? If you atleast have root access you can hire someone to do it for you.