Lets assume I need a dedicated UNIX server for my large and busy VB or UBB site.

I see lot of Cobalt RAQ4 dedicated hosting offers which look suitable.

I need 15GB bandwidth per month at least. How much RAM - 128 MB or 256 MB?

Does anyone have good or bad comments about running VB or UBB on a Cobalt RAQ4 server?

Can someone suggest a good hosting company? (UK or US) - one I have seen:

http://www.cobaltrack.com $199 pm for a RAQ4 with 55 GB pm bandwidth (wow!).

Any help gratefully received.

One issue - RAQ4s seem to come with Interbase SQL server as the default and not MySQL but I assume one can install MySQL easily enough?

the RAQ4 from colbaltracks does come with mysql.

Raq servers are very pretty but we had heat problems with them. The way they are setup there is no video or keyboard port on the server Everything is done from the web or through a tenlet /console port. Problem we had with raqs was if they went down ( and they did) you could not get back into them. IE A hard drive that has to be fscked you cant because you cant get to it.
Our data center moved away from raqs for that reason. And they were underpowered

I suggest you do a seach for 'cobaltracks' to see past messages. Also, whether you run a UBB or VB on the server, I'd suggest 512 MB of ram. The UBB will push the server's CPU more than VB would, but VB likes the ram. More the better is usally the rule. If you are just choosing between 128 or 256, then 256.

Ok here is how to recover your RAQ if it needs FSCK.

1. Attach a serial terminal to the 9 pin port on the back, configure it 115200,8,N,1
2. Let the machine boot until you see
<PRESS CTRL-D for normal restart>
3. Enter root password
4. type umount /dev/hda1
5. type fsck /dev/hda1 -f answer y to everythin
6. type fsck /dev/hda3 -f answer y to everything
7. reboot.

No monitor or keyboard required :-)

try these
http://thincnet.com/dedicated.htm
http://www.hostpro.net/hosting/dedicated/cobalt/index.html
http://www.superbraq.net/
http://www.datapipe.com/cobaltraqpricing.htm


And here is a list to Dedicated Server - Research
http://www.fsu-referrals.com/Links/frank-web1.htm#host-d-research-c
hope this helps

Also RAQ4 units do produce much more heat than the RAQ3, I recomend they be operated in a 67 degree enviroment and they work quite well.

Sam

Heat problems with raq's? i find this very odd i have many raq's on the same rack and if anything they seem to cool the room.

Steve

I should have added - my budget is $200 - $300 a month with no set up fee.

The more RAM the better of course - but the hosting charges rise steeply (far more than the RAM costs) - is this generally a trap to get you in and then force you to upgrade to a much more pricey option?

cobaltracks.com? :( I wont say more I dont have to.

What's your problem with cobaltRACKS.com

You can't write that and don't give reasons, who are you?

Originally posted by War
cobaltracks.com? :( I wont say more I dont have to.

Just look at the cobaltracks.com website everyone. Would you rent a server from a company with a site like this?

Pilot,

With the budget you have, $200-$300 monthly, you can get an Intel based server at companies like Catalog.com and Dialtone Internet. Both have servers in your price range and are well spoken of here. Among us, there are several who have servers at one of these two companies. they also both have special on occasion, so be sure to check for those. You may also be able to negotiate a deal if you talk to them.

There are a few other reliable companies mentioned here. I fyou do a searhc on the forum, you should be able to find them easily enough as they are oft mentioned when this same subject comes up (as it does frequently)

FYI

If I started on about cobaltracks.com they would have to add a new message board to hold all I have to say First lett me tell you I have a server with cobaltracks.com Its just sitting there cause it is no good to me I lost 7 good customers by going with them, there network is slow very slow I could get a faster connetion off a dsl line I would bet.

Now I will say Sam Motes will try to help anyway he can if you get ahold of him and thats not easy. As for the rest of there tech support they know one thing if you call them email Support@cobaltracks.com thats all they can say when you call, well when I call a place and ask for support I would think that they would know whats going on not just say, "email support they will help you". And on top of that its not even a 800 you pay for the call.

I understand that they are upgrading there networks in the future I dont know first hand of this seeing how I got an email about a month ago saying they was upgrading the next day. I thought yes things will get better but the next day I pinged my server to check and it was worse than before.


If you want a server for your home page and dont care about speeds then cobaltracks is a cheap way for you to go.