How can I tell if my dedicated server is dedicated? I've received the following error with "vhost" in the error and I'm curious pertaining to a script I'm installing; I've gotten other "vhost" error msg, too.

Fatal error:
/home/httpd/vhosts/myservername.com/httpdocs/...

I'm now using Plesk and notice I can't do 90% of the things I was able to do in Cpanel when I had full access. I have to email my webhosting company for every thing, url redirect, etc. I'm basically at the moment looking to lease my own server from Dell and set up my own server because I'm unahppy with webhosting companies and there dedicated servers.

If you have root access, you should be able to do anything.

You mean if you are the only admin of the server? Screw it and wait for the other admins to pop up. :-)

I do have shell access, but want to be able to administer site via controal panel, not shell. I'm brushing up on my Linux skills.

Well, I have not used Plesk for a while but was never as an Administrator. It might seems that it is the issue of the control panel which lacks the features that you require and not the issue that you are not getting a dedicated server.

You might want to look at Plesk manuals at their website to see if what you want can be achieved using their control panel.

I thought all the control panel had similar features. For example, Cpanel allowed me to do Url redirects, restrict IP and domain, etc. I don't see anything of the sort in Plesk.

And, back to the issue, how can I tell if I have a dedicated server or not?

The basic function of the control panel would be the same but some have more functions than others. Cpanel is amongst the most comprehensive of all the *nix control panel. Plesk is not as comprehensive but considerably more stable.

On *nix, you should be able to run 'top' in ssh and see if the resources appears to be exclusively yours. CPU, RAM and so on would match what you purchase.

Also with Plesk, you should get both Server/Administration Control and the Client/site control panels.

You can make changes as you like without fear.

With virtual hosting plans, you usually do not have a lot of allocated resources and you do not have root access.

With VPS, you will have root access but your harddisk allocation and RAM would also be limited. In VPS, 'top' would show all the CPU resources used by you and by others sharing the same machine.

With Dedicated Server, you get full RAM, Harddisk and CPU resources. Basically, you should get like a minimum of 512mb RAM, 40gb Harddisk space and over 2ghz CPU. Bandwidth usually be between 300gb to 2000gb.

By the way, where did you get your machine from ?

If you find out that you do have a dedicated server, you might want to look at the Direct Admin Control panel. From what it sounds like, this CP would  meet all of your needs and ever since we have been offering this control panel to our clinets, I have heard nothing but good feedback.

You can find out more about the features and the demos at their site: www.directadmin.com (http://www.directadmin.com)

 

Order an additional HDD and see what will happen. You would never get a 80 GB second HDD on a 10 GB VPS.