Im having a hard time trying to figure out how I could make money off of a web host.

Ok, so say i have a t1 line and a couple of servers. how many users could i support? It just doesnt seem like i could support enough with 1.4 mbit capacity... my cably modem downloads faster than that... and for $1000 a month thats an awful lot.

Who has done this and how far will a T1 line go.

thanks

The days of people starting a web host on a T1 are over. Even starting with a T3 is questionable.

You'll find it much easier -- and cheaper -- to house your servers in a colocation facility until you're pushing quite a large volume of traffic.

Originally posted by wadeee
Im having a hard time trying to figure out how I could make money off of a web host.

Ok, so say i have a t1 line and a couple of servers. how many users could i support? It just doesnt seem like i could support enough with 1.4 mbit capacity... my cably modem downloads faster than that... and for $1000 a month thats an awful lot.

Who has done this and how far will a T1 line go.

thanks

I host 350 domains (I target small sites, not big sites, keep this in mind).

You're welcome to look at the traffic stats:

http://home.grimster.org/mrtg/

A cookie if you can guess when server 1 and 2 backs up their sites to server 3 :D

Total bandwidth used (not when doing backup, if I were on a T-1 backup would be on a backside 100mbit hub using 192.168 ips). is less than 400kbit and that is peak usage, not average.

Honestly you could get away with hosting a lot of sites on a T1 the PROBLEM is cost.

Last T-1 I ordered was $1200 per MONTH for the line.

For $1200 per month you can get a BOATLOAD more bandwidth from a COLO or dedicated hosting facility! I mean, a BOATLOAD more. I mean if a T-1 is a rowboat, the bandwidth you could buy in a colo for $1200 a month is like the Titanic.

I've seen prices from $300-600 per Mbit so you could get from 2-4 mbit and that's 95% burstable.

Second what dixie said. Just starting out, you shouldn't even think about your own location or getting your own line of any size. Colocation centers and/or hosts with dedicated servers can sell you bandwidth for far less than you can buy it. For the price of a T-1, you could lease three servers each with 300 GB of transfer per month.

For what T-1's cost around here you could lease around 10 Rackshack RaQ4's!!

I've heard T-1's can be had cheaper in larger cities, around here the absolute minimum you'll pay is $750 and you will definitely be a "leaf" on the internet (envision a tree, think of the leaf) whereas most good colos will put you near the trunk!

Originally posted by cperciva
The days of people starting a web host on a T1 are over. Even starting with a T3 is questionable.

Humm, I woudl have ot disagree, unless you talkign for redundancy purposes you shoudl have 2 DS3's .. 45Mbit still goes a long way these days :)

thanks for the replies... That is kinda what i was getting the impression of .

Wade

Originally posted by cperciva

The days of people starting a web host on a T1 are over. Even starting with a T3 is questionable.
Originally posted by CRego3D
Humm, I woudl have ot disagree, unless you talkign for redundancy purposes you shoudl have 2 DS3's .. 45Mbit still goes a long way these days :)

45Mbps goes a long way, but you're not going to send 45Mbps through a T3. 95 percentile usage at 50% line capacity, right? That works out to an average data rate of 15Mbps if my math is correct. Still a reasonable chunk of bandwidth, but it doesn't go nearly as far as one might naively think.

(No Carlos, I'm not calling *you* naive, I'm calling lots of other people naive.)

No, I dont' think you callign me "naive" .. I just thing you not readin his question right :D .. hes starting a webhosting company, not a private datacenter .. you can host tousands of people on a DS3 .. for one server to use even 1mbit, it need to be chunking some serious sites ...

unless of course you host porno :D

I've seen T1's from Global Crossing and other Tier 1 providers get as low as $400 not including loop. The provisioning process, however, is a pain. I would recommend looking at co-location - you'll be glad you did in the long run when it comes time to expand.

Haven't tested them yet but rackshack now seem to have Duron 1Ghz 512 ram and 300mb transfer/month for $99 so if you are planning on spending $1200/month why not 12 servers ...

But don't know how fast their bandwith is per server, but I think that I'm going to test it soon ...

hoot

Originally posted by CRego3D
No, I dont' think you callign me "naive" .. I just thing you not readin his question right :D .. hes starting a webhosting company, not a private datacenter ..

No, I was reading the question right... I just don't see that there is any middle ground called "getting lots of servers and bandwidth together on private property" between "hosting your servers in someone else's datacenter" and "building a datacenter".

Is there such a thing as a mini-datacenter? And, more relevantly, would it be economically sensible?

Originally posted by cperciva


No, I was reading the question right... I just don't see that there is any middle ground called "getting lots of servers and bandwidth together on private property" between "hosting your servers in someone else's datacenter" and "building a datacenter".

Is there such a thing as a mini-datacenter? And, more relevantly, would it be economically sensible?

Definitely.

I'm looking at a smaller site, ~1000 square feet or less, and a partial DS3 (10 mbits to start) add some good generators, a good security system and an upgraded cooling system and some raised floors and you could feasibly setup a mini data center and make some money. I haven't crunched all the numbers yet though.

Originally posted by Dixiesys


Definitely.

I'm looking at a smaller site, ~1000 square feet or less, and a partial DS3 (10 mbits to start) add some good generators, a good security system and an upgraded cooling system and some raised floors and you could feasibly setup a mini data center and make some money. I haven't crunched all the numbers yet though.

That's the kind I was taliing about

A small note for you .. make sure you get a place that will ALLOW you to plug into their generator (some will tell you .. "yeah, we have one" but wont' let you plug into it)

And dont' worry too much about Raised Flooring, .. it's overrated, a dual ladder system on top ot the racks would do th job just fine, and for allot less mullah :)

Originally posted by CRego3D


That's the kind I was taliing about

A small note for you .. make sure you get a place that will ALLOW you to plug into their generator (some will tell you .. "yeah, we have one" but wont' let you plug into it)

And dont' worry too much about Raised Flooring, .. it's overrated, a dual ladder system on top ot the racks would do th job just fine, and for allot less mullah :)

Oh I'm talking my own standalone site, not using someone else's anything. I'll hit Ebay or some bigger heavy machine auctions and I'll pick up some older *big* hospital generators or something like that. I'll have the only datacenter secured by true bio scans (a pit bull sniffing your crotch before entering). Ahh yeah the South is a great place :D hehehe

Originally posted by Dixiesys

I'll have the only datacenter secured by true bio scans (a pit bull sniffing your crotch before entering). Ahh yeah the South is a great place :D hehehe

DAMM, why didn't I tought about that before ?? .. it would have saved me 1500.00 a piece for recognition system's handkey !!

humm, I wonder if I can get my $$ back, I saw a pitbull at the local pet store for 750.00 :D

yes, the South is a great place :D .. hehe

Someone said earlier about being cheaper in large cities....not in this large city. And the installation time is a nightmare....because you always have to use at least two vendors....local...and T-1. Basically, I say if you can't afford much more...then colocate...and if the T-1 is just for an office or home, but not hosting, then, if its available, you can get more for less with DSL.

One thing that nobody has broght up is when you go with w T1 you'll need a Cisco 2500 router or higher. they run about 3K I think, but I am sure on Ebay you can find cheapies. Also dropping a dedicated circuit has it's ups and downs. First off it is a pain in the ass to get out of a contract early. (Working for Sprint I know). Also you have to know a bit a about networking and routers in order for it towork. Anyway if I was you and cash was an issue I'd co-locate. If you are related to Bill Gates or loaded, build your own.