ok, he a good question for all you hosts and customers.

is there actually a host out there that offers 'unlimited bandwidth' and actually provides it?

e.g. no 'fair use policy' or other crap like like. If you state 'unlimited' or even 'unmetered' it should mean just that. none of this, 'sorry but you daily bandwidth of 300mb violates our fair use policy.

sorry but how can it violate a fair use policy when you say its unlimited?

and the crap about, sorry but you have unfairly used your unmetered internet access. (how can they know this if its unmetered? and if its unmetered why are they metering it?

so come on please.. a real host. there must be one of you that actually provides a 'no strings' and 'no clauses' policy that you offer in your hosting packages.

Neo

As far as I have seen.. There is NO SUCH thing as "unlimited Bandwidth"...

So...if you want a deal....I will give you unlimited bandwidth. The price is $100,000,000/GB.

yeah, it depends how much you want to pay....
but realistically at a reasonable rate, the answer is NO!!

man....it's been a while since i've posted here....a long while, but anyways, to the point

so come on please.. a real host. there must be one of you that actually provides a 'no strings' and 'no clauses' policy that you offer in your hosting packages.

How exactly do you think a host goes about doing this?? even if there is a constant 10Gbps stream to the server...that's a limit


What I still don't get is why anyone would need the so-called "unlimited" bandwidth???? are any sites really pulling in that much traffic??

Why is it everyone wants unlimited bandwidth but doesn't want to pay anything for it? I have 2 unlimited bandwidth sites but don't expect to have hardly any traffic or I would have chosen a plan that had limits so I know the costs up front.

NONONONO! There never hasbeen.. or will be "unlimited" bandwidth or disk space. So whenever u see "unlimited" be sure to find the fine print somewhere on the page

:cartman:

I have 2 unlimited bandwidth sites but don't expect to have hardly any traffic or I would have chosen a plan that had limits so I know the costs up front.

You have to be careful though because now hosts are screwing customers out of "limited" bandwidth too. I swear webhosts must outsource Satan himself to do their web marketing -_-

They say this:

30Gig transfer for 7.95!

What they mean is:

1Gig transfer or we kick you for system resource abuse and you don't even get a refund...

...Suckah.


So, nowadays you can't even trust limited bandwidth offers. All I can suggest is two things, 1) change your resolution to 640x480 and read the small print on the AUP/ToS, and 2) *talk* to a sales person and ask them if you can use what you pay for.

If you see 30Gig for such a cheap price, and you don't see any information on what happens if you go over that... it's because the host knows there is no way in hell you're going to go over it cuz if you even come close to reaching a few gig of transfer, you'll be seeing a termination of service email so fast your head will be spinning.


ochiba

ROFL my point exactly, mosts sites would never need 'unlimited bandwidth' and as Incognito says, give me money i give you unlimited, but just look at this scenario.

a website has normal traffic all month, they have open forums about gaming and stuff, suddenly a new 5mb patch comes out and all 2000 members want it the same day, the unlimited bandwith host wets his pants and cuts the site off due to unfair usage.

this in my opinion is not unlimited bandwidth.

and lets face it the only people who do need unlimited bandwith are warez sites because of their popularity, and are also highly illegal. :)

so come on you webhosts, stop advertising 'unlimited' and spec you packages out properly so we know what we are buying into.

Neo

UNLIMITED doesn't exist. But there's something really close to that......

Try <<Censored for a reason>>.....

http://www.*****.com

I recommend them, they are very very good in terms of how much bandwidth they give you, the uptime is 100% and the connection is fast.

-Ruben

Originally posted by ochiba
You have to be careful though because now hosts are screwing customers out of "limited" bandwidth too. I swear webhosts must outsource Satan himself to do their web marketing -_-

They say this:

30Gig transfer for 7.95!

What they mean is:

1Gig transfer or we kick you for system resource abuse...
Well ochiba, I disagree, to an extent. Transfer and system resources are two totally different things. You have to realize that if you have an account on a shared server, that doesn't entitle you to more than a certain percentage of the server's resources. If the server costs the host $300/mo. (which doesn't include other related hardware, software, etc.), and you are paying $10/mo., exactly why would you think you should get more than 1/30th of the resources? Typically, hosts let individual sites take on 10-20% (1/10-1/20), which seems more than reasonable seeing as how the user is paying only 1/30th (again, before a lot of other possible hardware/software expenses).

That host, however, should allow you to transfer up to the plan limit if your site consists mainly of HTML and images, etc., and server resources are not an issue.

Hey, can you explain why the sensoring? Did I miss something? :confused:

-Ruben

a brilliant example of the 'unlimited' hosting.

Unamed Webhost
The bandwidth (data transfer) used by your account is un-restricted. To back this claim up we are prepared to offer a full refund of the entire hosting* fee should we be unable to host your website due to high bandwidth usage.

unfortunatly it says that CPU monopolization will not be allowed, and as when you use to much of the 'unlimited bandwith', you also use cpu power, you get accused of monopolizing and your contract is terminated without refund.

I guess they forgot to put that bit in there though.

Neo

The transfer and the system resources aren't necessarily the same, but --being a former "limited but generous" bandwidth sucker myself-- Webhosts do use transfer reasons to justify term'ing your site.

I run real media and that drains bandwidth big time. When we subtitle a series and introduce it to English speaking viewers if it is popular just one 25-50MB file can suck up a gig or four a day... now multiple that by 13 or so eps, and you run up your 30-to whatever limit before your week is even over. I've learned to not host the popular stuff on my commercial servers and I leave that up to my friends' FTPs, but before I was capped for using only 2 of my 30 gig.... and "systems resource abuse" was the reason. Last time I checked, I wasn't paying 25 bucks/month for an ad-less Geocities... but then this webhost just sucked all over and my site ended up being down most of the time anyway.

Anyway, ever since then I ask hosts... can I use my Gigs... *all* of them? Granted I don't use 30 every month! Most months I'll use only 1-5 gig if we don't fansub anything or none of my fansub distro's have any titles worth trying to get licensed here. But sometimes I do use my 30Gig, and I don't want to get capped for it with a lame disclaimer... especially if I don't get any money back.

^_^

ochiba

No, primarily because there is no such thing. Any one that promises that is not telling the truth. Somewhere in their terms and conditions are probably some words referring to "excessive use of resources", and in effect these place some arbitrary limit on your bandwidth and usually cost you if you go over.

Humm, let me see ... NO

If there really was an "unlimited bandwidth" host, sites like Yahoo and cnn and such would really be in luck. They could satisfy those massive bandwidth demands for only, say, $20 a month!

Which is to say, no... there is no "so strings attached" unlimited bandwidth hosting. It's simply unrealistic, there's no way it could be a fiscally sound approach to selling hosting. Every host has to pay for bandwidth; therefore they can not give it away... and, of course, from a technical standpoint bandwidth can not be "unlimited." In every installation, there are physical limitations.

Hey,

I think the point ochiba was making was that even though bandwidth and systems resource aren't connected, a host uses sys resource as an excuse to suspend accounts that use too much bandwidth (or rather, data transfer ;) )

Originally posted by Neo
ok, he a good question for all you hosts and customers.

is there actually a host out there that offers 'unlimited bandwidth' and actually provides it?



Of course there are, why not? Internet itself is actually an 'unlimited bandwidth' network.

Ask a host who has own data center, and be prepare to spend some money, you'll be enjoying 'unlimited bandwidth' for 'unlimited day'.

There is burlee with their unlimited plan though :rolleyes:

that is *exactly* what I was saying!

ochiba

Yeah I can offer eveyone unlimited bandwidth. You pay me $10 a month and I let EVERYONE in the world visit your website from your localhost. Happy?

That's right. I'm putting your server in the middle of the mall for every curious teenager to visit. :D

<<Ahem Jim, you may want to be less obvious about promoting your site(s) on the main forums, as when people do this, somehow those URLs turn to lucky stars.>>

Originally posted by Turtle


Of course there are, why not? Internet itself is actually an 'unlimited bandwidth' network.

Ask a host who has own data center, and be prepare to spend some money, you'll be enjoying 'unlimited bandwidth' for 'unlimited day'.

Since when has the internet intself been an unlimited bandwidth network? What do you mean by this statement?

If we're talking about the different networks of various telecomms companies, I'm afraid they are not unlimited - yes, they are fast multi Gbit city-city and transatlantic connections, but not unlimited.

Originally posted by voxtreme-matt


Since when has the internet intself been an unlimited bandwidth network? What do you mean by this statement?


I think what he is trying to say is: I can give you unlimited data transfer as long you pay me monthly, do not exceed a certain limit of amount of data transfer per day, and give me unlimited time. :)

If there really was an "unlimited bandwidth" host, sites like Yahoo and cnn and such would really be in luck. They could satisfy those massive bandwidth demands for only, say, $20 a month!

Everytime the discussion of unlimited comes up, one person always says the same retarded thing. That is like you saying if Ford Pintos were free, Billionares would be in heaven. No high use, mission critical site would use a shared server.

Also, all this talk about how unlimited guys use TOS to make it unlimited. Yes, that is true. But I ask, how is that any different then every host canceling sites because there customer uses too much resources due to cgi scripting abuse? Most host have no limit on cgi scripts, yet they cancel sites for high resource use. Why would that be any different then if a unlimited host said "Unlimited bandwidth untill your site uses 70% of the resources".?

I do not agree with the unlimited at all. It is a lie. Anything unlimited is a lie - including domains. It just drives me nuts when these threads always get posted and no one every looks at what other things go on. CGI use has a limit. Show me a host TOS that tells me what it is. It is usually when a host serveris down or slow. Unlimited doamins? Really? Your so called unlimited is *limited* by space assigned within the plan. No different then a host saying unlimited bandwidth until you use 70% of resources. You advertise unlimited - but place the limit elsewhere. All BS.

I try like hell to stay out of these threads. I really do. :)

Originally posted by UmBillyCord

I do not agree with the unlimited at all. It is a lie. Anything unlimited is a lie - including domains.


Knew you'd drop that point in ;) :)

I dont think there are anymore, but I do believe there used to be. My second host was a very very basic plan but offerend unlimited transfer. I prepaid for a year - $5/month ($3.5US) for 20mb/ulimited, no cgi, php or anything else.

The company has since put limits on transfer (1gig/month for the plan I was on) but becuase of their terms, I am locked in for unlimited for as long as I like.

Because they dont offer SSI or cgi, and won't cahnge the domain I host with them, I dont find them overly useful other than hosting files. I estimate that I've burnt over 30gig/month with no complaints from them :)

But that hasnt been around for a couple of years at least ... :D

Originally posted by UmBillyCord
Everytime the discussion of unlimited comes up, one person always says the same retarded thing. That is like you saying if Ford Pintos were free, Billionares would be in heaven. No high use, mission critical site would use a shared server.Of course not. It's hyperbole; it's an exaggeration made to illustrate the point. Neither those of us who might say it nor those who read it really think it would actually happen.

Originally posted by UmBillyCord


Everytime the discussion of unlimited comes up, one person always says the same retarded thing. That is like you saying if Ford Pintos were free, Billionares would be in heaven. No high use, mission critical site would use a shared server.

Also, all this talk about how unlimited guys use TOS to make it unlimited. Yes, that is true. But I ask, how is that any different then every host canceling sites because there customer uses too much resources due to cgi scripting abuse? Most host have no limit on cgi scripts, yet they cancel sites for high resource use. Why would that be any different then if a unlimited host said "Unlimited bandwidth untill your site uses 70% of the resources".?

I do not agree with the unlimited at all. It is a lie. Anything unlimited is a lie - including domains. It just drives me nuts when these threads always get posted and no one every looks at what other things go on. CGI use has a limit. Show me a host TOS that tells me what it is. It is usually when a host serveris down or slow. Unlimited doamins? Really? Your so called unlimited is *limited* by space assigned within the plan. No different then a host saying unlimited bandwidth until you use 70% of resources. You advertise unlimited - but place the limit elsewhere. All BS.

I try like hell to stay out of these threads. I really do. :)

Em, you're wrong?

No host offers "unlimited" CGI resources. And when your account gets cancelled because you ARE using too much system resource, then they have good reason too as you are compromising evryone else's performance because of your selfish needs.

This has NOTHING to do with hosts using system resource abuse as an excuse to wriggle out of there "unlimited" bandwidth policy. That is what is BS. If you abuse your host's system by running Perl until the box fails then that's BS.

Originally posted by HostInspect
There is burlee with their unlimited plan though :rolleyes: I wish Burlee would go bankrupt and disappear off the face of this earth. I will never forgive them for charging me two fees for "excessive bandwidth usage" (one in the amount of $300 and another in the amount of $800)... Burlee seriously needs to change their "unlimted bandwidth" advertisement to "we will screw you if you go over 500 megs"

Em, you're wrong?

Since it is a question - ummm... No.

No host offers "unlimited" CGI resources.

Like I said, show me a web host with TOS that has a hard limit on resource use when it comes to CGI use/abuse. Sure they don't say unlimited (actually I have seen some that do), but they also don't 'have' any limit either. Get it?

This has NOTHING to do with hosts using system resource abuse as an excuse to wriggle out of there "unlimited" bandwidth policy. That is what is BS. If you abuse your host's system by running Perl until the box fails then that's BS.

How is this any different? Resource abuse is resource abuse.

let me put it to you this way.
1) A site with a few cgi scripts and limited traffic uses very little resources.
2) A site with a few cgis and a lot of traffic certainly will abuse the system more. Once it reaches a hard level - lets say 70% - then they can cancel it or move it to a dedicated solution. The same thing that would happen with striaght cgi script abuse.

Again. Resource abuse is resource abuse.

I agree that people use resource abuse to avoid the fees that a host could rack up with BW. That is why I hate unlimited. My issue is that we always jump on unlimited BW host and fail to look in the mirror and see we do similar things, although to a much smaller extent.

Unlimited Domains - limited by space
Unlimited POPs - limited by space
CGI use - limited by resource use
Unlimited Cell phone weekend minutes - limited by 48 hours
unlimited bandwidth - limited by resource use

posted by JayC

Of course not. It's hyperbole;

I know. I took it metaphorically. :)

Originally posted by UmBillyCord
Unlimited Cell phone weekend minutes - limited by 48 hours
You can't use this one, unless you know someone who thought they were going to get 50 hours during the weekend. If so, they've got other problems...

I'm also peronsally less concerned with Resource limits (whther it be from limited/unlimted hosts), than bullfrog limitations they have. Illegal things (such as kiddie porn, etc.) are one thing, but for example, posted recently:

domainvision, the usual unlimited bandwidth

Too good to be true? Will there be any limitations? Some parts bold:

UNLIMITED USE POLICY

High bandwidth usage: DomainsVision.com offers an unlimited use policy by maintaining very large ratios of bandwidth per customer. In rare cases, DomainsVision.com may find a customer to be using server resources to such an extent that he or she may jeopardize server performance and resources for other customers. In such instances, DomainsVision.com reserves the right to impose the High Resource User Policy for the consideration of all customers.

You can run any CGI and non-CGI scripts you desire, however we reserve the right to disable any script that dramatically affects server performance.

We currently do not allow IRC or IRC bots to be operated on our servers.

We are proud to offer our clients non-restricted data transfer. (Chicekn note: Just wait until you see what 'non-restricted' means to them) This is considered any transfer of information in the form of text or graphic, directly readable by a web browser. Our intention is to provide a large storage space to serve web documents, not an off-site storage area for electronic files. All web pages (HTML) must be 'linked' with files (.GIF, .JPEG, etc.) that are stored on our servers. Web sites that are found to contain either/or no HTML documents or a large number of unlinked files are subject to warning, suspension or cancellation at the discretion of DomainsVision.com's administration.

We allow unlimited bandwidth for sites: Not run any type of real media files, including ra, rm, mp3, mov, avi files. Not have any type or size of downloads including .exe files, compressed files, pdf, doc. Not run any type of chat, forums, irc,.. programs or allow visitors to submit files by upload, ... . If your site contains/runs one or more of subjects above we will allow a 1GB for Basic plan, 2GB for Pro. plan or 4GB for Corp. plan as free bandwidth per month.

As a note, over 85% of our clients never exceed even 2000 megs of total FTP and web page transfer combined, so you can be assured that our bandwidth is not choked by numerous 'load-heavy' sites. To further protect the integrity of our service, any individual site consistently using 10% or more of the system's resources may be issued a warning or have its account deactivated.


Non-restrictive? :rolleyes: No:

real media files, including ra, rm
mp3
mov
avi files
Not have any type or size of downloads including:
.exe files
compressed files
pdf
doc.
Not run any type of chat
forums
irc programs
allow visitors to submit files by upload

and finally...

any individual site consistently using 10% or more of the system's resources may be issued a warning or have its account deactivated

This is a PAID host? You've got to be joking...

And yes, this is one of the worst cases I've seen, but I've also seen 'unlimited' advertised in the plan description, and in the TOS, they define unlimted as up to 1 GB of transfer a month. Again, an extreme example perhaps, but bottom line is that if you are considering a host that claims to give you unlimited or unmetered bandwidth/transfer, they will limit you and they will meter it. I've got a distro site that I'd like to open on the host that is stupid enough not to.

It was a rhetorical question and you're still wrong. Even if a host didn't mention a limit on system resource, it doesn't mean it's unlimited and I think you'd have a hard case proving that in a court of law.

And please read a TOS. I'm sure there are stipulations in every decent hosts TOS or AUP. It's not there just to protect them, but also to protect the clients.

Here's Aletia's (as they seem so popular at the moment):

Any site using what we deem to be using excessive CPU cycles or any resources that cause strain to other sites may also be offered new terms.

Get it?

Again. Resource abuse is resource abuse.

Let's argue, then shall we. :D
I'm saying that if you get suspended for system abuse then your host has a good reason. They are protecting the other sites that are hosted with yours.
They can't "officially" suspend you if you use too much bandwidth when they offer inlimited, can they? So they use system resource as the excuse to wriggle out of it and protect themselves, financially.

Plus "unlimited" domains is not BS. Why? Because space is not limitable, ok. If you still have space left on your plan, a host can always find the space. They add a disk or put you on another server where there is space.

So all of your arguments fail, sorry.

So all of your arguments fail, sorry.

Congradulations. You just made the list for the most ignorant thing I have read since I have been a member. This even beats out my idiotic comments I have made.

And please read a TOS.

Didn't I ask you to show me one with a hard limit. Not some limit that would very from server to server. A server with less of a loud to start will allow me to use more resource use. Stick me on a server with 500 sites pushing an already high limit, I could more easily tip the scales and be canceled. Sorry, your example is not a hard limit like I asked. It is situational dependant.

I'm saying that if you get suspended for system abuse then your host has a good reason. They are protecting the other sites that are hosted with yours.

How the heck is this different then being suspended for high use regarding too much traffic? Plus you *assume* too much. How do you know a site generating so much traffic is not going to be - to borrow your wording - "cancelled because you ARE using too much system resource, then they have good reason too as you are compromising evryone else's performance"? You assume all host would take this approach. Sterotyping. I agree almost all the ones I have read about do 'wiggle'. But I also have read here about sites getting 30 and 50 GBs of transfer on a unlimited plans. There was just one today.

Plus "unlimited" domains is not BS. Why? Because space is not limitable, ok. If you still have space left on your plan, a host can always find the space. They add a disk or put you on another server where there is space.

Really? Lets take a $30/mo - unlimited domain - 1000 MB plan shall we? I get unlimited domains. I want 5000. Lets do. OH, wait, I need to buy more space. So... it wasn't ***unlimited*** for that price now was it? Also - please show me an "unlimited" HD since you say space is not limitable.


Posted by Chicken

You can't use this one, unless you know someone who thought they were going to get 50 hours during the weekend. If so, they've got other problems...

Of course I can. I proves that unlimited has a true hard limit. :D

PS - nice TOS. Did you see they have a "10 day money back guarantee"

Man, you're just being downright argumentative.

A situational dependant? Can there be anything else as load varies on what the box is housing.

Don't change your argument:
Most host have no limit on cgi scripts, yet they cancel sites for high resource use.
I was merely pointing out that they do. (And they do. :D ) Even if it's not a set limit and varies from server to server, that's an Acceptable Use Policy. Would you sign up for a plan that offered 1/100th of system resource because that's how many people are on the server even though only 3 of them are running scripts?

You think I'm being ignorant but at least I'm being objective and intelligent on this issue.

Unlimited domains? Is this your pet peeve? Then I suggest you reorder your priorities because of course it means unlimited within your plan. What else would it mean? DUH.

Of course, the average webmaster with average savvy upstairs understands this.

Man, you're just being downright argumentative.

No I'm not. :)

Actually you made some points that were incorrect. I am trying to debate these with you. Call it arguing. I call it education.

A situational dependant? Can there be anything else as load varies on what the box is housing.

Not sure I understand what you are asking or saying. What did I change?

Unlimited domains? Is this your pet peeve? Then I suggest you reorder your priorities because of course it means unlimited within your plan. What else would it mean? DUH.

Again. You are not getting it. Nothing is unlimited! You just said yourself - "unlimited *within your plan*" See. There is a limit.

Of course, the average webmaster with average savvy upstairs understands this.

Actually my petpeeve is this: Unlimited anything! And worse, those people who come here and bash unlimited BW host but who offer unlimited other things - especially domains. But hey. Thats just me.

OK. A question. How do you suggest that companies that offer unlimited domains (like MCHost) explain in the "truest" sense exactly what they mean. We all know that unlimited bandwidth is just a hideous marketing ploy but that when offering "unlimited domains", there isn't really anything mischeivious going on.

It's just the easiest way to describe the service in one word that every one understands.

The big difference is in the understanding - which is:

Unlimited Bandwidth - Yippeee! I 'm going to get as many visitors as I want, as many hits as I want.

Unlimited Domains - Yippeee! I can host as many domains as my plan can handle.

Any takers?

OK. A question. How do you suggest that companies that offer unlimited domains (like MCHost) explain in the "truest" sense exactly what they mean. We all know that unlimited bandwidth is just a hideous marketing ploy but that when offering "unlimited domains", there isn't really anything mischeivious going on.

Simple. They *don't* offer unlimited. Put a hard limit on it. No unlimited crap. If you do, then you are exempt from bashing any unlimited host.

Don't be fooled. MCHosts unlimited offering is marketing too. Who would you rather host with if you balanced everything else out as even. One with 20 sites on a plan or one with unlimited? See - marketing.

Originally posted by voxtreme-matt

Since when has the internet intself been an unlimited bandwidth network? What do you mean by this statement?

If we're talking about the different networks of various telecomms companies, I'm afraid they are not unlimited - yes, they are fast multi Gbit city-city and transatlantic connections, but not unlimited.

Try networking 2 computers and find out what's the limited bandwidth for this closed network? Suppose there is no answer for it. As long as we have enough hardware resources to support these 2 computers then theoritically it is an 'unlimited bandwidth' network.

Expand this model to networking the computers worldwide, there comes the term Internet.
Now how to define this 'limited bandwidth'? What's the bandwidth of tomorrow's Internet?

I know what you mean, but what I tried to say was, the bandwidth was naturally unlimited, but bound by
1. cost of networks, and
2. human's need.

All in all, until there is a host that has 'unlimited money' to spend on network, it remains a dream for 'unlimited bandwidth'. :)

It is impossible to offer unlimited bandwidth. Even if you buy bandwidth at its cheapest price now(around 33 cents/GIG, I think), it still costs money. So lets go to the equation:

Infinity gigs* .33/gig= Infinity $$$

Infinity $$$ >Whatever the hosts charges

Therefore a company cannot really offer this.

I think what would be good is just an explantion. If said host would say. "transfer charges are $.03 per megabyte" than for 1.250 gig the charges wouldnt be $37.50

Neo, were you trying to start a virtual war, when you asked that question?

i had a site with an unlimited bandwith host one time
howerver the server was unable of going any faster than 60kbs
hence there unlimited bandwith

u cant get to big a transfer rate with that connection