I am currently working as a full time programmer, however my knowledge of networks has allowed me to host several websites on my 2000 server at home on my cable internet connection. At the moment I use Dynamic DNS since my cable provider doesnt supply Static IP's and the upstream is only 128kbps, which is fine for a couple of websites which have little traffic, and no large files to download.

However, I was wondering if starting my own server company is a good idea or not. Since I have to pay for the electricity used I need to host websites for clients and get back what is spent on electricity. You know the deal.

I am going to buy some Cisco routers soon to study for my CCNA/CCIE.

My internal network is fully 200mbps switched using Netgear products. And will be upgraded in the next month to a D-Link Gigabit switch's.

I know that the speed of my internet connection is pretty die hard but with some clients I can afford to upgrade the connection, when the time comes.

I have a full list of potential clients that are fully aware of the connection speed. However, the speed is pretty good, I have connected using Terminal Client and had around 10 other internet users load bandwidth intensive pages and each and every one is amazed at the speed.

Am I on the correct track or leading knowhere.

I would appreciate any input ! :cartman:

I would REALLY recommend you colocate!
I would go into details but its 10.30pm here and I need sleep :P

The issue isn't necessarily electricity, but security. Most of the places you can get dedicated servers from, or colocate with, are in very secure buildings, with extremely little chance of a break in. They also have backup generators and the whole works to help ensure the servers are always running, and never interfered with.

This is very hard to do in your own home.

Actually a very similar topic was brought up in a relatively recent post, if you look through a little you may be able to find it.

Indeed what if you were burgled ?
Or house fire, does your insurance cover that.

With so many deals on the net,why look to take on such a challenge yourself when you could co-locate with security and back-up 24/7.

Hosting from home just makes no sense. If you want to start a business, you need to provide quality...quality you can't afford to provide by yourself. Find a NOC you are comfortable with and locate there.

Thanks for the reply.

Regarding your reply, I know it would be good to just go and leap straight into a NOC but money prohibits that.

Everyone has to have starting point right ??

I know managing a server farm is going to be difficult and may not work at all but it gives a very large amount of knowledge of managing servers with 24/7 hands on experience, instead of co-locating a server with someone else.

I live in the UK and as far as I am aware we dont have T1's and T3's, I think ISP's and server farms alike use Leased Lines, which have the capability of going up to 155mbps ATM.

These are expensive, but you never know, I may win the lottery, allocate a custom server building and go from their ! I wish !

:D

In the UK we have E1 and E3 and up. If i remember E1 is 2.048mbit and E3 is 40 sommink

Oh right....how much does a E1 cost (the 2 mb one) ?

Do you know any providers that can supply this ?

Ta

Yes, everyone starts from some points but starting from your home in webhosting case isn't a choice (IMHO).

not that they have prices on there but i think NTL charge about

£9000/year for a 2mbit burstable

You should Definitely colo at a data center. Check out the prices, you will be surprised! It can be a lot cheaper than you think! I started out at VDI colo'd with 1 2u server, and 10GB/month. I'm not sure of their current prices but a little bit ago, it was only $175/month to do this! Definitely worth it to be in a high quality data center.

Hi,

Ya, keeping a linux box under your bed isn't really an option. You have to start from "somewhere", and not "nowhere". Hosting at home is ok if you are only hosting your own sites but if you want to offer services to anyone else, it's not all that responsible. ;)

Get a managed server, or just colo if your well up on OS and Apache etc. I recommend RackSpace, those guys sre just crazy about support!

Thanks for the input !

However I must say that it is not as simple as 'a linux box under my bed'.

Infact I have a near profesional setup at home. My server(s) are installed in a secure 42U rack with advanced APC UPS, capable of around 30 mins backup. Long enough for my area.

Netgear Switches x 3

Servers(s) run Windows 2000 Server with Veritas NetBackup to the central backup server.

The room they are hosted in is the extension of our garage and has a full security system with 24 hour monitoring and reinforced fire doors. Fire extinguishers are close by also, since gas would be inappropriate in the room.

A plan to upgrade to D-Link Fibre Gigabit.

As you can see this is not a 'linux box under the bed jobby'.

Although no where near professional it is a start and may well lead onto larger things ?

A better upstream connection would be a good investment. Consumer class cable isn't ideal, as the amount of people online in the same area as you would affect the speed significantly.
The price that any of the telecom companies charge depends on where you live, and how far they have to cable to your area...

What happens when you get a power cut for a couple of hours...? Your APC units wouldn't last that long, so a generator would be another good investment...

Regards
Matt

Thanks for the input !

My area extermely rarely gets power cuts. (I live in the UK). For the 10 years of so I have lived in this house I get roughy one power cut every 2 years. I know this from the VCR never being reset ! When their is a power cut it last for around 1 hour or so....could be a problem ?

I am currently looking at other methods of internet connections. Ranging from basic Leased Lines (very expensive) to E1 and E3, which have been suggested in a post earlier.

Ta

Power cuts can happen all the time, so I wouldn't go on the basis that they don't happen very often, and aren't for very long... just my thoughts.

Good luck,
Matt

Many experienced hosts have given theirs. But you don't like it. So, good luck in your endeavor. But, just one point. This business is one where you learn every day...but only if you want to, only if you listen. Many of us have been through untold experiences and offered to simply share some of what we learned...perhaps even the hard way. No one here had any hidden agenda, but we were simply trying to advise you.

There's no need for a gigabit router - cable will obviously never be that fast and I can't imagine you would have a ton of servers in there :)