We are all basically looking for the same thing. We want hosts that can keep our servers up and running but at the same time, we don't want to pay anymore for this that what is needed -- especially if you are hosting to turn a profit. So, what co-location company has the best of both worlds?

I can only tell you that I've had no problems at tera-byte (where my server is). Never heard a complaint about rackspace. Local colo places were a bit expensive, but I didn't look around much. You might check local cable providers, ISPs, etc.

Check with ISPs, some of them work with you to grow and increase traffic to your server before just charging you for something you don't currently use. I know we do something similiar to this because afterall, if our customers businesses aren't successful its much harder for us to be too.

I like http://www.webpipe.net/ I use to be with them.

I looked at Tera-Byte's co-location plans. They have two, one is shared the other is dedicated. Any comment on which one a new guy ought to start off with? I want to add vitural sites to one server, one at a time until the server is nice and full (if I ever get that far!).

I would go with the shared co-lo plan... The dedicated plans are going to too expensive for one server since I am sure your customers will not be happy with anything less then a 1 meg connection. Now, if you have more then 3 servers, the dedicated plans would be a good option.

I just hope (if Steve is reading) that they start offering co-lo plans like they did with the RAQ's... Where they give you burstable bandwidth, with 100 GB base bandwidth and the option to purchase more...

Scott

Tera-byte says on their website:

Shared Colocation
Current special: $199/month
Burstable 10 Mb/s connection to the server, dual OC-3 multihomed connectivity, hardwired to an OC-192 backbone.

But what's the story on transfer?

They also charge $50 a back-up. Wow, if you wanted one everyday, I'd be out of the hosting biz before I even got started. What are the cheap and dirty ways around this -- and I don't mean backing up to a PC on a cable TV line.

one word: ultraspeedusa

this place will crush everyone in the following areas:
-price
-tech support
-network
-overall service

this place is A-#-1

good luck in your findings.

I signed up with VDI, yesterday.
I went with the co-location server. I have build my own server and sent it to them.
They just released a new control panel.
I think it's one of the best one in the market today.

Good Luck