I've been with BlueWho for over a year. Since about a month ago or so, I've had connectivity issues with their email server which has progressively gotten worse (for me at least). With the inexplicable loss of 6-1/2 hours worth of emails yesterday and less than 50 emails received since noon (pacific) yesterday wherein I normally receive 1,000+ emails on one domain alone, I've reached the conclusion I need a new host immediately.

Idologic and Simpli.biz were two reseller hosts that I had looked at in January of 2004 and see that they're still around and getting good reviews. :D

I have 5 active sites under my WHM account, with 1 being a forum requiring mysql and another an ecommerce site with consistent business. The other 3 are smaller sites of fixed number of pages, mostly content and low low bandwidth/page views.

Long story short. If I have no emails, I have no business.

Bluewho operates via cpanel and that's all I know. I'd consider directadmin if it could handle my mysql database (backed up from the existing site) and basically offer me plug-and-play operation with my forum software (IPB). Basically I'd need one of the hosts to assist me setting the forum up correctly. Everything else is a relatively simple move. (Especially since I'm hosting only my own sites.)

Recommendations? Considerations? Suggestions?

Maybe you should think about getting a VPS or a Dedicated server if your mission is critical. Shared web hosting is not the most reliable way to host sites. If you are running a consistent business you could invest more money in your site. BlueWho is one of the good guys around as far as I know and you should think twice before moving to another shared host and have the very same problems. That's just my 2 cents...

Both are good and are time-tested hosts so I don't believe you should have problems with them.

That being said, there are many here that will swear by BlueWho (another time-tested host). As such, you may want to consider a VPS solution over a reseller hosting account although there may be a performance it due to CPU and memory limitations enforced by the environment.

Roj

Originally posted by dellaird
I'd consider directadmin if it could handle my mysql database (backed up from the existing site) and basically offer me plug-and-play operation with my forum software (IPB).

DirectAdmin can definitely handle your MySQL databases, forums, etc. However, if you're used to cPanel, DirectAdmin will take you a step backwards when it comes to features, addons, auto-install scripts, etc.

I don't make use of all the features in cpanel. It's mostly to set up email addresses, forwards, set up archiving of logfiles and install IPB.

Since two of you mentioned VPS providers, any suggestions off the bat as to a few companies I should research? I've been out of the market for over a year and don't host anything other than my own sites. The forum need is purely archival now with minimal access to a very limited user base. The mission critical site is my ecommerce business. (BW has been good for my needs with the exception of the loss of emails, and with their owner transition, there's a feeling of discomfort.)

VPScolo.com (www.vpscolo.com)
PowerVPS (www.powervps.com)
ServInt (www.servint.com)

These are the three that I'd research and pick from.

Roj

Originally posted by IncognitoNetworks
However, if you're used to cPanel, DirectAdmin will take you a step backwards when it comes to features, addons, auto-install scripts, etc.

As we host several thousand domain names on DirectAdmin, I have to strongly disagree with you.

We've switched hundreds of domain names from cPanel->DirectAdmin over the past year. Overwhelmingly, the feedback has been positive. Some comments from our customers include (paraphrased):

1) DirectAdmin is a lot faster. (This is DA's #1 compliment)
2) The interface is cleaner and easier to use than cPanel's cluttered icon set.
3) Customers are surprised to find features that they didn't know existed on cPanel because the DA interface is much more intuitive.

We have yet to find customers who were using a feature in cPanel that can't be replicated with DA. That includes auto-install scripts, which, with the help of the wonderful Installatron (http://www.installatron.com/), perfectly duplicates Fantastico.

We only have a few customers left on cPanel, and I look forward to the day when they are all safely migrated over to DA!

Originally posted by Simpli-Erica

2) The interface is cleaner and easier to use than cPanel's cluttered icon set.


Well, we offer both DA and cPanel and I agree with some of your statements, but re. #2, you can get really nice skins for cPanel like the rvskin series.

DA is a lot cleaner though from an admin's perspective though.

Just thought it would be worth following up to my initial request...I went with idologic and had everything transferred to their servers yesterday (thanks guys!). Propogation is moving along nicely and speeds seem perfectly fine. Had a number of questions for them (principally due to my lack of knowledge in some areas) and idologic took care of me with great speed and care.

This was one of the companies I look at a year ago...now I see why I had them on my list back then. :D

Originally posted by IncognitoNetworks
DirectAdmin can definitely handle your MySQL databases, forums, etc. However, if you're used to cPanel, DirectAdmin will take you a step backwards when it comes to features, addons, auto-install scripts, etc.

I agree. I have been nothing but impressed with DirectAdmin (DA), and must admit - had some trepidation when we started offering it. However though it loads a bit faster and has a cleaner interface than Cpanel, as IncognitoNetworks points out - isn't a feature rich.

I hope you'll consider the DA hosts along with the Cpanel hosts in your decision making.

Cheer
Jeff

Originally posted by dellaird
Just thought it would be worth following up to my initial request...I went with idologic and had everything transferred to their servers yesterday (thanks guys!). Propogation is moving along nicely and speeds seem perfectly fine. Had a number of questions for them (principally due to my lack of knowledge in some areas) and idologic took care of me with great speed and care.

This was one of the companies I look at a year ago...now I see why I had them on my list back then. :D

There have been lots of excellent reviews on this company - please check back and let us know how things go -