Okay I have built a site for 5 years and it finally is taking off. My problem is that I keep getting kicked off hosts for being TOO successful. I require very little space, around 50 megs. I need php, cgi and SSI. My big problem is bandwidth, my VBulletin board has a constant usage of 100-150 people online at any time and it sucks up around 60gb a month in bandwidth.

I guess it's time for a dedicated server. My problem is that I can run a site from ftp and telnet but I've never had my own server so I hope they come with php and everything installed and ready to go like andy virtual website.

So what I need is a way to have that kind of traffic at a reasonable price. Should I get a box for myself or possible sell part of the space to another suer to subsideze the cost? Will I need help in setting it up or do they come ready to go? Is it easy to assign DNS and MX and all that stuff or does the host do it for you like in virtual hosting?

Where is a good, reasonably-price starting point for a first time dedicated server user to get their feet wet??

What is the cost involved? Is the a halfway point where you can get 60 gigs without going solo?

Any help will be greatly appreciated because you're the pros and I am the ultra newbie.

You sound like a good candidate for a virtual dedicated server, or "vds". Search around for offers.

If you decide to go the solo route, pick up a Cobalt RaQ, most admin tasks can be handled via a browser-based interface. It's a good way to get started, and can often be had for around $99 including 60GB (or more).

Good luck,

Brandon

http://www.venturesonline.com/hosting/v650.html

Didn't really look very closely at that plan, but it seems like it might fit your needs.

I'd go for a dedicated. I have one with www.dedipower.com - to start with it was a bit daunting, but they were very good helping to set it up. Big advantage is no major committment up front.

I played with virtual dedicated - but in the end much better to have full control.

Good luck - whichever way you go, it can be tough making the switch.

Toatpc

What's the URL of your site?

When you do get a dedicated server make sure you install the mod_gzip to help reduce bandwidth usage, especially on forums.

Okay I have built a site for 5 years and it finally is taking off. My problem is that I keep getting kicked off hosts for being TOO successful. I require very little space, around 50 megs. I need php, cgi and SSI. My big problem is bandwidth, my VBulletin board has a constant usage of 100-150 people online at any time and it sucks up around 60gb a month in bandwidth.

A forum that popular would need more than 50MB storage.

gzip?

My boards are also pretty popular. Are there any cons to loading that module? I've never heard of it.

how about RackShack? Or possibly if you want the higher end, check out somewhere like rackmy.com or maybe even colocation.

Dell has some cheap rack servers now for like $600.00 :)


Jim

if you're looking for ease, i'd say go for a raq4. you'll have to do some tweaking here and there for a busy forum and install php yourself and so forth, but, that's fairly simple with the raq control panel.

you can learn everything you need to know from the raq forums.


i have a raq4 with 512mb ram, 20gb storage, and 65gb bandwidth from www.serverrack.net for $95 per month (and you can work out a good deal on a discounted setup with them). they also have a raq3 or so for $79 a month i believe.

or you can get a rackshack deal, for $99 + 250 setup. with 300gb bandwidth.

I'd recommend that you purchase one of iXSystems servers (http://www.ixsystems.net). They have a great line of products that come pre-configured with Plesk and you can basically just plug in the server and it'll work :)

I think Raqs are very easy to use. Check out RackShack.....they have some very good deals with Raqs.

Thanks

Sounds like you need "dedicated managed hosting".

Raqs are fine if your budget is very low of course, but you will find plenty of sob stories on this forum about people who don't *really* know how to run a server and hope that the Raq interface will suffice. Then they get hacked or exploited by a spammer or the software breaks something.

With dedicated managed, you run the site, your host runs the server. Companies like Dialtone and Rackspace provide this service.