First post (yayhooray!)

I'm currently getting a decent reseller account through fatnetwork dot net, but I have two complaints that are getting me a bit upset lately:

1. The shared server I'm reselling on has been blacklisted too many times. I send an email to support, they get it fixed in about two weeks. But to my own customers, I look like the nit-wit. I've asked the guys at support if it's any of my clients, and they say "no", so I'm sure it's some other site on that machine.

2. I understand that things slow down, but I get the impression that my hosted sites are a little too slow, a little too often.

So, I think I need to make a leap to a VPS or dedicated server. I'll start by saying that I barely know the difference (I know, sad huh?), but I'm confident that if I had control over the entire machine, I'd be less likely to be blacklisted anywhere.

What can you all recommend? Here are my desired details:

1. I'm 95% certain that I'll need to call on someone to help out with things, so something that's managed is ideal
2. I want to either be the only person on the server (along with my customers), or I want there to somehow be a way where other sites don't get my site's blacklisted (although this sounds impossible, I know nothing)
3. I'd like it to do the following things that my current reseller package does:
----- Every customer get's cPanel with Fantastico installed automatically
----- I get WHM access to control many aspects of my customers accounts
----- I'd like the server to support the usuals: PHP, MySQL, maybe even Ruby?
----- That's it. There isn't much more that I need.

What should I expect to spend? Right now I'm paying under $30 per month, but I know I'll pay more to get what I want.

Are there any other alternatives I haven't been made aware of?

Please help everyone, they say you're all the best!

Hello herkalees,

A truely, fully managed dedicated server where you would never access root and everything including security, Control Panel, OS and other upgrades, monitoring, etc, etc, etc will cost you anywhere from $300-$700 or more per month. As far as managed servers go, you really do get what you pay for.

having said this, and based on your requirements, I do not believe you would need a dedicated server yet. A properly managed reseller account should suffice for your requirements.

Certainly - your chances of being blacklisted are higher, however, a blacklist should never last more then 24-48 hours - and it shouldnt happen all that often.

I think if you are willing to pay a little more for a premium reseller account, and one that has less accounts per server - this may be a better option for you.

However, if you have the budget for a truely managed dedicated environment, then you may want to consider that option as well - however, a word of caution - if you go dedicated - without server management capabilities - and you get something which isnt truely "fully" managed - it may end up being alot more problematic then what you are facing today - not too mention much more expensive.

Not sure this is what you wanted to hear, but, hopefully this helps...

So, I think I need to make a leap to a VPS or dedicated server. I'll start by saying that I barely know the difference (I know, sad huh?), but I'm confident that if I had control over the entire machine, I'd be less likely to be blacklisted anywhere.

What should I expect to spend? Right now I'm paying under $30 per month, but I know I'll pay more to get what I want.


A VPS aka Virtual Private Server or Virtual Dedicated Server is pretty much a fake dedicated server, that is pretty much a big hosting account that lets you sell resellers, and it looks like you own a dedicated server. Only thing is, is that your VPS is hosted on a server, along with other VPSes so the server can tend to get slow if the root host doesnt act responsibly.

With your own box, you do what you want, no rules. Though it might cost a pretty penny more, I would think that it is well worth it.

I think that $30.00 for a reseller is reasonable, given that the space / transfer is reasonable too.


Good luck with your search.

Cartika is right.

Study well what you want and upto how much you can spend. That doesn't mean you have a dedicated server and you won't experience this kind of problem anymore.

It is a matter of how you deal with them.

And, Welcome to WHT!

check out jaguarpc.com, you can have a managed VPS plan with superb service for literally dollars over your current payments.

Thank you guys and girls! Cartika, I agree that I should step it up a notch and pick a more expensive shared hosting reseller; it'll give me better service and hopefully reduce the issues I have with my current reseller provider.

I am just not ready for managed/dedicated; at least not the typical monthly costs associated with them!

On that note, can anybody recommend a company that will give me the particulars that I mentioned above, for a little bit more per month (up to $50 and I'll still be comfortable) while providing an increase in service, speed, and hopefully much less blacklisting going on?

chamelion, thanks for your suggestion. How is this company, are they known well enough? I wouldn't want to go from the company I'm utilizing now, to another of the same status.

Also, RackFirm, thank you for your description of VPS, but I'm afraid I still don't understand fully. VPS is still on a shared server, what makes it different than what I'm utilizing now?

Thanks again everyone, the response time and the information certainly goes along with the great reputation this forum has.

VPS is a Virtual Private Server. Although it is not dedicated to you, some of the server is split amongst a very few amount of other VPS customers. You get root access to your own section and can install software etc. that you want without it interfering with others. It will basically appear to be a dedicated server (although really it is not). You won't need to manage it however you will have more technical aspects to deal with.

A reseller account won't give you as much freedom. However the host (assuming it's a decent host) will take care of all the technical aspects for you including backups etc.

On the basis of what you said, fatnetwork are being very unreasonable about sorting the issue out. It seems they either cannot be bothered, or don't have the technical skills to reduce spamming on their server, which isn't all that hard if you take the time to install some extra security measures.

Good luck on your search...

Thank you stealthdevil! I definitely understand the difference more now. I feel like I simply need a normal shared hosting reseller account, but with a better (and understandably more expensive) provider.

Any reccomendations?

I would suggest you to go for a managed VPS where you have your rules set for your clients and with that you can offer them to resell too with the WHM accounts..
That being said..you can too learn more of the technical aspects which would benefit you in near future..
With the price amount you are looking for .. I am sure you will get a VPS ..just need to check it on the VPS offers section..

Sonet7 (owned by Liquid Web) offers managed VPS for less than $50 -- they also offer reseller hosting. Excellent service by ticket or 800# and their servers are not overloaded.

SRJ Hosting is also excellent.