I run an extreme sports site that is fairly popular. After reading all the good feedback about Splash host I was considering moving to them until I started speaking with Alan.

I don't want to put down splash host at all, I just want to warn people that if you have a popular site then look elsewhere for hosting. He stated clearly that he won't help people when their site gets popular and basicly gives you no options once your site matures.

Here is some of our chat conversation:

Here are my site stats:

I run a vBB which has a maximum of 20 active users

[17:11] Ramprage: Server Load Averages 0.76, 0.41, 0.26 13 users online (11 members & 2 guests).



[17:12] Alan-SplashHost.com: its on its own server just now?
[17:12] Ramprage: nope
[17:13] Ramprage: virtual host
[17:13] Ramprage: impressive server loads?
[17:13] Alan-SplashHost.com: Its kind of pusing it a bit
[17:13] Alan-SplashHost.com: pushing*
[17:13] Ramprage: how do you mean?
[17:13] Alan-SplashHost.com: its about the max i would take
[17:14] Ramprage: but that's not even using 1% of the servers cpu
[17:14] Ramprage: its not even using half of 1 percent
[17:15] Ramprage: ?
[17:16] Ramprage: so if my forum isn't even using 1% of the cpu load why do I need a dedicated server?
[17:16] Alan-SplashHost.com: im not saying you need a dedicated server
[17:17] Alan-SplashHost.com: 20 online users is the max ill host



[17:17] Ramprage: ok then what?
[17:17] Alan-SplashHost.com: then you need to find another solution
[17:17] Ramprage: ok do you have any ideas considering I'm highly thinking of moving over to you
[17:18] Alan-SplashHost.com: no
[17:18] Ramprage: what? you're telling me you have no ideas on what to do with an account that has 20 people in a vBB forum?
[17:19] Alan-SplashHost.com: you would need to gind an alertnative host
[17:20] Ramprage: why's that?
[17:20] Alan-SplashHost.com: because i wouldnt host you
[17:20] Ramprage: lol
[17:20] Ramprage: why because I'd actual be using what I pay for?
[17:21] Alan-SplashHost.com: we dont mind you using up all the bandwidth, thats too much cpu usage





So if you run a vBB and ever have 20 or so users online don't think about Splash host.

Just a word of warning

Ramprage

He told you upfront before you moved or paid him anything so whats the problem?

That is true...

He never took your money and he was upfront about not being able to help you out...

For what ever reason he did the right thing i believe and told you upfront that he would not be able to give you want you want even if you pay him more or whatever. CPU usage is very important on reseller servers, Obviously like any company running deds the less cpu usage the better.

There are some hosts that would promise you the world for your money then just terminate your account if you use to much CPU etc.

Good stuff Alan, If we believed something would slow down a server to much we would of done the same thing!

Regards,

Yeah, that's the downside to shared hosting. Nice site BTW Ramprage. Maybe get your own box from someone like http://rackshack.net ?? :)

the stats:



[17:11] Ramprage: Server Load Averages 0.76, 0.41, 0.26 13 users online (11 members & 2 guests).


the comment about the stats:


[17:14] Ramprage: but that's not even using 1% of the servers cpu
[17:14] Ramprage: its not even using half of 1 percent
[17:15] Ramprage: ?


What I would like to know, how do you translate that "load average of 0.76" into saying that "it's not even using half of 1 percent of cpu". You must have a wrong idea about what server load is.

cheers,
:beer:

Originally posted by Ramprage
Here are my site stats:

I run a vBB which has a maximum of 20 active users

[17:11] Ramprage: Server Load Averages 0.76, 0.41, 0.26 13 users online (11 members & 2 guests).

[17:14] Ramprage: but that's not even using 1% of the servers cpu
[17:14] Ramprage: its not even using half of 1 percent
[17:15] Ramprage: ?


For one, there is something else on that server. I can tell you with a great deal of certainty that 11 members and 2 guests on would not generate 0.76 0.41 0.26 loads.

To give you an example, we're high at this very second, generally I see the loads less than this, however this is WHT at this very moment of posting this:

0.81, 1.04, 0.99 186 users online (126 members & 60 guests)

As you can see, you have 13 users on and we're running 186. Look at your numbers. Something ain't right.

Also your percentages are off. 1.00 would be 100%, not 1% and it isn't CPU usage, but that's a whole different topic, one that has been discussed there before.

Your load is high, for that many users and for a shared account, and you shouldn't be surprised that Alan said no (pretty much any host would have). However, I thin kthere is either some mistake (as there's no way 13 users would be causing those loads). You either are on a shared server now and took the server load figures of the entire server, everyone else too, or you have other things running.

Note that resources are relative and that this site is on a Dual Intel Pentium III 750mhz equipped with 512mb SDRAM and SCSI hdd. Bigger servers could take more, smaller spec servers less.

What I would like to know, how do you translate that "load average of 0.76" into saying that "it's not even using half of 1 percent of cpu". You must have a wrong idea about what server load is.

Ya I think he is not aware of how much load that actually is!! ;)

I wouldn;t be saying bad things about splashhost, they seem to very a very good host and most virtual hosts would say the same thing Alan told you. So you shouldn't of directed this post to saying people shouldn't sign with splash

That's just sad...

I dont see why you have started this thread, i have every right to refuse to host people because i dont want to overload my servers.

If web hosting talk has 200 users online which uses up a whole dedicated server, then 20 users is 1/10 of a whole server, which host is going to let you use 10% of there server with one site?

I presume by vBB you mean vBulletin.

Anyway its up to you to find your own solution once your board is taking up too much cpu time on a shared host. Rackshack is the best way to go for a cheap dedicated box to run your big board on. If your site does mature then you will probably have increased funding through sponsorship or ads to cover the new hardware.

Originally posted by SplashHost.com
which host is going to let you use 10% of there server with one site?
10-20% is commonly the limit that I've seen. Some less, some a bit more. A shared client shouldn't expect to get 50% fo a server's resources when they are paying 1/40 of the cost of the server (if that). It just doesn't work out that way.

Sorry, i kind of said that wrong, my limit is 10%.

I don't see the point of this thread - shared hosting has and never will be a suitable alternative to dedicated hosting.

It's not like that's some sort of revelation. When you understand that you share resources with other users, it's common sense.

To Alan and everyone else,

I clearly stated at the beginning of my post that I had no intention of putting down Splash host at all. I am simply warning people not to sign up if you have an active forum on your site.

Splash host currently does not mention anything about how many active vBB users it will allow, I mentioned to Alan it might be a good idea to put that on his site but he disagreed.

The reason I think he and other hosts should have it is because many people don't realize that a vBB and other forums are very cpu intensive. They then register with their host, get everything setup and then get their account closed or temporarily disabled while they have people on their forums which is a bad situation for everyone.

I think Splash host has good prices and decent support from the chats I've had with Alan but I just recommend looking elsewhere if you need a large account with them.

Yes those were the loads for an entire server, not just my account :D

Originally posted by Ramprage
Yes those were the loads for an entire server, not just my account :D Then it makes your thread title, "Splash host no good for popular sites" a little misleading.

It's good that you took the initiative to ask first rather than later. Getting a site suspended for being too busy has happened to me quite a few times. From the end user's perspective it seems unfair, but from the host's standpoint, its simply good business - one happy customer and a bunch of unhappy ones does not bode well.

Aussie Bob:
Thanks for the comment ;)

MadSkilage
I totally agree with you and that's the point I am trying to get across.

SoftWareRevue
No that does not change the fact that Splash host isn't good for busy sites. As Alan said, a forum with about 20 active users is to many for him.


As you can see I have made my point, I don't plan on arguing with anyone or current clients. I just wanted to get my point across to be aware that if you have or decide to get a vBB or any other forum and have 20 or so active users that you'll need to find a new hosting solution.

Rampage, you are saying that splash host isnt good for busy sites, but theres nothing stopping you have a busy site with splash host has long as its not too cpu intensive, also i would say 20 users online at one time is very busy. The majoirty of message boards will never be that busy.

Ok let me just throw in my $.02. Before I had my own servers for Insiderhosting, I had a resellers account with VO and one with Alan at Splashhost.com. I ran a vb for a site that I started before I started Insiderhosting. The site was not a busy site by any means, but it averages anywhere from 5-20 users on at a single time. Splashhost servers handled it beautifully, and there were never any problems. Alan is a great guy to work with and he is understanding, but something that you need to realize Rampage is that 20 users is a good amount of concurrent users on a forum. Alan was perfectly honest with you in that he said that his limit was 20 users. See if you had 20 users hitting your site at the same time and your site was all static pages, then SH would be no problem for you, but because it is a forum (and vb is the best :) ) it does take up resources and I respect the fact that Alan strives to maintain the integrity of his servers.

-Steven

Originally posted by insiderhosting
Ok let me just throw in my $.02. Before I had my own servers for Insiderhosting, I had a resellers account with VO and one with Alan at Splashhost.com. I ran a vb for a site that I started before I started Insiderhosting. The site was not a busy site by any means, but it averages anywhere from 5-20 users on at a single time. Splashhost servers handled it beautifully, and there were never any problems. Alan is a great guy to work with and he is understanding, but something that you need to realize Rampage is that 20 users is a good amount of concurrent users on a forum. Alan was perfectly honest with you in that he said that his limit was 20 users. See if you had 20 users hitting your site at the same time and your site was all static pages, then SH would be no problem for you, but because it is a forum (and vb is the best :) ) it does take up resources and I respect the fact that Alan strives to maintain the integrity of his servers.

-Steven

Well said. If anything, this thread has given me respect for Alan and his company, not the opposite.

Ramprage, what you have to understand is that every host is going to put a limit as to how much of the server resources your site can use. 10% is their limit and that would pertain to any script, not just vbulletin. It is the script that is limiting you, not that your site is busy per se.

You can have a much, much busier site without the forum and not come close to 10%. So this is why your statement is a bit misleading. Most often this information is found in the TOS, however I didn't look at Splash's to see if it is there.

You did the right thing by asking about your specific situation, as that is what matters the most. As I said, 10% is pretty standard, I've seen more and I've seen less, but that number isn't uncommon. I would get a more accurate resource usage number if you can. Typical concurrent users can give hosts a decent idea, and hopefully you'll find a host that matches your needs.

Post in the requests forum if you'd like and you should be able to get some decent offers for your situation. Good luck...

Originally posted by FDrive


Well said. If anything, this thread has given me respect for Alan and his company, not the opposite.

Ditto.

2 thumbs up for Alan ;)

I think it was unfair, and inaccurate, to label the thread "Splash host no good for popular sites" without at least inserting the acronym "vBB" between the words 'popular' and 'sites'.

What about if you have a reseller accounts and 20 clients each with a vbulletin board with 1 user? Do we get kicked too? I was seriously considering your plans but :(

If you have any questions about our services please e-mail our sales department.

AND PLEASE stop calling it vbb!!!

ITs not vbb

Its either:

vB

or

vBulletin

Its not a UBB which is a horrendous program.

Originally posted by SplashHost.com
Rampage, you are saying that splash host isnt good for busy sites, but theres nothing stopping you have a busy site with splash host has long as its not too cpu intensive, also i would say 20 users online at one time is very busy. The majoirty of message boards will never be that busy.

dam 20 users on the board at the same time and its no go :/ i didnt know vb would take up 10% of cpu usage. :S