The admin wrote in their forums:

Server# 1 got cancelled by our provider (Rackshack) yesterday afternoon because of a client spamming and a complain letters!

Abuse department said we're the second time violation because of client's spamming activity, I checked but our server ip did not get listed in spam blocker, all is because of two complain letters...

They cancelled the server and no matter how hard I want my server back, they ignore it

:eek:

The network is always in charge of Spam complaints! A web host with servers in a NOC is at the mercy of their bandwidth providers. I am sure Hostpacket received at least one warning. That is why some hosts have a no tolerance spam policy, one incident and your domain is dropped.

Does Rackshack confirm this "story"?

HostPacket did in this thread:
http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=70684

I would think of it this way.

Rackshack has no reason, interest or inclination to keep you after the first spam complaint.... you just can't buy understanding and compassion for $99 a month...

There are zillions of messages in that thread... could you paste the rackshack message here?

This is from page 6 of that thread...

posted by hostpacket (Site Admin) on their forums


Server# 1 got cancelled by our provider (Rackshack) yesterday afternoon because of a client spamming and a complain letters!

Abuse department said we're the second time violation because of client's spamming activity, I checked but our serve rip did not get listed in spam blocker, all is because of two complain letters...

They cancelled the server and no matter how hard I want my server back, they ignore it

I request more than 5 trouble tickets asking:

1) can you get the harddisk from my old server to this new one?
A: Yes

2) did the old harddisk got formatted?
A: Not yet... it'll not be formatted within few days

3) can you set the old harddisk as promary drive?
A: No.. only can be secondary drive

I purchase another server afterward, and request to take the harddisk from old 64.246.42.67 server to the new server as secondary harddisk

The new server come this morning, after transferring the harddisk, YOU GUESS WHAT I FOUND? THE OLD HARDDISK IS FORMATTED, ALL DATA IS OVER

The only way is to place a auto Cpanel account creation script, clients go to the script and re-create their account in server# 3, but all the data is over... because of our provider and two spamming complaining letters...

And ALL CLIENTS GET A FREE MONTH HOSTING!

Just go here on HostPackets site:
http://www.hostpacket.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=126
There are zillions of messages in that thread... could you paste the rackshack message here?
Reading is good for you, that is how you learn... :D

That is not a message from Rackshack....

Yes, I'd like to see rackshack's confirmation on this..

or if its true, will they even respond?:eek:

I really want to hear from Rackshack myself. It's not fair that innocent people like myself get all of their data erased because of one spammer. I'm guessing if Rackshack reformatted this drive, my mysql databases are gone as well? (I know I should have backed up, but I didn't, and that's why I'm so desperate!) :bawling:

mioi... why are you blaming rackshack... their just following policy... its not rackshacks responsibility to deal with or worry about you, they only deal with the server owner... thats the risk you take as a company owner and server operator when you choose where to place your boxes... you should be aware of such policies and past reactions... its been no secret that rackshack is cut and dry when it comes to abuse.

rackshack has to keep a standrad for everyone im sure you're not the first person who has had this done to them (though i support rackshack 100%) move on and learn from this...

who said i was blaming rackshack? i just said its not fair what happened to me.. i'm mostly blaming fate, because yeah, i understand rackshack was following policy, and hostpacket obviously didn't do this purposefully (screw up their own business on purpose? no i dont think so). anyway, like i said, i just want my mysql databases. i'm probably not going to get them, but it's worth a shot. nothing to lose!!!

bye bye.

As an innocent bystander, it seems that Rackshack is right to enforce their no spam policy, but to erase the hard drive of all contents on purpose is *NOT* right, in any business sense. Accidents do happen, malicious users I can understand, but a spam complaint should not warrant the erasing of all data without giving the user the chance to recover their data. Especially if the spammer was one of the clients of Hostpacket, which Hostpacket cannot control 24/7.

There are more strict upstreams than Rackshack's, and I have never heard of removing a site and deleting their data as well as an action against spam. This seems like quite a blunder to me, and I believe Hostpacket could have a nice defamation suit against Rackshack for such actions (IMHO). [Note: I did not say they would win, but they would have a case.]

Sorry if I come across harsh, but this action, if it is true in its entirety, is not excusable.

- John C.

I really doubt that Rackshack will respond to any queries on this forum as far as confirming this story. This is between Rackshack, and Hostpacket, not anyone else. I realize that many people have questions about what happened....but because of client confidentiality, I'm sure they will not respond to anything.

Originally posted by JohnCrowley
This seems like quite a blunder to me, and I believe Hostpacket could have a nice defamation suit against Rackshack for such actions (IMHO). [Note: I did not say they would win, but they would have a case.]

That was about as clueless a statement as I've seen around here in a long time. "Defamation suit"? Do you even know what defamation is?

Generally speaking, a host is well within their rights to cancel the account of a customer who is abusing their policies. It sucks for Hostpacket that their drive got formatted, but it's their responsibility and no one else's to ensure their data is backed up somewhere safe.

-Bob

Originally posted by TMX


but it's their responsibility and no one else's to ensure their data is backed up somewhere safe.

-Bob

I agree with TMX. It was HostPacket who should've had a backup of their data. I know in another thread someone replied to a similiar statement I made, and said "resellers do not have the money to afford backups and redundant servers". My remark is what???? If you get to the size HP was, or alleged to be, you make sure that somewhere in your revenue, or a budget you set aside, you have room for backups.

I do an offsite backup nightly we are not the size of HP but in our growth if we hit a certain number or size we do plan on implementing another type of backup solution. This is a commitment made by the Host that they will ensure backup of the data unless specifically said they won't.

People should plan their growth and set aside funds to help deal with eventualities like this. For instance, what if, instead of the server being pulled and formatted a run away bus or meteor demolished the building. I know this is unfortunate, but in case of eventualities like this, some sort of backup plan must be instituted.

Customers don't want to hear about dealings with bandwidth providers or colo houses, all they care about, and rightfully so, is the integrity of their data.

Worse, they didn't had a backup of the user files. So everyone on server#1 lost theyre data, including me. :bawling:

Wk

Originally posted by williamk
Worse, they didn't had a backup of the user files. So everyone on server#1 lost theyre data, including me. :bawling:

Wk

In which case they are in trouble, becuase their advertising stated that they did daily backups. Simple as that

Originally posted by TMX


That was about as clueless a statement as I've seen around here in a long time. "Defamation suit"? Do you even know what defamation is?


Thank you for attacking my choice of words. Since I have seen suits such as this (copmany A does something to company B that injures the good name of company B, whether malicious or by neglect), it actually can meet the requirements for just such a suit. Will they win? Up to the courts. But can they sue? Sure! You can sue for anything, as long as there is grounds for it.

Hostpacket may not have used the best judgement in not providing off-server backups, but Rackshack should not delete the entire contents of a drive without so much as a warning or chance to recover their data.

You may blast Hostpacket for their shortcomings, but I will stand by my statement that if this is actually what transpired, then I think Rackshack is in the wrong.

Just my 2 sense; and I'm glad our providers are not like this. :D

- John C.

Originally posted by JohnCrowley
Thank you for attacking my choice of words.

You're right, that was uncalled for. Sorry.

I still disagree with you, but I'm too tired to argue my point right now....

-Bob

TMX, no prob, my statement might have been a little harsh, and not founded in complete reality :stickout

I just do not agree with the policy of RS, *IF* the story actually unfolded as described here. It just does not seem to be a hosting friendly place to be if the actions of your clients can get the entire machine wiped instead of just that domains's account being suspended, without first being positively contacted by the DC. (long run-on sentence?)

Hence the 1st gut reaction of lawsuit :)

- John C.

Originally posted by Crypto


In which case they are in trouble, becuase their advertising stated that they did daily backups. Simple as that

Unless the backups were done on a second hdd installed in the server, which is what a lot of hosts do. Not a good idea if you are hosting with RackShack though it seems....

Nah, they did all the backups on the SAME HD. But I was lucky. I had TWO accounts, one just to hold my Backups, and was on server#2. (2 Giga is hard to download every-time) And a daily database backup using crontab and wget command. Too bad one of my small sites wasn't on the backup. :( I'm pretty upset with this. A friend, who I forgot to tell to keep backup of the databases, lost all files. Is sad. I just requested HostPacket to cancel my account, and I allready moved someplace else.

Wk

I am not sure of how rackshack works... but If rackshack shutdown their servers and formatted their drives without giving them a chance to explain, and atleast backup thier files then that, excuse my french is royally ****ed up. There is almost no explanation for those type of actions... Rackshack should be well aware that the people they lease thier servers to are also service providers, and for them to be so cold is just plain disturbing..

just my two cents..

To be totally honest, I'm more mad with RackShack then with HostPacket. Both were idiots on the whole isue. One for not having a backup someplace else, and having just ONE DNS server. The other for shutting down a computer just like that, it seems... anyway, I got a server on another place. I was thinking about RackShack, but if they work like that, I don't want it... :(

Wk

If hostpacket users wanted a better backup policy than backing up to a second hard disk drive, they should have been paying for it. It was their responsiblity to know how their host provider was providing backups, and determine if it was sufficient for their needs.

If someone formatted one of my servers, due to a complaint, they better have investigated the complaint, provided me with their results, and then allowed me to access my data first.

They do have the right to terminate an account at any time, and though they may claim for "any reason", every reason is not legal. They do not have the right to do it for the sole purpose of injuring your business. "They caused us problems, let's knowingly ruin their business."

Originally posted by DanielP
I would think of it this way.

Rackshack has no reason, interest or inclination to keep you after the first spam complaint.... you just can't buy understanding and compassion for $99 a month...
I could not agree more, people just got too greedy, they will make a few tousand $$ on a server, but decide they will spend on it the LEAST amount possible, putting their clients at the mercy of a cheap provider, who has not time to be understanding becuase .. well, they dont' make enought $$ on you to do so.

you wanted it cheap, well, there is the result of it.

Originally posted by CRego3D

I could not agree more, people just got too greedy, they will make a few tousand $$ on a server, but decide they will spend on it the LEAST amount possible, putting their clients at the mercy of a cheap provider, who has not time to be understanding becuase .. well, they dont' make enought $$ on you to do so.

you wanted it cheap, well, there is the result of it.

I also agree, $99 doesn't buy you complete client loyalty. If there is a spam complaint it is in the best interests of the provider to shut you down immediately. ARIN, and ISP's don't like blacklisted IP's, they are useless. And Rackshack has the right, (even if it is totally unethical) to do what ever is necessary within their TOS to prevent this from happening. Rackshack is also responsible to their Broadband providers, and too many blacklisted IP's and spam complaints puts them at risk as well. If you agreed to the TOS then you have signed your life away, although (a glimmer of hope) there is no mention of "data deletion." Just "account termination". That could mean many things. I say that it is strictly Hostpackets fault that clients data was permanently deleted. Technically you backed it up, but you stuck it on the same hard drive. Big Mistake! Never take a chance when it comes to your clients data because if you lose it they will have your neck. It is unfortunate that this has happened to Hostpacket and I also agree with a previous post that this will not be the only incident like this. I'll even bet that Rackshack was warned by some of their upstream providers to crack down on Spammers in their network. hence the reason for the newly added clause. Always read the fine print before entering an agreement. Thats just smart business. If you signed for it you're liable for it simple as that. Its the horrible ugly truth.
I speculate Rackshack has already given hostpackets server to another client, wiped it of its data and collected another $99 (or what ever they charge) setup fee. Hostpacket you may want to check your bank account as well. The TOS also states your obligated to pay them an investigation charge of $500. This is last time i checked. They may have changed it again suddenly?? Who knows. Sorry Hostpacket but your outa luck on this one. A lawyer isn't really going to do much good either. Rackshack has done a good job of covering every area of their ass, they are not liable for anything that happens to your company.

Lets hope this whole situation is resolved, good luck to Kevin and his team. I hope you can keep your business and consider this a valuable lesson in the world of "corporate ethics" and loyalty to clientelle. In this case there appears not to be any. Just like any great entrepreneur you will bounce back better than ever, and you will be wiser because of it. "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." I hope this holds true in your current predicament.

Good Luck,:D