I’ve finally narrowed my choices down to these two hosting services (with another two alternates). I’m now soliciting opinions on which service you think is better for my purposes.


Site5
WizardsHosting


The most important feature I need is the ability to host more than one site through one account. Service and reliability come in a close second. Since my 3 sites are small, bandwidth and server space aren’t critical. For full disclosure, below is a list of other companies I’ve looked into and the reasons why they were removed from my list.


DreamHost (expensive, still an alternate)
HostRocket (never answered e-mails, no plan mentioned on site for multiple separate domains)
JaguarPC (no name of sales/tech person in e-mail responses, bad grammar, still an alternate)
Ventures Online (no plan for multiple separate domains)
ThinkHost (too much bad press, expensive)
Weinbar (No plan for multiple separate domains)

Not sure what exactly you mean by no plan for multiple domains. However I think what you mean is you want one package for three domain names? Which you can do at venturesonline, just create your first account then create two subdomains. Then point the other two domains to those subdomains. :)

If thats not what your talking about im interested in what you mean by multiple domains so I can think about adding that feature to my plans.


Zach
ICUServices
:cartman:

I am a customer of JaguarPC. They are ok but things are slow as VDI is having major connectivity problem. JaguarPC is moving off VDI. so I assume they are busy as hell.
I think site5 is no longer with VDI so I suggest you go for site 5 as Wizardhosting is with VDI.

That said, VDI = problem? No. I don't mean that. But fact is still fact. VDI has been having this connectivity problem for nearly a month. As I am typing, I see VDI hosted sites are getting slow as it's getting busy(day time). :rolleyes:

Site5 is not in VDI!! they moved to the nac.net center. They are very stable now, and nac.net is quite fast. I highly recomment site5, they've always provided us with excellent support. Matt from site5 hangs out here alot. :blush:

Zach - According to the email I recieved from Pat Fread at Ventures Online.

- Can I host other domains that I own? (mydomain.com and anotherdomain.com) If so, how exactly does it work? Will it be transparent to my visitors (anotherdomain.com brings you to either www.mydomain.com/anotherdomain _OR_ anotherdomain.mydomain.com but the visitors should only see anotherdomain.com in their title bar and bookmarks)?
A: You can either set up a separate account for other domains or you can point (park) a domain on top of your primary domain. Additional accounts would cost the amount of the package. We'll point (park) up to 10 additional domains for no cost).

- If I can host multiple domains, how do I set up them up?
A: If you want additional accounts, you'll need to sign up for them on our account signup page. If you want to point (park) additional domains, you can request this to be set up through our Help Desk. ).

If I misunderstood the response I'm very sorry, but it sounded to me as if I could only use a pointer to park an extra domain name at my main accounts homepage and not to subdirectories. I also didn't recieve an answer to my followup e-mail which asked for clarification on this issue.

I'm not in any way saying or trying to imply that Ventures Online isn't a fine host. Quite the contrary in fact, they seem to be very highly regarded on this board and in other places. However, since I am faced with an already difficult decision I had to whittle down the list somehow and their (perhaps incorrectly worded) response to my question was enough for me.

It's too bad too, since their service and support seem to be top rate.

Hmm.. tough call.

They are both a good choice. I think you would do well at either. I have heard a lot of good from their customers here about both of them.

Flip a coin... you won't loose either way. :wavey:

Tim L

Both copmanies are really great, but at the moment, I would have to say Site5 because they are not VDI based and the VDI nework has had its share of problems lately.

So far it looks like most people are recommending I stay away from VDI at the moment because of some problems. What are these problems? Has VDI been a good company in the past and only recently begun having problems or have they always had them?

If it's not against forum rules, might I ask for a response from the companies in question? I'm especially interested in hearing from Carlos about these 'problems' with VDI. Should I, as a potential customer, be concerned? What, if anything, is being done to resolve these 'problems'?

Hello
To be fair to VDI the reson for todays and yesterdays problems are work they are doing to prevent another major outage.

Onthe parked domain issue, I imagine the reason VO don't offer it is that Webhost Manager/Cpanel does not set up e-mail for the parked domains.

I have an e-mail on file from Nick Koston saying the recommended way to do it is to set up a seperate IP-less mail only account and point the domains MX records. That takes up more time than setting up a seperate hosting account and its more complicated.

Another reliable option is to use web forwarding.
if you can live with the frame its cheaper, easier and potentially more reliable, as long as you have a stable forwarding service.

Gordon

Originally posted by GordonH

Onthe parked domain issue, I imagine the reason VO don't offer it is that Webhost Manager/Cpanel does not set up e-mail for the parked domains.
Err, actually, it does ....

Hey Carlos
I have a folder full of e-mails between myself and Nick trying to make it work.
I think we maxed out after 16 hours work on it.......

It was not easy and although we got it to work on one account we couldn't make it work on another one.

So what's the secret?

Can you make mail to bob@domain1.com and bob@domain2.com go to the bob mailbox on the one cpanel?

Gordon

Gordon ..

there is no secret .. first, let me ask you this .. HOW did you park the domain ? what did you point it at ? (or you can contact me on ICQ)

Hey there.

It's not very difficult to have multiple domains on one account, we have this setup in a 'pointer' style system.
When you add the pointer through NetAdmin, it creates a subdirectory which acts as the document root of the domain, and allows you to setup one 'catchall' email account that will forward anywhere you please.

Under Cpanel systems you just need to edit /etc/valiases/domain.ext and add the domain to /etc/relayhosts, and you're set.

So you can recieve the mail from your .com/.net/.org domain, or any other domain you like, in the same mailbox.

TMG: Feel free to email me any specific questions you might have regarding our service.

Regards,
Vince.

Carlos - I'd really like to know your thoughts on the VDI issue. It would really help me make a decision. Right now I am leaning towards Site5, but you might be able to sway me depending on the resolution(s) to the problems I keep hearing about.

Vince - It might help me if I knew which host you were with. :)

Hi TMG

Well, it's really hard really, I know the folks at Site5 and I have nothing but great respect for them as well :)

If you like you can just email me (take it off the board) .. and we can talk

I've been with Site5 for a few weeks now, and I haven't experienced anything but professional and quality service from Site5. Browsing is fast, FTP is fast, Mail is fast and so on.

There has been 1 minor problem, but it was not directly with Site5 ... yet Matt & Vince were very patient in helping me get to the bottom of the problems.

I've gone as far as including them in the contributors section of my site ( http://www.sourcerunner.com/resources/contributors.htm ) as they are indeed a great service, and deserve all the credit in the world from my end.

I have no experience with WizardsHosting, but from what I've seen, they too are a great service and they know their stuff ... I'm sure you will be good to go with either host, however I'm of course partial to Site5 due to the experience I've had with them so far.

And of course ... as you can see from my signature, I've been through "a lot."

Hope this helps.

Sorry for not being clear earlier - I'm with Site5. :)

Vince, stop lying! You know you're really a web hosting spy and you're actually with *****!

LOL ... *just kidding folks*

Ahh!
My covers blown ... :eek:
*ducks for cover*