Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Web Hosting : Allowable CPU Usage?

[phatmass]

How would one go about finding out how much CPU usage a busy Invision Power Board uses? Is CPU usage different from bandwidth usage?

My site's forum averages over 1000 posts a day, and usually has anywhere from 20-40 users online simultaneously.

Then, when searching for a new host, how would one find out if that host would allow such usage? If it is different from bandwidth usage, hosts don't usually list that type of stat under their hosting plan details, do they?

I just want to avoid signing up with a host who allows X gigs of transfer, and then get booted because my forum is using too much resources...

Any advice on how to avoid this?

[4Hosted]

The best way is to Ask the hosts your interested in, The problem with CPU usage and listing it on a hosts website is that it is impossible to really tell what CPU usage is acceptable.

Hosts mostly use their common sense and if you truly think that your forum will use a lot of CPU resources i would recommend a reseller/VPS hosting accounts as these generally have less persons per server and should be able to accomodate your needs.

Best of luck !

[jcwebii]

CPU usage is not the same as bandwidth/data transfer usage. CPU refers to the processing time your site uses from the server's overall resources (central processing unit). Excessive CPU usage from a site can cause performance problems for the entire server, so of course hosts are going to be concerned about this issue.

You should talk with the web hosts you are considering and discuss the type of web site you have, your usage averages like you mentioned above. Ask the host what a reasonable expectation for CPU limit with their services are, or if they expect you to use a certain plan for higher volume sites.

[cybexhost1]

CPU usage is how hard the computer has to think, and compute. Bandwidth is the transfer of information from the server to the end-user. Most companies have in their AUP/TOS that they only allow certain scripts, etc. due to heavy CPU usage. Many AUP/TOS's have limits on how high up one account may bring up the CPU before suspension.

[.net]

For such a resource intensive forum, I'd recommend a VPS solution with atleast 1GB burstable RAM, 128MB RAM guaranteed.

[phatmass]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

The more I research, the more it looks like I'll be needing a VPS solution. Hopefully I can find a good VPS solution under $50/month.

The problem I've had so far is that most of the VPS hosts allow adult content--which I can't do because of my site being religious--wouldn't look good to my visitors.

And the search continues....

[[inx]Olly]

20-30 active users isn't that much in my opinion.

We host a forum that's currently got 121 users online. It doesn't drop below that.

[Lesli]

phatmass, there may be web hosts who sell VPS solutions but don't allow content - or even have high-usage plans that they don't offer as a matter of course, but may have available. Something where, for example, you would use 1/3 or 1/4 of a server all for your site. Gives you command of the resources without requiring you to purchase and manage an entire dedicated server yourself.

[cybexhost1]

All of this thinking about this Board, makes me wonder what WHT's setup has to be.....

Multiple servers load balanced, along with seperate server databases, etc.

[Mark_TVI]

Quite honestly with only 20 people online I don't think you have outgrown a shared environment yet. That is assuming that the forum does not have a bunch of poorly written hacks installed.

The one factor to consider during your search is that hosting packages which offer large amounts of bandwidth for very little money will very likely be the first ones to throw you off their servers. They have to pack too many people on those servers to sustain the low pricing model.

I'm certain there are plenty of Hosts (who do not allow Adult Content) that could host your forum on a shared environment for less than $50.00 a month...

[cybexhost1]

Originally posted by Watcher_TVI
I'm certain there are plenty of Hosts (who do not allow Adult Content) that could host your forum on a shared environment for less than $50.00 a month...

$50 / Month !?!?!
I would never pay anything more than $15 / Month for any shared hosting account, unless it's a reseller account.

[ldcdc]

I would never pay anything more than $15 / Month for any shared hosting account, unless it's a reseller account.

It's your right to do as you feel, but some feel that paying $50 or more for 50GB of traffic (just an example) ensures that the host will be around for a while. Watcher_TVI's estimate is thus OK.

Sure you can find a host that will give 50Gb for 10$, but that's a whole other thing. Paying more can (usually) keep you out of trouble.

[cybexhost1]

For 50GB of Bandwidth - that is understandable. However:
1) 50GB of Bandwidth was never mentioned in the thread as being required.
2) 50GB of Bandwidth would not be required for this kind of forum following the statistics provided.
3) Most companies do not offer 50GB Hosting Plans. If you wanted that much Bandwidth in a shared environment - you would need to purchase a Reseller Account.

[Mark_TVI]

Originally posted by cybexhost1
$50 / Month !?!?!
I would never pay anything more than $15 / Month for any shared hosting account, unless it's a reseller account.

Perhaps you misunderstood my post, or didn't read the thread starters comments. He stated he was looking for a solution "under $50/month".

That is why I suggested that he would be able to find a solution on a shared environment for "less than $50.00 a month".

I should also add that many Hosting companies provide customized shared hosting plans. So claiming that "most" companies would not offer a shared hosting package of 50 gigs is not an accurate statement IMO.

I know a great many of our clients are on customized hosting packages. Plans that range in allocations of well over 50 gigs of transfer and Reseller packages for accounts with as little as 5 gigs of transfer.

[cybexhost1]

Well, when you customize - anything is possible. However, you must contact each host directly to get a quote. Contacting each web hosting company for a custom quote = A LOT OF TIME.