Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Reseller Hosting : Help: HostForWeb - Exovian - NetworkRedux - Varhosting

[orverda]

I only host my own customers of my web desgin, ecommerce and content-management service. I'm looking for a highly reliable reseller hosting as a backup for my current RH provider (which has nice customer support, but it's downtime records really scared me). Features included in CPanel are good enough for me. However, what most critical to my service are (1) minimum downtime - Uptime must be 99.7%+ (Downtime no more than 2 Hrs/mon - I don't want refund but UPtime) (2) Mail server perfomance and (3) DB security.

After going through several hosting forums, I have few companies in mind for their added values and want to use one of them for my new account. I'll be grateful if anyone can help me to compare and rank them out. Here is the list:

HostForWeb - using Equinix Chicago IBX Center
Exovian - using Planet
NetworkRedux
VARhosting

Does anyone also know Canadian host WiredHub.net , which looks decent and provides multiple-domain plans (though Reseller not allowed and no private DNS available)

Thanks in advance for any thoughts about the ranking!

- Orverda

[swflnetworks]

I'd recommend you go with ResellerZoom if you're looking for user-friendly support, and end-user support for your clients on top of Private DNS, Dedicated IP, Free ClientExec Included.

Though don't go for their basic packages if you're looking for uptime, as they regularly reboot those servers to keep memory low..

Your best choice would be: http://resellerzoom.com/advanced-reseller.html

I recommend you sign up on their forums: http://forum.resellerzoom.com/

And ask some pre-sales questions.

[Cirtex]

Have you taken a look at the offers section of WHT?
Also do a search for reviews of hosts you have interest in here on WHT, good luck

[ldcdc]

(1) minimum downtime - Uptime must be 99.7%+ (Downtime no more than 2 Hrs/mon - I don't want refund but UPtime)

I just love to read that! that's definitely the way to think, or very close to it.

One point if I may: hosts (especially the bigger ones, as a consequence of the laws governing the probability of events) will have a server with uptime problems at one moment in time, be they caused by a hardware failure, by human errors, outside attacks (DDoS) etc.

Having 1 server with problems out of 100, is not such a bad thing, and the host can't be labeled as bad. But I can tell you for sure that most of the customers on the troubled server will think something like "This is terrible. Bad host!".

In other words, no one can tell you now that server X will be online for at least 99.7% of time in the next week/month/year etc. Even if you go with that elusive "best host", if you don't have a little bit of luck, you can still experience high amounts of downtime.

[orverda]

Thanks Hoobastank68

Yes, I did a quite bit of search on related reviews in past week here in WHT and other forums, seeing different opinions based on writers' "first-hand experience". I even tried calling those providers personally, though most of those toll-free numbers were merely hooked with an answering machine. Thanks for your advise - I'm going to check the WHT offer section out.

ScreamingEaglePC I much appreciate your recommendation of ResellerZoom

I visted the site and found out that, like Exovian, the co also uses Planet and NAC. I am much impressed by their guarantees for the very high uptime. I've just registered with the forum there and hope to find out more.

BTW, have you ever used their service yourself? Your first-hand experience will be very helpful to me. Only thing that worries me so far with ResellerZoom is their Houston location, you know Rita is almost there... Like CA and NY/NJ, Texas does have good hosting resources. It's not a joke, after 9-11, I used to set up a rule when choosing a web host, that was, to avoid anyone that used datacenters loacted in NY and NJ... it's a sad story, indeed.

Idcdc

Thanks for your opinions - I recently read lots of reviews here on hosts I looked into, including many posts by you as a matter of fact... I agree with you that it's practically difficult to finally reach a "perfect one". As a kind of service-provider, I found myself becoming nervous when dealing with hosting issues, an occupational psychology, soft of.

In past 11 years, I switched my host for 10 times (Verio, Valueweb, Netnation, Hostway, OLM, FeaturePrice, Vortech... just name the few) - In fact. I was not picky, I usually tried to stay with a host as long as I could until I had to go or was forced to go. If there's anything wrong, the RH provider only needs to deal with me, but I am the person to face all my customers and I can afford to make too many mistakes.

Thanks Guys - Carrying all my customers on my shoulders, my migration search continues...

- Orverda

[net]

Welcome To WHT Orverda!

When I was a reseller, I used HFW, they have a good uptime until after few months, server became slow and they are forcing me to go for VPS. not good.

The best thing also is to shoot a sales questions to them so you can focus carefully to these hosting providers.

GoodLuck!

[swflnetworks]

Originally posted by orverda
ScreamingEaglePC I much appreciate your recommendation of ResellerZoom

I visted the site and found out that, like Exovian, the co also uses Planet and NAC. I am much impressed by their guarantees for the very high uptime. I've just registered with the forum there and hope to find out more.

BTW, have you ever used their service yourself? Your first-hand experience will be very helpful to me. Only thing that worries me so far with ResellerZoom is their Houston location, you know Rita is almost there... Like CA and NY/NJ, Texas does have good hosting resources. It's not a joke, after 9-11, I used to set up a rule when choosing a web host, that was, to avoid anyone that used datacenters loacted in NY and NJ... it's a sad story, indeed.

Yes Orverda

I have used their services since May, and also own 3 dedicated servers of my own. When I give a host my reseller business, I stick with them if they are good, and ResellerZoom simply redefine the word good to great.

Though like I said, DON'T GO WITH THEIR BUDGET PLANS if you're wanting great uptime.. They reboot those servers once a month or on every other occasion. Still above 99.5% The Advanced plans are much more reliable.

Don't worry about Rita.. The Planet, Much like LayeredTech, are built like a bunker. They are more than capable of standing up to the hurricane, and they have their own backup generators, and Dallas hardly ever floods for much longer than 6 hours before it all rolls back into the Gulf.

You'll be fine with them.. Though, the datacenter your server will be in will most likely be NAC, though ThePlanet could be also.

Once you sign up with ResellerZoom, you'll be wondering why the hell you've been wasting so much time over using other hosts.. I know I sure did.

[orverda]

Originally posted by net
Welcome To WHT Orverda!

When I was a reseller, I used HFW, they have a good uptime until after few months, server became slow and they are forcing me to go for VPS. not good.

The best thing also is to shoot a sales questions to them so you can focus carefully to these hosting providers.

GoodLuck!

Thanks Net - I did email those providers for tech/sales questions. I also talked with HFW few times over telephone. One thing of HFW really attactive to me is the Equinix Datacenter they currently utilize (imagine most big ones, IBM, Google. etc. also use that data center). They told me they do have their own technicians working in the DC for their own servers and they could even arrange a DC tour for me (I'm in Chicago, just 8 blocks away from the DC). I've been watching HFW from its begining (now they say they have over 40,000 websites hosted - in 4 years!).

I saw some posts here in WHT pointing out that HFW servers are very fast, but still experiencing serious downtime problems (using Equinix though) and problems with email and data loss.

I like what HFW, Exovian, Varhosting are offering - but just like someone said in this forum, I worry about "move from a crapy host to another one" (I currently use Cybershouts, for 3 years, nice people and nice support, but too much DT makes me worry...)

[swflnetworks]

Originally posted by orverda
Thanks Net - I did email those providers for tech/sales questions. I also talked with HFW few times over telephone. One thing of HFW really attactive to me is the Equinix Datacenter they currently utilize (imagine most big ones, IBM, Google. etc. also use that data center). They told me they do have their own technicians working in the DC for their own servers and they could even arrange a DC tour for me (I'm in Chicago, just 8 blocks away from the DC). I've been watching HFW from its begining (now they say they have over 40,000 websites hosted - in 4 years!).

I saw some posts here in WHT pointing out that HFW servers are very fast, but still experiencing serious downtime problems (using Equinix though) and problems with email and data loss.

I like what HFW, Exovian, Varhosting are offering - but just like someone said in this forum, I worry about "move from a crapy host to another one" (I currently use Cybershouts, for 3 years, nice people and nice support, but too much DT makes me worry...)

double Poster. Hehe!

[orverda]

Originally posted by ScreamingEaglePC
Yes Orverda

I have used their services since May, and also own 3 dedicated servers of my own. When I give a host my reseller business, I stick with them if they are good, and ResellerZoom simply redefine the word good to great.

Thanks ScreamingEaglePC - I'm sure looking into ResellerZoom for the Advanced Reseller plan now and will post back to you if I have questions.

Just wonder what really makes differences between hosting companies that all use the same datacenters with similar equipment? e.g. ResellerZoom and Exovian all use the Planet and ResellerZoom and my current provider (Cybershouts, unfortunately, with good servers though) all use NAC...

- Orverda

[swflnetworks]

Support, the Community of their customers, and the management of their servers.

They lock their servers down tight.

Not to mention all their hardware are Dual Xeon 2.4's and 2.8's on some servers..

[orverda]

Originally posted by ScreamingEaglePC
double Poster. Hehe!

Opps! That could have been caused by using Back Button in my browser, oh well

- Orverda

[jmweb]

There is a big difference in terms of hosting companies. In the end the main thing thats the same is they all user a computer to host their sites on.

When it comes to quality, thats where server speed and server admistration as well as technicial support come into play. Don't expect high class support for a couple bucks a month. A saying repeated around here very often is, you get what you pay for.

Welcome to WHT, and be careful its a scary world out their when looking for a new host. Lots of overnight hosts/kiddie hosts out there.

Heres an example: Dell is usually a very cheap player in the Computer sales market, they provide good computers for low prices. They are able to do this because they've used cost cutting measures to allow them to lower the cost of the computer, such as outsourcing their tech support to people whom can barely understand english, which are knowledgable people but the language barrier creates a problem. As opposed to someone like HP where you pay more too but receive good English speaking support (at least here in Canada we do).

[swflnetworks]

I've gotten quite a bit of "outsourced support" from HP

Though, back to the issue..

John, I noticed you said:

"Don't expect high class support for a couple bucks a month."

Have you tried their services I believe, honestly, ResellerZoom is quite the exception.

They've responded in 10-40 minutes to any and all ticket requests no matter what time.

Always quality reply's. They never leave you hanging.. If they don't know about something, they ask. If they know immediately what the problem is, the moment they read the ticket, they start working on it, instead of posting "we're working on it", by the time my hourly-cron to receive my email through Mozilla Thunderbird comes, there's the reply with "It's all fixed.." -or- "You just need to do this this and this, and it will all be okay."

I'm not trying to push them on anyone, but I personally,have been very, very, very impressed with them.

So, maybe an exception is in order? lol

[jmweb]

Originally posted by ScreamingEaglePC
I've gotten quite a bit of "outsourced support" from HP

Though, back to the issue..

John, I noticed you said:

"Don't expect high class support for a couple bucks a month."

Have you tried their services I believe, honestly, ResellerZoom is quite the exception.

They've responded in 10-40 minutes to any and all ticket requests no matter what time.

Always quality reply's. They never leave you hanging.. If they don't know about something, they ask. If they know immediately what the problem is, the moment they read the ticket, they start working on it, instead of posting "we're working on it", by the time my hourly-cron to receive my email through Mozilla Thunderbird comes, there's the reply with "It's all fixed.." -or- "You just need to do this this and this, and it will all be okay."

I'm not trying to push them on anyone, but I personally,have been very, very, very impressed with them.

So, maybe an exception is in order? lol

If this is true then you are 100% correct, thus making me wrong. An exception would be in order. Good catch!

I assume your in the U.S.? Oddly enough HP Canada used a tech support company from Ontario that can speak/understand english very well, which is the opposite of what I said