Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Managed Hosting and Services : Root or No Root - need opinions!

[Tina J]

I'd like to hear from both server providers and server customers. I would hope that this thread can refrain from becoming an opportunity for server companies to get in a quick advert, please.

For managed servers, do you think that the end-user (customer) should get root access? Please include reasons why you feel that way.

--Tina

[zoid]

I guess it would be hard to deny a customer root access to their server, after all it is theirs. However I would state that any problems which arise due to root usage are not covered by the managed service.

[Tina J]

Well, its their server...but that doesn't mean we have to allow them to do anything they want. After all, we don't allow IRC either.

--Tina

[domaindork]

As an end user, I would never lease a server from a company who would not provide root access to that server. In my opinion, root access should be given. If the customer doesn't use it, so be it. The fact is that there are simply some things that are easier to do as the root user, and I want to be able to do those things without having to wait for support to answer my ticket.

[Tina J]

What kinds of things would you need to do via root?

--Tina

[zoid]

Originally Posted by AH-Tina

Well, its their server...but that doesn't mean we have to allow them to do anything they want. After all, we don't allow IRC either.

--Tina

Well, if I pay for a dedicated server I want to do anything I want - including IRC. If a service provider is taking my full money but only provides limited service I am simply choosing another.

[Tina J]

Originally Posted by zoid

Well, if I pay for a dedicated server I want to do anything I want - including IRC. If a service provider is taking my full money but only provides limited service I am simply choosing another.

Okay, so you're actually looking for a specialty type service (not many allow IRC). I'm talking about general-type server management.

--Tina

[domaindork]

What kinds of things? I might want to wget and then unpack something on the server, configure and install it. Install an rpm. Check the system logs, like for mail, if there was a problem. Upgrade packages my "managed" host doesn't cover under their definition of management, or do it faster than they do, since they have x servers to take care of and I have one. Run my own backup routine and then sftp those to another location. Check something under an account set up for a client, make corrections, and watch the logs, all at the same time. There are many more things I could would do as the root user than I ever would as a standard user shelled in.

[AvailNetworks]

I think it is nice to have root like the dork said just so you don't have to issue a support ticket if you want to do something yourself.

personally I think I would not allow root access unless requested and have them agree to a waiver of damages they may cause

[Tina J]

Originally Posted by domaindork

What kinds of things? I might want to wget and then unpack something on the server, configure and install it. Install an rpm. Check the system logs, like for mail, if there was a problem. Upgrade packages my "managed" host doesn't cover under their definition of management, or do it faster than they do, since they have x servers to take care of and I have one. Run my own backup routine and then sftp those to another location. Check something under an account set up for a client, make corrections, and watch the logs, all at the same time. There are many more things I could would do as the root user than I ever would as a standard user shelled in.

Installing rpms, checking logs for a mail problem, etc. are things that I would expect a management company to handle...and handle quickly. To me, that is the definition of managed. I look at it like a managed server is pretty much exactly the same as a shared hosting account...except you get one big, giant hosting account on the server all by yourself. The host handles EVERYTHING related to the server. You just focus on your hosting account.

Sounds like you're after more of a semi-managed situation. You want them to handle things like security, major problems, etc. - but you want to handle everything else?

--Tina

[grandad]

Some people are always going to want to do some things themselves but with the fall-back of having someone available in a crisis.
With "average" support I would always want root access but if you really are as good and efficient as your post suggests then possibly it wouldn't be necessary.

[domaindork]

I have a range of servers from unmanaged to managed, and need no handholding. My point is: I want root access to a server that I am leasing, period. If the company won't provide it, they don't get my business, no matter what their definition of "managed" is, since that definition varies from place to place. If one of my clients has a server where they don't have root access because the server is "managed", I find them a different provider. I don't expect that when I go lease a car that the person behind the desk won't let me have the keys and insists on driving me everywhere, and I don't expect not to have full access to a server I'm leasing. I may never use the access that I have. I want to know that it's available should I want or need it for whatever my reasons are.

[Tina J]

Originally Posted by domaindork

I have a range of servers from unmanaged to managed, and need no handholding. My point is: I want root access to a server that I am leasing, period. If the company won't provide it, they don't get my business, no matter what their definition of "managed" is, since that definition varies from place to place. If one of my clients has a server where they don't have root access because the server is "managed", I find them a different provider. I don't expect that when I go lease a car that the person behind the desk won't let me have the keys and insists on driving me everywhere, and I don't expect not to have full access to a server I'm leasing. I may never use the access that I have. I want to know that it's available should I want or need it for whatever my reasons are.

Yes, I get it.

As I said, it sounds as if you're looking for more of what I would call a semi-managed situation. Which is fine - different people have different needs!

--Tina

[Real-Hosts]

We don't give out root
I think personally it's too much hassle if they did blow something up, sure you could cron job and email yourself the .bash_history ... but it's just a pain in the butt. So rather 'do things for them' as part of the management package, with pre-arranged additional costs etc.

[domaindork]

Originally Posted by AH-Tina

Yes, I get it.

As I said, it sounds as if you're looking for more of what I would call a semi-managed situation. Which is fine - different people have different needs!

--Tina

I'm not "looking" for anything. I'm answering the question you posed, which you apparently don't need to ask since you seem to have already formed your own answer, so why ask it? You may as well have posted a poll if you're going to disregard what people - a consumer, right here - are telling you: managed servers, root access, yes or no? It would have been just as effective.