Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : VPS Hosting : Urgent: DreamHost VPS - Need advice

[Roks]

Hi,

I was searching around DreamHost VPS, and came across one of your forum post.

First off, its nice & informative forum.

I need your expert advice re. my blog, as I donn't have much experience in web server. Actually, I'm running a blog "ditii.com" hosted with DreamHost since Dec. 2006.


Recently DreamHost started complaining, my blog causing server overload with options:

either move to VPS or host elsewhere.

My reactions:

1. I was reluctant for VPS, becasue of my current personal stats doesn't allow me such huge expenses.
2. I'm neither interested going elsewhere, because I've paid full year hosting charges to them, and it's 9 months credit with them. I'm sure they'll not refund this amount and I cann't affoard to loose such huge amount.

..moreover, I didn't want to move elsewhere, just becasue one person has said to move. So I talked to other DreamHost execs, and they promised, things will be better, once I move to VPS.


I signed-up for 300 MHz CPU/RAM, as discussed with them, but things worsened right after the move happened last Tuesday.

Right after the move, blog is dead with "500 internal errors". They moved the slider to 601 MHz, still no respite.

In the past 10 days, I've removed lots of plugins, js, did js compression plus other, and now I'm running only the most required plugins only.


Sorry! for such a long post!

My query:

I still have shared IP, instead of "dedicated ip", and the box has 6 sites (including mine) running.


So the question is, why I'm still in shared evnironment? Their panel show VPS enabled on my site, and I can change CPU/RAM, and able to reboot the server.

I've written to DH also, still awaiting their response.

In addition to above query, can anyone guide me in installing eAccelerator on my site? Please advice.


Thanks,

[allpar]

First, you COULD try going to a "real" VPS and putting up Google Adsense to fund it.
Second, you could also just move to wordpress.com... yes, I know that's a facile solution.
Third, I suspect a configuration issue or permissions error related to the move since 500 is normally a script error. Are files using relative locations or do they go to the root and have the server name in them ... "/servername/yourname/etc/"

[Roks]

Hi, first off thanks for the reply. I couldn't check, because of some critical personal problems and currently I'm just only waiting DreamHost reply for past many days. As neither they're fixing problem, nor replying.

1. Could you please advice, what do you mean by

"real" VPS and putting up Google Adsense to fund it.

2. Re. 500 error: DreamHost says, it's because of low memory/cpu setup. I'm currently facing a lot of problems and my site is just dead for past one+ month.

In addition to VPS server load, I've also started receving heavy "trackback/pingbacks" spam. I've tried all possible HTACCESS rules to block spam before generating PHP load, but to no avail.

I've reported DreamHost, but again no reply.

500 is normally a script error. Are files using relative locations or do they go to the root and have the server name in them ... "/servername/yourname/etc/"

3. The files to to the root and have server name in them.
4. I've alos noticed the share ip that's assigned to the box in access log with 2200| visits.

May i request for the expert advice to solve this issue?

[~ServerPoint~]

I've reported DreamHost, but again no reply.

call them your ticket might lost

I've alos noticed the share ip that's assigned to the box in access log with 2200| visits.

How many dedicated IPs do you have in the package?

[RN-Chris]

Well, from what your describing, they moved you to a VPS, albeit a shared one.. Which that concept is foreign to me, but it is dreamhost so go figure. If you want real quality service, I'd recommend you check out http://virpus.com/vps/ . Kenneth is a great guy (the owner) and they have excellent service. I never had a bit of problem when I had a VPS with Virpus.

[geekboy]

Dreamhost's shared or VPS environment is a shocker for anything database driven.

Their VPS environment isn't exactly what the industry define as a VPS.

My advice is to cut your losses. Get a decent VPS provider, get someone to help you get the VPS and site up and running if you aren't familiar with things.

Keep the Dreamhost account for hosting images or static files, decide in 8 months if you want to keep that account or not.

Once you have your site on your own VPS you won't look back.

You just have to get over the hurdle that it will cost a bit, budget $20 to $30 a month and you'll have something decent.

[Nnyan]

Seems you have a large busy blog (took forever to load for me) and you've outgrown your shared hosting. My concern is that $6/mo seems to be a large cost for you. I think you may need to re-think your business model and understand that you'll need to pay for resources. You're not going to be able to host a very busy site that eats up resources for $10/mo.

You may also want to consider hiring someone to optimize your code/VPS (if you get there) to minimize your sites footprint.

[Roks]

Hi,

~ServerPoint~ & RN-Chris: The tickets are not lost, they're simply not replying to my requests, and for past 6 days, I'm only receiving, your ticket is moved to someone familiar with your problem.

b. They've not provided any dedicated IP to me, although it's listed in their VPS features.

I've a shared IP and a shared VPS box, which hosts six other websites.

Nnyan & geekboy, the blog is busy or large in terms of posts only (DB is quite wilde). Traffic wise, it's just nothing at this point, as you've also notice, the site took forever (4+ minutes) to respond to each HTTP requests and either dies with "500 internal, 404, error establishing database connection" etc. errors".

I was getting decent traffic about 5-6k daily, but that was reduced to 3k becasue of fequent suspensions. And now after VPS move, it's reduced to zero.

I don't have much experince in Web server management, here're my current blog stats:

Blog platform: WordPress
MySQL Database: 42MB
Posts: around 22K

May I request you to advice me the BEST config / Service provider based on above stats, that can take care of current & future load. And top of all the BEST in extending help during the need.

I trust Dreamhost a lot, but the attitude, they've shown, during past six days is not acceptable.

..And on their advice to take my site elsewhere, for past six days, I'm continously requesting them to either solve the problem or cancel my accoutn as per your advice, give my domain ownership details (domain is registered by DreamHost in their FREE package), and refund of $70 (unused balance), they're not responding.

Note: I'm not criticising DreamHost and I don't have anything against them. It's my bad luck and I hold myself responsible for all my current problems. I still wish, they solve my account problem.

I've come here to get the Best possible alternate advice.

So now I've said everything, may I request for an expert advice.