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Facebook App Hosting - Softlayer?

Hi,
Would anyone be able to "ping apps.facebook.com" for me from their Softlayer dedicated server?
I am specifically looking for ping times for Softlayer's 3 data centers (Seattle, Texas, DC). I tried getting this information from Softlayer's web sales, but they were rude and told me I should ask their customers for these numbers. Kind of strange considering I'm looking to spend a lot on a cluster of server's for my Facebook application.
What is everyone else using to host their Facebook applications?
Thank you for your time.

[TMS - JoseQ]

That is odd why they wouldn't give you the number...
We're not on SoftLayer's network, but we use Internap too and are within 5 miles of SL's Dallas location, so I imagine it would be close to ours: ~44ms.
JoseQ

[Adam_OC3]

facebook hosts their stuff in california, so getting your machines some place there would be your best bet





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TMS, thanks for your reply. I have a Linode that gets about 42ms pings to facebook. Sounds like 40ms to 45ms is considered normal when going from Texas to California.

[TMS - JoseQ]

It's hard to go halfway across the country much faster than that. I think you may get just under 40ms if you get no carrier changes, but it'll be a stretch (perhaps impossible with current internet) to get it under 30ms.
JoseQ





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[justify]

Here are the ping results...
We have our own apps for facebook, online and hosting it at dreamhost This is a ping result from SL server to facebook and apps.facebook subdomain. It's not that fast, is it?
C:\Users\Administrator>ping facebook.com
Pinging facebook.com [69.63.176.140] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 69.63.176.140: bytes=32 time=79ms TTL=245
Reply from 69.63.176.140: bytes=32 time=79ms TTL=245
Reply from 69.63.176.140: bytes=32 time=79ms TTL=245
Reply from 69.63.176.140: bytes=32 time=80ms TTL=245
Ping statistics for 69.63.176.140:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 79ms, Maximum = 80ms, Average = 79ms
C:\Users\Administrator>ping apps.facebook.com
Pinging www-college.facebook.com [69.63.176.11] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 69.63.176.11: bytes=32 time=80ms TTL=245
Reply from 69.63.176.11: bytes=32 time=80ms TTL=245
Reply from 69.63.176.11: bytes=32 time=80ms TTL=245
Reply from 69.63.176.11: bytes=32 time=80ms TTL=245
Ping statistics for 69.63.176.11:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 80ms, Maximum = 80ms, Average = 80ms

justify, 80ms ping times are pretty bad if your facebook app was written to use FBML since the user connects to facebook, facebook then connects to your server, you reply back to facebook, and then finally... the data gets back to the user. You could easily get rid of 70 to 75ms or so just by moving your facebook app to the right data center in California. Note, this is all just my opinion based on the research I've done so far. I hope more people have information to add. Thank you all. This forum has been extremely helpful so far.

[natecarlson]

From SoftLayer DFW, 10 pings, avg 47.239ms.
From SoftLayer SEA, 10 pings, avg 21.941ms.
From SoftLayer WDC, 10 pings, avg 79.451ms.
As others have said, you might want to find something in CA. But SoftLayer SEA isn't bad.
Lame about your experience with sales - might want to escalate a ticket to complain about that employee, if it is warranted. They'd want to know if they are losing sales due to stupid stuff like this.





__________________
-nc

Nate, Thank you for the numbers! I'm glad to see the Seattle data center gets much better times. I already talked with a sales manager at Softlayer and they are trying to put together some ping times for me. Once I get them, I'll post the results. Now I just need to find some recommendations on California dedicated server companies. So far I haven't had any luck with that.

[biggerboy]

PacificRack and WebNX are in LA and they are both pretty good .

I have talked with a Sr. Account manager at Softlayer and she cleared up the sales problem I had earlier.
Their ping times are very much in line with what Nate posted above. Around 22ms from their Seattle data center to Facebook. So I think it's safe to say that the Seattle DC is the best option (right now) for hosting a FBML based Facebook app at Softlayer.
We probably could shave another 15ms or so off the ping time if we find the right northern California hosting company. I'm not sure it is worth it though considering Softlayer has all the hosting options we want plus they come recommended from friends.
biggerboy: Thanks for the recommendations. PacificRack and WebNX don't seem to offer as many options as Softlayer. At least it doesn't appear that way. Do you happen to have any ping times to apps.facebook.com that you can post?

[natecarlson]

Quote:



Originally Posted by superduperserver


I have talked with a Sr. Account manager at Softlayer and she cleared up the sales problem I had earlier.


Glad to hear it! My experience with their sales staff has always been stellar.
Quote:



Originally Posted by superduperserver


We probably could shave another 15ms or so off the ping time if we find the right northern California hosting company. I'm not sure it is worth it though considering Softlayer has all the hosting options we want plus they come recommended from friends.


I also highly recommend them, but if latency is important for you, well, they are 22ms away.
Looks like Facebook has connectivity to apps via NTT, Level 3, Global Crossing, Bell Canada, Rogers Cable, and a few other ISP's.. find a dedicated provider in CA with NTT, L3, or GX (preferably a mix), and you'll be good to go.





__________________
-nc